Steer projects get weighed in and tagged in preparation for the county fair

Several things are certain in early March in Washington County, Idaho:  Fickle weather, calving season, longer days, dreams of spring, and steer weigh-ins.
 The first Saturday of March always means the commencement of 4-H and FFA market beef projects in Washington County by the weighing and tagging of all the prospective Washington County Fair steers at a universal site.  The site has been the former Kerner Feedlot in Weiser for many years and despite the sale to Weiser River Cattle Feeders, the weigh-in went on as usual.
 With trailers lining Weiser River Road to wait their turn, 52 4-H and FFA members weighed in 72 steers, ranging from 650 pounds to 1,135 pounds.  
 These 72 steers, sporting their new yellow tags, will spend the next 5-months being fed premium feed rations, be trained to lead with a halter and taught to handle washing, grooming, trimming, setting up for exhibition and handling a show stick.  
 Some steers already had their halters on and had begun their journey to docility, while others had wild eyes and high heads in search of the nearest fence to jump.  
 The market beef project is labor intensive and requires dedication and patience to be ready for the Washington County Fair in August.  
 Steers are required to weigh 1,050 pounds at the fair to be eligible for the livestock sale, so it is the goal of every exhibitor to raise a quality beef and exhibit the animal to the best of their abilities.  
 Plan to attend the 2021 Washington County Fair August 2-7, 2021 and witness the conclusion of the beef projects and see the hard-working youth of Washington County.