The 2024 4-H/FFA Grazing Program wrapped up in April. The beef grazing project is where 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) youth compete with pens cattle. A pen is four head of cattle made up of steers, bulls or heifers -- no mixing on 2.5 acres of ryegrass. Divisions are broken by steers, bulls and heifers. The cattle must be raised and kept at the participant’s property. Calves can be from commercial or registered cows and should be born after December 1, 2022. The cattle must be grazed on two and a half acres of winter grazing for each pen, the grazing can be done on cool-season forage or combinations of cool-season forages. There can be no supplemental feed given to the cattle, but they can have silage or hay during the bad winter months and you are able to provide minerals to the cattle. The cattle are usually grazed for approximately 150 days, starting around December 1 and terminating in mid-May. This year, grass was excellent for the participants even considering the uncertainties from last summer’s drought.