Serving Agriculture Since 1875. 

EDCLA Bred Heifer Program

Project Chairman:  Charlie Carnahan
 

    The purpose of this project is to help Elbert/Douglas County 4-Hers to begin or increase a beef herd. To qualify for this project, the 4-Her must submit a letter and budget to EDCLA. The participants will be selected and announced at fair during Awards Night. The livestock association co-signs a bank note (valued up to $400.00) towards the purchase of a bred heifer. The animal is displayed as a cow/calf pair at the fair. The cow/calf pair are not shown at halter nor groomed at fair. This is to be a "true life" experience of beef production. Special Record Books are required. For more information, contact a member of the Elbert/Douglas County Livestock Association.

Project Details:

4-H members interested in livestock breeding, especially beef, should consider the Elbert Douglas County Livestock Association (EDCLA) Bred Heifer Project. This is a great project to introduce our youth to the beef industry while starting a beef herd of their own. It is an informative project that is quite different from the other 4-H projects for beef.
 

    Participants should have completed one year in any 4-H livestock project. The 4-H member would need to purchase a bred heifer in the fall of 2011 that will calve in the spring of 2012.

   If the member needs assistance in purchasing the heifer, EDCLA members can help with the selection. EDCLA also will co-sign a bank loan for up to $500 if the 4-H member needs assistance with the actual purchase price.
 

    Participants will have a record book to complete, which will help guide him or her through the project. It also will guide participants through some of the processes associated with raising a heifer and calving her out in the spring.
 

    The cow-calf pair will be exhibited at the 2012 Elbert County Fair, where they are judged in the pen. There is no requirement to halter break the cow or calf, as there is no “in-the-ring” showing. During the Fair, the youth also will have an interview with the judge or judges.

The project is judged on three criteria, one third for each: 1.) Live judging, 2.) Interview, and 3.) Record Book. The project goes through October 1, and prizes are awarded at the EDCLA Annual Meeting/Dinner, generally held in late October or early November. All participants and their families are invited to the dinner as guests of EDCLA. First place is awarded $100, second place receives $80, and third place receives $60.
 

    To enroll in this rewarding project, 4-H members should a.) include the project on his/her enrollment form, AND b.) send a letter showing their interest in the project to Charlie Carnahan by February 1, 2012. His address is Charlie Carnahan, Carnahan Ranches, Inc., 28773 Elbert Road, Kiowa, CO 80117. If you have any questions, you can call Charlie at 303-648-3280 or Ben Duke at 303-646-4699.


EDCLA Cow/Calf Class
Special Bred Heifer Award - A $100 Honorarium will be awarded to the Overall Champion Bred Heifer project in honor of Harold Benjamin, sponsored by the Elbert/Douglas County Livestock Association. This award is given at the Fall Banquet for the Elbert/Douglas County Livestock Association.