The 2009 Flint Hills Beef Fest entries are now being taken.
This is the 23rd year for the Beef Fest, which is “a celebration of the Kansas Flint Hills grass cattle industry to promote the kind and quality of cattle that graze at Kansas grasslands,” according to a press release.
Four contests for stocker cattle are conducted in pens of three head. Steers and heifers are in separate divisions:
• Grass futurity — measures weight gain on grass.
• Live stocker show — Quality judging on muscle, confirmation and overall performance on grass.
• Feedlot — Weight gain in the feedlot.
• Carcass — Carcass quality on grade and yield.
Cattle will be received from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 25 at Emporia Livestock Sales. The cattle will be turned out to grass on the following Monday, where they will be until Aug. 13 on Highland Ranch near Olpe.
The cattle will be weighed off grass on Aug. 13. The winners of the Grass Futurity and the Live Stocker Show will be announced during the evening Beef Fest award banquet on Aug. 15.
Cattle entering the feedlot and carcass contests will be shipped to the feedlot, where they will be fed for 120 days.
Nearly $15,000 will be awarded for this year’s contests.
Entries are accepted on a first come, first serve basis and only 40 pens of steers and 40 pens of heifers will be accepted. Completed entry forms must be received by April 10.
For more information call (620) 528-3444 or e-mail at flinthillsbeeffest@yahoo.com.