• Educational, Performance & Carcass Contest Registration Form

    Please complete by November 2, 2022

  • A full list of rules and FAQs can be found on our website at www.SandhillsCattle.com/epc. 

  • REGISTRATION INFORMATION

  • TRANSPORTATION

    How can I get my calves to the feedyard?

    We will help provide transportation for calves to the feedyard, but you must inform us before November 2nd they need a ride. You can also deliver your calves yourself to the feedyard.  Please try to make sure that your calves arrive around 1 pm so that they can be penned out as a group.

     When do the calves go to the feedyard?

    Calves will arrive at the Feller & Co Feedlot in Wisner, Nebraska in the afternoon on November 9th, 2022. We would like all calves to arrive at roughly the same time so that they can be penned out together.  If you cannot make that deadline, please call the office at (402) 376-2310 to make arrangements.

    Google Map to Cottonwood Feeders

  • IDENTIFICATION & BRAND REQUIREMENTS

    What is required of my calves?

    Your calves will need to be brand inspected and tagged with official SCA tags before they get off the trailer at the feedyard.  The brand inspection papers must accompany the calf to the feedyard and the calves MUST be tagged with SCA tags in BOTH ears before they get off the trailer!  We also ask that they are weaned and pre-conditioned with no implants.

     Where can I get a brand inspection?

    Brand inspections can be obtained through the State of Nebraska Brand Committee.  Please visit https://nbc.nebraska.gov/find_inspectors to find an inspector near you.  We will also have one available at Valentine on November 11th at 10 am at the pickup location if you’d like to have your animals inspected there. There will be no brand inspector at the feedyard, so please plan accordingly.

  • ABOUT THE CALVES

    What kind of calves should I bring? We take all breeds and kinds of calves.  Some submit their top-end to see how they perform in a feedlot setting while others bring us their off-colored, misfits – maybe those that would be sorted off in the sale barn. 

    The most important consideration is size and age.  The calves entering the contest should be 2022 spring-born calves weighing between 500-700 pounds. 

    Should my calves be weaned? Because our Association promotes best management practices, it is highly recommended that you wean and pre-condition your calves before they enter the feedyard to reduce stress to the calves.

    NEW – ‘Steers for Students’ Program

    What is this program? The 'Steers for Students' program is a new educational piece geared for the youth of the Sandhills. The 'Steers for Students' program calves will be sent to Husker Meats LLC of Ainsworth, Nebraska instead of being shipped to the larger plants like the retained ownership calves. Jim Pinney of Husker Meats and a group of industry professionals will offer local FFA students and producers a chance to learn about carcass evaluation while experiencing how a packing plant operates. Schools that send the students will be provided the opportunity to receive the donated beef for their school lunch programs at little to no cost. 

    What kind of calves are expected for this program? Spots are limited for this donation opportunity to the first ten steers registered and limited to one per producer. The calves must be spring-born steers who are weaned and weighing 500-700 pounds in good health to qualify for the program. 

    How do I donate a calf to the program? Simple. Visit https://sandhillscattle.com/epc and download the form to fill out and send back to the office. That’s it. You can also enter your data online by following the instructions provided on the above link.

    What do producers get for their donated calf? Producers donate a calf to the Association. At the conclusion of the contest, the producers get half of the premium cuts from their calf in lieu of payments they would have received from the retained ownership portion of the contest. The calf will still receive start values as well as end values for profitability scores, and carcass data. They will still be placed in the regular contest. Producers will receive recognition during the EP&C Contest as well as in press and social media releases for their contribution to the program. You may be able to deduct the donation of your calf. (Refer to your tax accountant.)

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  • PAYMENT AGREEMENT

    I, the undersigned, understand that the Sandhills Cattle Association’s 2022-23 Educational, Performance, and Carcass Contest (EP&C Contest) calves will be sold in separate marketing groups throughout the year in 2022.

    I understand that when a group of calves is shipped from the feedyard and sold if I have a calf or calves in that marketing group, I will be paid a down payment of not less than $150 per calf at that time.

    The balance owed, minus expenses will be paid when the winners are announced, and awards are presented at the Annual EP&C Banquet held after all the calves have shipped and sold in 2022.

    Furthermore, I understand that the Steers for Students program is not mandatory and if I donated a calf to the Steers for Students program, I understand that there will be no deposits or payments made to me when the calf is marketed. I understand that the program is set up to contribute to the youth of the Sandhills and the Sandhills Cattle Association. I understand I will be getting half of the premium cuts from my calf back in lieu of payment, and I also understand half of the premium cuts will go to the Sandhills Cattle Association to provide locally sourced beef at their future events, as well as the balance of the meat will be set to the schools who choose to participate in the Steers for Students program.

    By signing below, I agree to the payment terms set forth by this payment agreement.

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