Program Description
BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) is a youth program that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors through a series of sanctioned steer and heifer shows that include showmanship competition. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placings. These points are tracked through a special section in the Ohio Cattleman magazine and on the OCA web site www.ohiocattle.org.

The OCA BEST program promotes educating Ohio’s juniors on beef industry issues, promotes family membership and participation in the OCA and rewards the successful accomplishments and hard work of junior beef producers. The program is also designed to promote consistency between Ohio’s steer and heifer shows.

Program Background
The BEST program is coordinated by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA). The OCA is a membership organization consisting of beef producing families. It is the beef industry trade organization for the state of Ohio. An affiliate of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, OCA is the state’s spokesperson and issues manager for all segments of the beef cattle industry including cattle breeders, producers and feeders. It is the grassroots policy development organization for the beef business. Through the OCA, cattle producers work to create a positive business environment, while providing consumers with a safe and wholesome product.

The BEST program was started in 1999 with three goals. The first goal was to recognize and reward the hard work of those juniors participating in Ohio’s jackpot steer and heifer shows. The second goal was to develop a program with a uniform and consistent set of rules for shows to follow. These rules address show ethics, age of animals exhibited, breed percentages, participant ages, grooming guidelines and showmanship criteria. The third goal was to provide a forum to educate industry youth on beef industry issues and beef quality assurance practices.

2007-08 marks the 9^th year of the OCA BEST program. There are 14 sanctioned shows for this year’s show season. The BEST Program has grown tremendously since its first year. In 2006-07 there were 306 juniors who participated in the BEST program with nearly 500 head of cattle competing for points.

Program Sponsors
The Steve R. Rauch Excavation and Demolition Company of Dayton, Ohio is the corporate sponsor for the OCA BEST program. Beginning in 2004 Rauch has committed to a five year corporate sponsorship for the BEST program. In addition to many awards, the Rauch sponsorship makes possible two BEST scholarships as well as scholarships for the three BEST youth representatives.

Other sponsors include Eby Livestock Trailers of West Jefferson, Ohio. At the end of the 2007-08 BEST show season one lucky BEST participant will win the free use of a new 7.5` x 22` Eby livestock trailer for next year’s show season. Participants will be entered in the drawing for every animal nominated in the BEST program, plus an additional entry for each animal shown at each BEST show attended. OCA also appreciates the support and cooperation of each of the 14 sanctioned shows.

Program Timeframe
To be sanctioned for the OCA BEST program, shows must take place between Thanksgiving weekend and May 1, 2008. Sanctioning deadline for 2007-08 was June 1, 2007. Only Ohio residents who are eight years old as of January 1, 2008 but are not older than 21 years of age as of January 1, 2008 are eligible to accumulate OCA BEST points.

Program Requirements & Rules
To be eligible for OCA BEST points and awards, juniors or the junior’s family must be a current member of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and resident of Ohio. OCA memberships are family memberships and operate on the calendar year. Base dues for the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association are $60.00. If more than one junior within a family participates in the program, only one membership is required.

A nomination fee is required for each animal upon which the junior hopes to accumulate points. The one-time $20.00 nomination fee allows the animal to accumulate points at any OCA BEST sanctioned show. The nomination fee must be paid before the start of the animal’s first show. A nomination form must be completed for each animal nominated and may be submitted directly to OCA or during registration at the animal’s first sanctioned show.

Sanctioned shows must follow and enforce rules determined by the OCA BEST committee, the mandatory Livestock Tampering Exhibition Rules set forth in Chapter 901-19 of the Ohio Administrative Code, and any optional rules of Chapter 901-19 that the OCA BEST committee adopts. Contact the OCA office at 614.873.6736 for a complete copy of the rules.

Education Focused
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) education is a part of the BEST program. Each OCA BEST exhibitor must participate in a minimum of one BQA session held in conjunction with a BEST show. These sessions are typically taught by Ohio State University Extension personnel. There are four BEST shows with BQA sessions, one of which is the 2008 Ohio Beef Expo.

Two $1,500 scholarships are made possible by the Steve R. Rauch BEST sponsorship. BEST participants eligible to apply are high school juniors and seniors or older (BEST maximum age 21 years as of 1-1-08) who are pursuing a degree at a college or university. Scholarship applications will be evaluated based on academics and extracurricular activities. Scholarship applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2008 and submitted to the OCA office.

The BEST program also sponsors an essay competition and accompanying awards program for BEST participants that complete essays based on a predetermined topic or area. There is also a photography contest with four categories. There will be four divisions of awards for the essay competition and photography contest based on the showmanship age divisions. Entry deadline for the essay and photography contest is May 1, 2008.

Recognition and Awards
A special awards banquet for OCA BEST participants will take place in June 2008. At the 2007 awards banquet 160 BEST participants received program awards consisting of coats, blankets, luggage and savings bonds totaling over $25,000.

The BEST program promotes the development of leadership skills for industry youth. 2007-08 youth BEST committee leaders are Kayla Alexander of Clinton County, Dwight Hamilton of Highland County and Bailey Harsh of Delaware County.

Click Here for a 2007-2008 Nomination Form

** NEW FOR 07-08 ** If BEST exhibitor is under the age of 18, Nomination Forms must also be signed by a parent or guardian. Please plan accordingly.

Win the use of this trailer for the 2008-2009 BEST Season!

Eby Trailer is once again providing free use of a livestock trailer for one lucky participant in this year’s BEST program.  The winner will receive the 7.5' x 22' Wrangler trailer at the 2008 BEST awards banquet and have use of it through the final 2008-09 BEST show.  The winner and/or a family member must be present at the 2008 BEST awards banquet to win.

BEST participants will receive an entry into the drawing for each animal nominated for the BEST program and for every animal they show at each show they attend. Participants will be required to show at a minimum of one show to be entered in the drawing. OCA appreciates Eby’s great support of the BEST program.