Mahoning County Steer Project is currently a lottery system. This system makes kids that are interested in the project draw a number in the midst of October where all in the same day these cattle are tagged, castrated, weaned, vaccinated, and rehomed. As students at Ohio State studying animal sciences Beef specialization we are taught not to do all that at one time because it stresses these animals out and can cause them to get sick. Not only does it stress them out but it causes them to utilize fight or flight and most of the time they choose fight… in the past few years we have now heard of at least 5 steers getting lose because of their inability to be worked (3 of which being this year), 4 that have been taken to butcher before the fair because they are to crazy to break… and our committee feels that this is okay, and has even laughed at these situations… these kids are now out hundreds if not thousands of dollars, the money on the steer itself, feed cost, and time searching for their steers because they got loose, or the countless hours trying to break these things…not to mention some medical bills to the families that have gone to the hospital/ doctors because they are trying to break the steers that are unbreakable and end up hurt. At some point people need to open their eyes and realize this isn’t safe for the kids, their families, animals, or even the fair goers.
LET ME ALSO ADD WE ARE UP TO DOUBLE DIGITS IN THE AMOUNT OF STEERS THAT HAVE DIED THIS YEAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.
Anyone else want to see a change because I sure do!
We will be getting some factual info put together and will be trying to meet with fair boards etc
Updates
August 4, 2021
The stories arriving in my inbox from other families are heartbreaking because they prove this is not just an isolated struggle. We are currently compiling these accounts to show the committee that their apathy toward our children and animals has real consequences.
August 4, 2021
Seeing this momentum grow proves that I am not the only one who sees the danger in how these animals are handled. It breaks my heart to keep hearing from families hurt by this system but I am grateful you are choosing to pay attention.
12 Comments
THEY NEED TO STOP THIS. Way too much stress on these poor animals and the kids are the ones paying for the committees mistakes.
We just want a fair chance to pick an animal that isnt dangerous. Its not asking for much.
My grandson got hurt bad last year trying to handle a steer that was way too wild. This lottery system is a disaster waiting to happen.
As a 4H alumni, I agree the current system needs changed. The luck of draw takes away the opportunity for the kids to learn how to choose their project animals. It is also unfair if you get a bad draw and end up with a physically or mentally unsound animal. The kids should at least get to choose from a lot of animals.
Families should have the opportunity to take either a lottery steer or a feeder to steer project. Not every kid has the help my son was able to get from his father with steer experience. My husband has had to help many families break these crazy steers.
Great idea
Above all the safety of the kids should be first
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Mahoning County Steer Project is currently a lottery system. This system makes kids that are interested in the project draw a number in the midst of October where all in the same day these cattle are tagged, castrated, weaned, vaccinated, and rehomed. As students at Ohio State studying animal sciences Beef specialization we are taught not to do all that at one time because it stresses these animals out and can cause them to get sick. Not only does it stress them out but it causes them to utilize fight or flight and most of the time they choose fight… in the past few years we have now heard of at least 5 steers getting lose because of their inability to be worked (3 of which being this year), 4 that have been taken to butcher before the fair because they are to crazy to break… and our committee feels that this is okay, and has even laughed at these situations… these kids are now out hundreds if not thousands of dollars, the money on the steer itself, feed cost, and time searching for their steers because they got loose, or the countless hours trying to break these things…not to mention some medical bills to the families that have gone to the hospital/ doctors because they are trying to break the steers that are unbreakable and end up hurt. At some point people need to open their eyes and realize this isn’t safe for the kids, their families, animals, or even the fair goers.
LET ME ALSO ADD WE ARE UP TO DOUBLE DIGITS IN THE AMOUNT OF STEERS THAT HAVE DIED THIS YEAR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.
Anyone else want to see a change because I sure do!
We will be getting some factual info put together and will be trying to meet with fair boards etc
Updates
August 4, 2021
The stories arriving in my inbox from other families are heartbreaking because they prove this is not just an isolated struggle. We are currently compiling these accounts to show the committee that their apathy toward our children and animals has real consequences.
August 4, 2021
Seeing this momentum grow proves that I am not the only one who sees the danger in how these animals are handled. It breaks my heart to keep hearing from families hurt by this system but I am grateful you are choosing to pay attention.
12 Comments
Steers make the best profit, it would have been nice to take my feeders as steer projects.
THEY NEED TO STOP THIS. Way too much stress on these poor animals and the kids are the ones paying for the committees mistakes.
We just want a fair chance to pick an animal that isnt dangerous. Its not asking for much.
My grandson got hurt bad last year trying to handle a steer that was way too wild. This lottery system is a disaster waiting to happen.
As a 4H alumni, I agree the current system needs changed. The luck of draw takes away the opportunity for the kids to learn how to choose their project animals. It is also unfair if you get a bad draw and end up with a physically or mentally unsound animal. The kids should at least get to choose from a lot of animals.
Families should have the opportunity to take either a lottery steer or a feeder to steer project. Not every kid has the help my son was able to get from his father with steer experience. My husband has had to help many families break these crazy steers.
Great idea
Above all the safety of the kids should be first
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Steers make the best profit, it would have been nice to take my feeders as steer projects.