Dairy Cattle

Dairy Cattle Project Check-List

PIMA COUNTY 4-H AND FFA

DAIRY CATTLE PROJECT

PROJECT COORDINATORRyann Thomasrystarr36@aol.com

COUNTY 4-H OFFICE CONTACTAshlea Gideonagideon@arizona.edu
The Pima County 4-H/FFA Dairy Cattle Division is subject to all rules of the following:• Pima County 4-H/FFA General Animal Science Rules & Regulations• Pima County 4-H/FFA Large Livestock Rules and Regulations• Pima County 4-H/FFA Dairy Cattle Project Rules
OWNERSHIP DEADLINE:January 31st, 2026- Ownership is declared on the Google Form that is emailed to members.
FAIR ENTRY DEADLINEFriday, April 1st, 2026 by 11:59 PM- at Google Form that is emailed to members.
FAIR CHECK-IN:Monday, April 20th, 2026 - 9:00 AM – 12 PM or 4:00 PM– 7:00 PM
SHOW DATE:Wednesday, April 21st, 2026, 10:00 AM
FAIR CHECK-OUT:Sunday, April 26th, 2026, 6:00 PM-(All project animals, exhibits, and poster must remain until 6:00 PM)

REQUIREMENTS to be met by the time of fair check-in:
Every exhibitor must attend an educational clinic, workshop, or show for dairy cattle and must provide proof of participation.

Old Pueblo Hall Exhibits required for ALL projects by ALL Pima 4-H County Fair Exhibitors.

Those showing at the 2026 Pima County Fair must enter an exhibit into OPH that is related to their fair project. For those with multiple fair projects, please select one project to represent in OPH. Each individual showman should be creating their own exhibit for OPH based on their individual project. Exhibits can include posters (22"x28" or smaller), photography, baking, welding, etc. feel free to get creative with these exhibits. This excludes FFA members.

OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS to be met by January 31, 2026.

1. In order to exhibit in fair classes, the exhibitor must provide proof of ownership of the steer, heifer, cow, or bull calf on or before the ownership deadline to the project coordinator. The exhibitor must provide proof of ownership as per the Arizona State Livestock Board requirements for the Seasonal Pass Self Inspection Certificate. Ownership and registration papers must be in the exhibitor’s name or family herd name. Seasonal pass must have the member’s name.
2. Lease Option: Dairy Cattle Project members may lease a maximum of one project animal for exhibition and may show this project animal and its eligible offspring of the current 4H project year. If leasing a project animal, signed lease papers, approved by the Pima County 4H office, must also be filed with the project coordinator no later than the ownership deadline, along with other required documents stated in #1. Note that registration papers, (if applicable), should be in the name of the owner (the lessor). The Seasonal Pass must be in the exhibitor's (the lessee’s) name and must be provided at the time of fair check in. In addition, lessees (members) must turn in a log (signed by lessor, lessee, and project leader) showing all project activities with dates, time spent, and specific activities with the leased animal, e.g., practice, feeding, bathing, grooming, shows, etc. Lessees must also attend at least one show or clinic (or if none are offered, turn in a 5–10-minute video working with a leased animal that exhibits a personal level of skill in working with their project animal). Lessees should also continue to lease the same animal over multiple years, unless that animal is no longer available for lease.
3. Grade (non-registered) animals must have at least one of the following: ear tags, tattoos, or photo identification of all four sides of the animal and any distinguishing marks noted.
4. Copies of registration papers and livestock inspection papers and at least one of the listed identifications must accompany ownership (or lease) forms submitted by club project or community leaders.
5. Calves born after the January 31, 2026 but before April 1, 2026, from cows owned by the exhibitor (and with ownership paperwork on file), can be shown by the exhibitor at fair. Exhibitor needs to turn in documentation by midnight April 1, 2026 on newborn calves and all animals showing at fair. Check schedule of classes for age requirements of animals eligible to be entered in the Pima County Fair. Exceptions may be made for calves born after April 1, 2025, with proper identification and majority consensus from the barn superintendent, project coordinator, and 4-H Extension agent with input from the 4-H veterinarian.
6. Provide a certificate showing proof of participation in “AZ Youth for the Quality Care of Animals.” YQCA can be accessed at www.yqcaprogram.org

CHECK-IN AND DISPLAY REQUIREMENTS:

1. All Animals must be inspected by Coordinator prior to tying in the barn.
2. All seasonal pass self-inspection certificates and supporting documents must be provided to coordinator to verify animals’ identification upon inspection. Arizona State Livestock Seasonal Passes and ownership (or lease) paperwork must be verified as well as animal inspections will be documented upon check-in at fair by Project Coordinator.
3. All clubs will be entered into herdsmanship automatically and are strongly encouraged to display educational posters and information related to the fair theme.
4. Individual club areas will be assigned by the project coordinator. Club leaders must verify club location prior to setting any displays or barriers.
5. Herdsmanship will be judged daily beginning the morning of Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 and ending Sunday, April 26th, 2026, after the morning judging. Judging will occur between 8:00-10:00 am and 6:00-8:00 pm. Herdsmanship is judged on several categories including participation, interaction with others, care of project animals, cleanliness of stalls and barn aisles, display appearances and educational value. Each club will let the project coordinator or superintendent know when they’re ready to be judged during the judging windows each day.
6. Members with milking animals will be required to provide their own milking equipment but may choose to share cattle stands.
7. All exhibitors must have a barrier at least 36” in height surrounding their animals. This may be fencing or corral panels with straw bales or other form of barrier preventing spectators from injury; however, fencing is preferred for safety reasons.
8. All animals must be double tied, with a halter and neck rope, except calves less than four months old which can be penned in secure fencing provided by the club. If a calf is unruly, for safety reasons, the coordinator or barn manager may require it to be tied. No enclosed stalls will be available for 4-H dairy animals, only tack and feed can be kept in stalls unless barn superintendent and project coordinator agree the use of a stall is warranted. Animals must be exercised outside of the barn at least twice a day by exhibitors.
9. To prevent over-bagging of udder, milking cows must be milked out between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026, milk out inspection by project coordinator is mandatory to be eligible to show.

10. All cattle over 3 months of age must be tied off to a tie rack. Calves under 3 months of age may be tied off at a tie rack or penned in a stall. Stalls are avaiable upon request, at the discretion of the project coordinator and the barn managere jointly and if spaces allow.

SHOW INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS:

Order of show will be determined by project coordinator and number of entries in each division. The Pima County 4-H and FFA Dairy Cattle Division is subject to all rules of the 4-H/FFA Livestock Division and the following special rules specifically for the Dairy Cattle Project.
SPECIAL RULES (based on The Purebred Dairy Cattle Association (PDCA) Show Ring Code of Ethics): Dairy cattle exhibitions are conducted under standards for evaluating conformation established by the PDCA Unified Score Card, with specific breed characteristics taken into consideration by the show judge. The Purebred Dairy Cattle Association, Inc. is a federation of the national dairy breed registry associations serving breeders and owners of Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holsteins, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn and Red and White dairy cattle. Miniature Dairy Breeds are also included in our county 4-H show and will follow the same rules as standard breeds. PDCA and its member organizations promote the added value and profitability registered dairy cattle offer all dairy business owners.
In this project, animals will be groomed and prepared for the judge’s evaluation in order to display the animal’s natural contour, conformation, performance and mobility.
Specifically:
1. All Dairy Cattle (including steer projects) must have complete body clipping prior to arrival at Fairgrounds. Note: The maximum allowable length of naturally growing hair anywhere on the topline is not to exceed 1” if a “topline clip” is being done; you may also choose to blend belly hair. Everywhere else is to be completely clipped. Once animals are inspected by the project coordinator and tied in the barn at check in, no further clipping of body hair is allowed. Exempt from this rule is close clipping of the udder for lactating cows. Members may also do small touch-ups to the topline. Only small clippers or scissors may be used for these tasks.
2. Changing the natural color of the animal is prohibited. However, external applications of cosmetics that affect only appearance may be used, including by way of example hoof polishes and false switches.
3. Addition of foreign objects, including but not limited to hair or hair substitutes, cloth or fiber, to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal’s body is forbidden.
4. No horns or scurs over 1 inch long.
5. All Dairy Cattle must be of Dairy Breeding and show dairy breed characteristics. No beef cross breeds allowed. Registered animals and grade animals will be shown together according to breed representation and age. Crossbred Dairy Breeds are allowed and will show with the most prominent breed characteristics.
6. Heifers must calve prior to reaching 30 months of age in order to be exhibited in any class.
7. All bull calves must be born after October 24, 2025 to be shown in the 4-H/FFA Division, proper documentation of birth date must be provided to coordinator (self-inspection papers from purchase or birth place, ear tag, etc.) Any bulls with behavioral issues, must wear a permanent nose ring at any 4-H function.
8. Dairy cattle exhibitors will wear white shirts, white pants, and a green 4-H tie in the show ring. (Black pants may be worn under special circumstances, with Coordinator's permission) Club vests are optional and must not have club or member names visible.

EXHIBITOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. The 4-H owner/exhibitor will take responsibility for the wellness and care of that animal(s) for the duration of the fair.

2. Every exhibitor must attend an educational clinic, workshop, or show for dairy cattle and must provide proof of participation.

3. Parental assistance is limited to heavy lifting of equipment or supplies and intervention for safety of the animals, exhibitors, and the public. In cases where the 4-H member is not able to lift, properly handle equipment, or complete caretaking in a safe manner, an adult is allowed to assist if there are no other 4-H members available to help. For example, members with milking animals may need assistance with making sure the cow is properly milked out and equipment is handled properly. However, the child should be able to complete the task on their own with supervision of a parent or leader. Safety always comes first for members, the public, and animals.
4. Preparations for show need to be completed entirely by the exhibitor, parents may hold towels or brushes, even the animal if there is not a safe place to tie or secure them, but the member shall complete all the grooming on their own. In instances where a child may have other obligations, events or illness that prevent them from taking care of their animals themselves, another 4-H member must be asked to assist in feeding, water and cleaning stalls these tasks are not to be done by a parent or leader. On dairy cattle show day parents may pick up manure from aisles, stalls, and arena side while their child is preparing for show which is acceptable but not on a regular basis throughout the fair nor in volume that requires wheelbarrow assistance to dispose of.
5. At all times, exhibition livestock shall be treated in a humane manner and in accordance with dairy quality assurance practices so as to protect the health, safety and welfare of the livestock and the consuming public. No person shall present for exhibition or exhibit an animal which he or she knows, or has reason to suspect, is affected with or has been exposed to a dangerously contagious or infectious disease, or illegal or non-approved use of drugs, medication and/or prohibited substance nor animals showing signs of malnutrition. The position of the PDCA and 4-H is that all animals presented for exhibition shall be in their natural conformation and structure, free of any alteration or modification by injection or internal or external administration of any substance or by any involvement in unethical fitting.

DAIRY STEER PROJECT:

All members participating in a dairy steer project must adhere to all general, livestock and dairy cattle project rules that apply with the addition of the following project requirements:
1. Steer must be properly castrated as a calf by some form of banding device or by a veterinarian.
2. All steer must be of recognizable dairy breed with no beef crosses being allowed, mixed dairy breeds are acceptable.
3. Steer must not reach an age over 2 years at fair weigh-in (verifiable by checking teeth eruptions). Steer must be an appropriate weight for their age and breed (dairy calves should weigh approximately 425 pounds at six months of age)
4. Steer must be either ear tagged or tattooed with their date of birth in the right ear and left ear with their self-inspection ID number and be photographed from both sides with at least one photo having a face shot, photos must be turned into the dairy cattle coordinator with ownership paperwork and quality assurance certification on or before January 15th of the project year.
5. Weigh in of steers will take place by Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. (or at the discretion of the project coordinator and/or extension agent.)
6. Steer classes will be determined based on the weight range of the project animals at fair.
7. Members who own more than one dairy animal whether a cow, heifer, or steer shall declare at ownership deadline which animal will be selected for use in their age appropriate showmanship class. Bull calves will not be allowed in showmanship, unless the member only has ownership of a bull calf.

DAIRY CLASS INFORMATION:

Classes will be divided according to breed (Holstein, Jersey, Milking Shorthorn, Guernsey, Ayrshire, Miniature Jersey, and Crossbred Dairy Breeds), age, gender, and number of entries. All animals must be eligible to be shown in breed classes in order to be shown in Showmanship. Exhibitors must show their own animal in Showmanship in order to participate. The Dairy Cattle Project Coordinator reserves the right to make any changes or split any class or classes as is deemed necessary.

CLASS 1 – POSTER

Educational Poster to be on display and judged in the Dairy Barn. This is separate from the Old Pueblo Hall poster requirement.

CLASS 2 - SHOWMANSHIPSenior Showmanship
Senior Showmanship (novice) Intermediate Showmanship Intermediate Showmanship (novice) Junior ShowmanshipJunior Showmanship (novice)

CLASS 3 – DAIRY FEEDER STEER (Under 2-years at time of fair check-in)(Weight classes will be finalized after weigh-in at fair)
Champion Dairy Feeder Steer Reserve Champion Dairy Feeder Steer

CLASS 4 – BULLS (by breed)LOT 1 Baby Bull – born January 15, 2026 thru April 1, 2026
LOT 2 Winter Bull Calf - born Dec. 1, 2025 thru Jan. 14, 2026
LOT 3 Fall Bull Calf – born Oct. 15, 2025 thru Nov. 30, 2025
Champion (by breed) Reserve Champion (by breed)Grand Champion Bull (all breeds) Reserve Champion (all breeds)Breed Show (by breed)

CLASS 5 - HEIFERS
LOT 1 Baby Heifer - born Jan. 15, 2026 thru April 1, 2026
LOT 2 Winter Heifer calf born November 15, 2025 thru January 14, 2026
LOT 3 Fall Heifer Calf - born September 15, 2025 thru November 14, 2025
LOT 4 Summer Heifer Calf - born May 1, 2025 thru September 14, 2025
LOT 5 Yearling Heifer - born May 1, 2024 thru April 30, 2025
LOT 6 Senior Yearling Heifer - born Oct. 16, 2023 thru April 30, 2024
Junior Champion (by breed)
Junior Reserve Champion (by breed)

CLASS 6 – COWS (must have calved at least one previously)
LOT 1 Dry Cows
LOT 2 First Freshening Milking Cows 2 and under 3 years old
LOT 3 Milking Cows 3 and under 4 years old LOT 4 Milking Cows 4 years old
LOT 4 Mature Milking cows 5 years old LOT 6 Aged cows 6 year and over

Senior Champion (by breed)
Senior Reserve Champion (by breed)

Grand Champion (by breed) Reserve Champion (by breed)

Best Udder of Show (All breeds)

Grand Champion Heifer (All breeds)

Supreme Dairy Female (All breed's grand champion animals)
Reserve Dairy Female (bring in reserve champion from class in which supreme was chosen)

Adult Showmanship (for safety reasons, limited to individuals 18 and over) After youth show

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