BEST PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Participants 8-years-old as of Jan. 1, 2022, but no older than 21 years as of age as of Jan. 1, 2022, are eligible to accumulate OCA BEST points. Exhibitors must be Ohio residents with the exception of Buckeye Breeders Series (BBS) eligible cattle. Those exhibiting BBS cattle are eligible to accumulate BEST points regardless of state of residency.
Juniors or the junior’s family must be a current member of OCA. The OCA membership must be in the name of the BEST participant’s immediate family. OCA family memberships are $75 and will operate on a 12-month basis. Exhibitors showing cattle at a BEST sanctioned how, but not participating in the BEST program, must also have an OCA membership.
A nomination fee is also required for each animal a junior enters in the BEST program. The one-time $60 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 show where the exhibitor plans to accumulate points. Online nomination and entries must be completed for each participant and animal and may be submitted prior to or during check-in at a BEST sanctioned show.
Exhibitors must be Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified to participate in the BEST program. BQA certification is available through in-person trainings at BEST shows, bqa.org or yqca.org. BEST participants that attended an in-person BQA training last BEST season (2020-2021) are certified for three years from the date they attended training.
ALL cattle showing at a BEST sanctioned show in-state and out-of-state MUST be tagged with an electronic identification (EID) ear tag prior to arriving at their first BEST show. Visit best.ohiocattle.org to learn more about applying for a farm’s Premise ID before ordering EID tags. EID Tags are available through the OCA office.
BUCKEYE BREEDERS SERIES (BBS)
BBS is Ohio’s premier bred, born and raised division of BEST that rewards both exhibitors and breeders for their participation with registered steers and heifers from an Ohio seedstock breeder. This division will have a separate set of points to be accumulated for exhibitors throughout the season.
New this year, out-of-state exhibitors will be eligible for BEST only if they exhibit a BBS eligible animal.
At the end of the season, exhibitors will be entered in a drawing for a year’s use of a livestock trailer, donated by M.H. EBY. Breeders will be entered in a drawing for a year’s use of a John Deere Gator, donated by Ag-Pro.
Learn more about BBS and the new nomination procedures for this division here.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION AND ACADEMICS OUTSIDE OF THE RING
The BEST program includes the Stockmanship Division to allow exhibitors with or without cattle to showcase their talent outside of the ring by expanding their knowledge of cattle and the industry. This division is sponsored by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
The Stockmanship contests for this year are as follows:
OCA and Weaver Leather Livestock will team up to recognize individuals that show exceptional leadership and character no matter their age. Any OCA member, BEST participant or their parents may nominate other cattlemen, breeders and exhibitors for any of the Character Trait categories. The 2021-22 Character Trait categories will be announced soon.
BEST participants are encouraged to apply for the youth committee positions on the BEST committee. BEST Jr. Representatives serve a two-year term and are selected through an application and interview process. Jr. Representative applications are due April 1 and interviews will be held in the spring leading up to the BEST banquet. Jr. Representatives are recognized as leaders and role models of the program and will represent participants’ interests at meetings, promote the program and serve as an emcee for the awards banquet.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
The OCA BEST Program is teaming up with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (RMHC) for the 2021-22 BEST community service project. RMHC’s mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.
BEST participants will be encouraged to collect pop tabs throughout the season and turn them in at the BEST banquet in May. All money raised will be donated to RMHC.
In addition to the pop tabs collection, the popular Celebrity Showdown will take place this year on Jan. 28, 2022 in Springfield. Participants will raise at least $100 to participate and parade their animal and costume around the ring for a special celebrity judge.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
The BEST banquet will be held at the end of the season and will recognize participant’s achievements in all the above-mentioned areas. Over $150,000 worth of prizes, giveaways, scholarships, etc. will be awarded.
Each year, one lucky BEST participant is also awarded a year’s use of a livestock trailer donated by M.H. EBY.
The Novice Division of BEST includes first year participants. All Novice exhibitors will have an entry into their own drawing for a show box donated by Weaver Livestock Leather, for every animal they showed at each show throughout the season.
GETTING STARTED
Participants will create their own unique account to make nominations for the BEST program at best.ohiocattle.org. The site will be open for nominations at the beginning of December.
For more information about the BEST program, visit ohiocattle.org/BEST, join the OCA BEST Program Facebook group, or contact the office at 614-873-6736.