Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s BEST Program Announces 2024-2025 Show Schedule & Breed Divisions

| June 27, 2024

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) Beef Exhibitor Show Total (BEST) Program is announcing its sanctioned show schedule for the upcoming season Livin’ the BEST Life. Last year’s 25th anniversary of the program provided the opportunity for the BEST Committee to survey participant families. One of the common responses received was the request to hold a show in northern Ohio. As a result, the 2024-2025 show schedule has added a weekend with a new show hosted by Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Williams and Wood Counties at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio.  

The schedule for this year’s season is as follows: ·     
Mardi Gras Masquerade, Circleville – November 22-24 
 AGR Holiday Classic, Columbus – December 6-8       
Northern Lights BEST Show, Wauseon – December 13-15        
Saddle and Sirloin Spectacular, Circleville – December 27-29   
Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown, Columbus – January 3-5     
Clark County Cattle Battle, Springfield – January 24-26 
DTS Cupid Classic, Circleville – February 7-9     
Holmes County Preview, Millersburg – February 28-March 2  
Ohio Beef Expo, Columbus – March 14-16 
BEST Banquet, Columbus – May 3
* Show schedule is subject to change.    

To assist BEST families and help control the costs associated with exhibiting livestock, the BEST Committee will hold expenses steady for the upcoming season. This means there will be no increases in OCA membership, BEST nomination fees, Buckeye Breeders Series (BBS) nominations, as well as no increases passed on to sanctioned shows. Additionally, the number of rings that count for animals and showmanship in the final points will be less than the total rings possible, so busy families who miss a show will not have their final number of show points negatively impacted.     

The first sanctioned show, the Mardi Gras Masquerade will have two animal show rings. Also planned for the first show will be two showmanship rings, both featuring enhanced awards. One ring will be for BEST participants only. The total number of animal rings for the 2024-2025 season will be 17. More information on the total number of rings that will count in the final points total for animal placings and showmanship is available in the BEST rules at ohiocattle.org/BEST.   

All breed divisions will stay the same for 2024-2025. That includes the continuation of the new heifer divisions added last year: Chi Angus, Low % Chi, Limousin/Lim Flex, and Maine Angus. The low and high percentage All Other Breeds (AOB) heifer division will continue to be combined into one AOB heifer division like last year. Registered heifers and steers that do not have their own breed division offered will show in the AOB division, providing they meet their breed’s minimum percentage to be eligible to show at their respective breed’s national junior shows. Registered cattle that do NOT meet the breed percentage requirement for their breed’s national junior eligibility requirement will show in the Crossbred division, not as an AOB.     

BEST is an OCA youth development program that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors for participation and placings through a series of sanctioned cattle shows. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placings. Points are tabulated for market animals, heifers and showmanship, within breed and crossbreed divisions, registered Bred & Owned animals, first, second or third year Novice only division and Buckeye Breeders Series (Ohio’s Bred, Born and Raised) division. These points are tabulated and posted at www.ohiocattle.org. In addition, BEST includes educational contests through the Stockmanship program, leadership and scholarship opportunities and community service. Participants are recognized at an end-of-season awards banquet.   

For more information about the BEST program, visit ohiocattle.org/BEST, join the OCA BEST Program Facebook group, or contact the OCA office at 614-873-6736.