What Junior Beef Producer Day Is
K-State Junior Beef Producer Day is a one-day, hands-on clinic for young cattle exhibitors and the families who help them. It is built around choosing and managing a beef project: K-State faculty, staff and students, extension agents, former exhibitors and guest speakers teach the practical side of getting a calf from selection to the show ring. The most recent day was Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Bilbrey Family Events Center north of the K-State campus in Manhattan.
Who It Is For
It is a family event for youth, adults, extension agents, project leaders and volunteers of all ages and skill levels. Everyone who attends, youth and adults alike, must register.
What You Learn
- Selecting a beef animal
- Nutrition
- Reproduction
- Health
- Clipping and grooming
- Showmanship
Optional add-ons ran with the 2026 day. Participants who planned to stay could take an instructor-led YQCA training at the end of the program by marking it on their registration. A tour of the K-State Sheep and Meat Goat Center was offered the night before or after the Saturday event. YQCA certification is a requirement for exhibitors in the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive and the Kansas Junior Livestock Show, so the training lets families check that box in the same trip.
Fees and Registration
| Registration | Cost |
|---|---|
| By the deadline (February 13, 2026) | $20 per person |
| After the deadline | $30 per person |
Only people who register by the deadline receive the event t-shirt. Registrations are non-refundable. Register online at bit.ly/BeefJrProducer.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Register online, everyone attending, by the early deadline to get the lower price and a shirt.
- Attend the day program on Saturday at the Bilbrey Family Events Center for the sessions listed above.
- Stay for YQCA training if you signed up for it at registration.
- Tour the Sheep and Meat Goat Center if you added the tour the night before or after.
Where
Bilbrey Family Events Center, north of the K-State campus in Manhattan, Kansas.
Questions
How much does it cost?
$20 per person by the deadline, $30 after. Adults and youth each pay.
Can parents come?
Yes. Parents, project leaders and agents are part of the audience, and each person registers separately.
Can I get a refund?
No. Registrations are non-refundable.
Who do I call?
Lexie Hayes, K-State youth livestock coordinator, 785-532-1264. Updates are also posted on the @ksuylp Facebook page.
Official Links
- K-State Junior Beef Producer Day announcement
- Junior Beef and Sheep Producer Days overview (an earlier edition; includes the YQCA requirement for Grand Drive and KJLS exhibitors)
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- K-State Ag Ed Speech Event
Public speaking event for Kansas FFA students on January 30, 2027 at the K-State Student Union in Manhattan, hosted with K-State Agricultural Education.
- K-State Career Development Events (Kansas FFA State CDEs)
Kansas FFA state Career Development Events are scheduled for May 2-4, 2027 in Manhattan. Chapters compete in judging, evaluation and skills contests; the 2026 round was held May 3-5.
- Kansas FFA State Convention
The 99th Kansas FFA Convention is set for June 1-4, 2027 in Manhattan. The 2026 convention ran May 26-29 at McCain Auditorium with a theme of Cultivate. Grow Leaders. Lead Change.
- Kansas Livestock Association Convention and Trade Show
Held each year; the most recent dates were November 19-21, 2025. Cattlemen gather for the banquet and live auction, Beef Industry University, committee meetings and the membership breakfast with policy votes.
- Kansas Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Held each year; the most recent dates were December 6-8, 2025 for the 107th meeting. Workshops, a tradeshow, awards banquet and a delegate vote on 2026 policy, with a keynote from the American Farm Bureau president.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.