Steer-A-Year
Support hands-on learning in animal, veterinary and food sciences
The Steer-a-Year program is conducted by the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences with support from the Idaho Cattle Association. Participants donate a steer to the program, providing hands-on learning opportunities for students. Donated steers are then sold, with proceeds funding College of Agricultural and Life Sciences scholarships, beef cattle research and scholarships for Vandal student-athletes.
These steers play an important role in hands-on animal science courses and for 4-H and FFA judging contests. Student managers take full responsibility for daily care and management of the steers and feedlot, gaining valuable real-world experience.
How it works
- Steer calves are transported to University of Idaho’s Beef Center in Moscow during November and December. CALS arranges transportation.
- Steers are fed a finishing diet and growth performance is measured during this time.
- Steers are sold when they reach market weight. CALS collects carcass data on each steer.
- The revenue funds programs at University of Idaho. Donors may designate how the revenue is distributed (AVFS scholarship, beef industry research, Vandal Athletics).
- Donors are invited to an annual golf tournament and banquet in the fall.
- Awards are presented to donors of steers with the best:
- Average Daily Gain
- Carcass Cutability
- Lean Gain per Day
- Most Valuable Steer
Don’t own a steer? We have steers you can purchase for donation. You can also split this donation with friends and family.
Program accomplishments
- Over 1,400 steers have been donated since the program began in 1988
- More than $680,000 has been raised through this program
- Over 400 high school and college students benefit annually from the steers through a variety of educational activities
Steer-A-Year Newsletter
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