Steer-A-Year
The Steer-a-Year program is conducted by the Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences Department with support from the Idaho Cattle Association. Participants donate a steer with proceeds funding College of Agricultural and Life Sciences scholarships, beef cattle research and scholarships for Vandal student-athletes.
Donated steers are used in hands-on animal science courses and for 4-H and FFA judging contests. Student managers gain real-world experience with full responsibility in daily management of the steers.
- Steer calves are transported to the University of Idaho Beef Center in Moscow during November and December. CALS arranges the 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 the University of Idaho. Donors may designate how the revenue is distributed (AVS 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 share this donation with friends and family.
- 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
This unique program allows CALS students to manage the steer herd, gaining experience on a small-scale feedlot.
