All bulls and their dams have genomic-enhanced EPDs allowing you to make your selection based on more predictable genetics.
Visit our website, MurphysGenetics.com for each bull’s video, pedigree, updated performance information and pictures of their dams and grandams. Cattle and embryos are available for private treaty purchase.
Routes of Disease Transmission
Dr. Teresea Steckler with University of Illinois E xtension explains how many of the basic principles for disease prevention in humans are applicable for livestock.
24 Proactive Nutrient Management
Why you should be setting up a manure nutrient management plan now - and how to make it easier. 30 Plant Cover Crops. Feed Cattle. Protect Soil.
Researchers at UIUC and IDOA share resources for cover crop usage and how the trifecta of tactics may benefit Illinois beef producers.
University of Illinois Men’s Basketball coach, Brad Underwood, steps into the show ring at the Illinois State Fair.
42 Rincker Simmentals: Decades of Herd Building
Rincker Simmentals’ high-quality herd continues to have success in a a variety of operations.
47 Illinois Beef Expo
Find the need-to-know information here for the 2022 Illinois Beef Expo.
56 Confident Mindsets Win Points
2021 IJBA Points Show Program winners, Paige Lemenager and Kashen Ellerbrock share their secrets to success.
58 Show Results
Find out the 2021 Winter Warm-Up Jackpot Show winners from this year’s show in Springfield.
Jim Meller, Anna, meller.hillcroft.james@gmail.com
1st term expires: 2019 | 2nd term expires: 2022
Ex Officio Members
Buzz Iliff, Past President
Travis Meteer, U of I Extension & BQA
Teresa Steckler, U of I Extension
Association Focus
Paul Walker, Illinois Beef Association President
IBA is borrowing the Illinois Simmental Association motto “Working Together to Make a Difference” (a phrase more organizations should use) and IBA is doing so in many ways. Working together to make a difference pays dividends an association by itself could never achieve. Working together means:
• progress occurs at a faster rate.
• more total dollars can be utilized.
• the cost for each association is less.
• each dollar spent produces more value.
• more people have buy-in to achieving a common goal.
• more people can receive benefit.
• I am sure you can add more to this list. This fall IBA combined forces with University of Illinois Extension through Travis Meteer, Extension Beef Specialist and Illinois Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator, to offer nine in-person BQA Workshops. With additional support from Kent Feeds, these workshops offered the chance for Illinois cattle producers (a free benefit to IBA members) to become BQA Certified for the first time or to renew their threeyear BQA Certification. These 9 workshops were extremely successful certifying 442 producers, and working together IBA, University of Illinois Extension, IBA affiliates, sale barns and Kent Feeds made a difference.
During 2021, the University of Illinois Department of Animal Science worked with IBA to purchase a new feed truck/vertical feed mixer for their research farm in Urbana. IBA provided $50,000 toward this purchase. By working together, increased beef cattle research opportunities can be realized benefiting Illinois cattle producers.
Working with Illinois Department of Agriculture leaders like Ag Director Jerry Costello, Deputy Director Kristi Jones, Illinois State Fair leader Joe Khayyat, and a large group of other staff in Springfield, IBA and the Illinois Beef Expo Committee are bringing the event back to Springfield this year. The trade show will be back in the lower level of the Livestock Center. Barn 110 will house junior show cattle providing more indoor cattle stalling. The Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale bulls will be housed in Building 13 and 14 with a video sale of the bulls in the Artisan Building on Thursday. The MidAmerica Simmental Sale, and the Illinois Angus Futurity and Sale will be held in Building 13/14 on Friday. These changes allow more flexible scheduling on Saturday and Sunday for junior activities.
By working together - IBA, IDOA, and our breed associations are making a positive difference.
IBA, with funding support provided by Illinois Corn and Illinois Soybean is increasing activities for the IBA Illinois Beef Leadership Academy. If you are between the ages of 21 to 40 this is an excellent opportunity to improve your leadership skills and to make a difference for the beef cattle industry. Interested IBA and future IBA members should contact the IBA office for more information about the “Illinois Beef Leadership Academy”.
IBA, with funding support provided by Illinois Corn, was able to develop and implement the Illinois Beef Anthem Campaign; this significant marketing effort last year was aimed at promoting beef to urban and suburban consumers through social media. To date over one million hits have occurred, and Illinois Corn has agreed to partner with us again this year, along with additional partnership commitments from Iowa’s Beef Industry Council. Working together, success can be nearly unlimited.
Along with other commodity groups and agriculture organizations, IBA engages in the Illinois Farm Families coalition, which is a public relations program reaching thousands of non-farm families with a positive message about Illinois agriculture. IBA is also a supporter of Illinois Ag In The Classroom - a statewide program that provides positive messages about agriculture to thousands of children, many of whom have never been on a farm.
During 2021, IBA worked with the Iowa Beef Industry Council to advertise beef in the Chicago area. Together we sponsored three billboards. During the month of May, a billboard on the Dan Ryan Expressway received over 600,000 exposures each week. During June and July, two other billboards received between 200,000 and 300,000 exposures per week. Working together to make a difference reminds everyone, “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner”.
Executive Edge
Josh St. Peters,
Association Executive Vice President
We’re heading to Illinois Beef Expo in a matter of days, and it is sure to be a wonderful gathering for our entire industry. The four-day event is back in Springfield, on the Illinois State Fairgrounds, with sales and shows and trade show vendors bringing together the best of the best they have to offer. I hope you’re planning to make the trip to take in the Expo for yourself, to be together with thousands of other beef producers and cattle families from across Illinois. Later in this issue you’ll see a full schedule of event, and I’m certain that it contains something for everyone.
The Expo event requires cooperation and collaboration from several different groups. The work of planning this year’s event got underway in late spring of 2021 – shortly after last year’s abbreviated junior show event wrapped up in Peoria. Three great coordinators pull it all together: Ashley Beutke with Illinois Farm Bureau, Cori Malone at Illinois State University and Mareah Rauch from IBA make a dream team for planning and plotting out how the Expo can grow and offer more for the state’s beef industry.
The Expo’s volunteer board of directors brings great leadership, and it has been a pleasure to see them work together in decision-making and guiding the many updates
across any of these folks at Expo, please stop and give them a pat on the back. They’ve volunteered a lot of their time traveling to and from Springfield for meetings, walk throughs and planning sessions to make it all happen.
Dr. Paul Walker shares some observation in this issue’s “Association Focus” column about groups working together to achieve great results – and I’m certainly a believer that the partnership between our Expo board and staff members paved the way for a wonderful event later this month. Let’s just hope that Mother Nature does her part to work with us; I’ve been praying for a little less mud, some sunshine and clear skies to get all the attendees and cattle through Expo without any delays or inconveniences.
In addition to the details of Illinois Beef Expo, this issue of the magazine is packed with a lot of great writing on several interesting and informative topics; I told the staff that this issue has it all, from college basketball to bull sales, political updates to show winners and great thought-starters on
Illinois Beef
Extension Update
Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension Beef Specialist
Bull Buyers Guide
Are you sifting through stacks of bull sale catalogs looking for your next bull? While bull selection can be a daunting task, your choice will impact your herd for years to come. Thus, taking some time to think about what you need from your next herd sire is important.
Here are some points to emphasize when it comes to bull selection.
Know your market. Understand what traits are value added-traits for your market. One of the best parts about the cattle industry is the different ways producers achieve their goals. While selling calves at weaning into the commodity market is the majority, some cattlemen are marketing in very creative ways. Local freezer beef, retained ownership, alliances, branded beef programs, video sales, or fitting the production environment to a consumer demanded practice. These are all ways farmers are adding value to their calves. Your bull selection should be based on traits that are profitable in your market.
Don’t sacrifice functional traits or adaptability to your production environment. It is really easy to get caught up in the data, but remember these critters need to be sound and function in the pasture. Good feet and legs, a strong libido, and docility are all imperative. Masculinity, big testicles, and a tight sheath are good phenotypic indicators of the right kind. Buying bulls that are raised in similar conditions to your farm is preferred. You can buy someone else’s genetics, but you can’t buy their management.
Require a passed BSE (Breeding Soundness Exam) and farm herd health protocols. I also suggest a quarantine period for new purchases. A minimum of two weeks will allow time for potential pathogens to break without exposing your herd. Many times cattle coming from a sale have experienced elevated stress. It is important to keep them on good feed, in a clean pen, and allow the quarantine period to run its course.
Identify and understand Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) and phenotypes that signify value added traits you are seeking. Calving ease (CE) is an important and valuable trait. Sometimes when talking to producers I hear them stressing both CE and birth weight (BW). BW is an indicator trait for CE, but you don’t get paid for light birth weight calves. You get paid by not having to invest time and labor in pulling calves. So, avoid putting too much downward pressure on BW, especially if the bull will breed cows.
Another mistake I see is purchasing low BW bulls for cows. This is not necessary. Many times you can purchase a bull with average or better-than-average calving ease for cows at a discount to “heifer bulls” with comparable growth. Smooth, flat shouldered bulls with decent CE EPDs are good value bulls for breeding mature cows.
If you sell your calves at weaning through the salebarn and keep your own replacements, EPD traits of priority should be CE, heifer pregnancy, stayability, and weaning weight. Selecting for more yearling weight, milk production, or carcass traits are much less important in this scenario. If you retain-ownership in your cattle through the feedlot and market to the packer, then yearling weight and carcass traits become much more relevant to your bottom line. Your ultimate goal should be to produce the most profitable product, thus seek traits that add value without increasing cost of production over the value of the trait.
Utilize appropriate multiple trait selection indexes. Find the sweet spot/ profitable window in milk, YW, and carcass EPDs. Avoid putting too much emphasis on one trait. Nearly all breeds now have dollar index values that help put economics to trait selection. These indexes can be extremely effective tools if the index scenario matches your operation.
Large volume of cattle feeding &
handling equipment
chutes | tubs | alleys | bunks | gates
While we are not far from producers being able to create their own indexes, for now it is important to read and understand what traits go into specific breed indexes. Combined Value ($C) is one of the newest dollar values used by the Angus breed. It is an index that is expressed in dollars per head that aims to show value across the entire value chain. The index incorporates the most individual traits of any Angus $ index, but some traits are weighted more than others. Ultimately, no index is perfect and the emphasis on certain traits may not always match your exact herd goals. However, understanding and utilizing indexes can help improve genetic value.
Don’t be fooled by index names. Beef Value ($B) is a terminal index. It is a great tool for cattlemen that are not keeping replacements. This index will increase profitability of cattle in the feedlot and on the grid. Unfortunately, I have heard $B referred to as a comprehensive EPD index several times, which it is not. It is vital to understand that $B is a terminal index. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The breeder or an Extension specialist will be able to help explain the numbers.
Demand higher accuracy for traits. Technologies are available for seedstock producers to increase the accuracy of EPDs on yearling bulls. Genomic-enhanced EPDs result in less risk, less change, and more predictability in how a yearling bull will sire. A bull buyer can feel more confident now than ever in EPDs when they are backed by genomic testing.
Heterosis. Crossbreeding systems are hard to deploy and maintain in small herds. However, leaving hybrid vigor on
the table in a commercial herd is a big loss. Otherwise lowly heritable traits like reproduction, health, and cow longevity are best improved by crossbreeding. Crossbred cows and maternal heterosis is a key to profitability on commercial cow/calf operations. Studies have shown net profit per cow is increased by $75/cow/year as a result of maternal heterosis.
Buy the right size, type, and demand quality. I would compare this to buying a car or truck. If you have little money for gas (feed), then don’t buy a gas (feed) guzzler. Buy a bull that fits your cow herd. Your cows will tell you the right size and milk production for your management. If they come up open… they are not the right size or maybe milk too heavy. Now, you also want a bull that is the right type. You don’t buy a fancy sports car for a work vehicle do you? So why buy a fancy, sexy bull to produce working kind cattle? To me there is a difference in fancy and quality. I suggest you demand quality. Select a product that will last and hold value. Look for signs that the breeder stands behind their product. That is a good sign of quality.
Seek value when buying a bull. The lowest priced bull is seldom the best valued. If you find a bull that has the traits you are looking for… buy him. Set a budget, but understand it is often hard to find everything you are looking for. Bulls with the traits you are seeking can add value to your cattle in a hurry. They can add far more value than a cow. The bull you buy this year will impact your herd for the next 5 years with his calves, but his daughters will impact your herd for the next 20 years. Make a good investment. Buy a bull that adds value to your calves and your cowherd.
Gate Cuts
Paul Walker, DI Walker Consulting
Notable Quotes and Statistics
• Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and, the wisdom to know the difference.
• The best way to predict the future is to create it.
• We talk a lot about sustainability, especially as it pertains to the environment. People do not talk as much about economic sustainability.
• Regarding plastic bag use in the U.S., 100 billion single use plastic bags are used each year; 12 minutes is the average time a bag is used; average life span of a bag is 1000 years; less than 10% of bags used are recycled.
• Beef cattle only account for 2.0% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
• Shoppers who buy eggs spend 2 times as much money per grocery store visit.
• A grocery item that is picked up is purchased 85% of the time. That is why packaging is so important.
• Regular meat consumers (68% of consumers) are much more likely to purchase beef compared to plant -based alternatives.
• Protein in beef is higher quality protein than protein in plant-based alternatives.
• Digestible indispensable amino acid score of beef is higher than that of plant-based alternatives.
• Alternative plant-based proteins are expected to account for 11% of the total protein market by 2035.
• Nearly half (49%) of consumers are willing to pay a premium for products with high quality assurances and verifiable standards.
• Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in Illinois.
• Illinois ranks first in soybean, pumpkin and horseradish production.
• Illinois is second in corn and fourth in pork production.
• Illinois is first in food processing sales, worth $150 billion annually.
• There ae 72,000 farms in Illinois occupying 27 million acres or about 75% of Illinois land.
• Between 1980 and 2020 beef production per cow increased 53% but pork production per sow increased 151%, milk production per dairy cow increased 100%, corn yield increased 89%, and soybean yield increased 90%.
• Number of U.S. farms with beef cows declined 29.4% between 1978 and 2017 but average inventory per farm increased 27.7%.
• Number of U.S. farms with hogs declined 87.0% between 1978 and 2017 but average operation size increased 10 times.
• Number of U.S. farms with dairy cows fell 83.6% but average size increased five-fold between 1978 and 2017.
• Between 1978 and 2017 the number of U.S. farms growing corn for grain decreased 63.8% but tripled in average size;
while operations growing soybeans declined 44.9% with average acreage per operation increasing 165%.
• More than 89% of all farmers and ranchers make more than one half of their income from off-farm jobs.
• Sales of prime beef volume were up 55% in 2020.
• During their next dining experience, 46% of consumers will order beef.
• Illinois had 356,000 beef cows that calved in 2021. This number is down 6% from 2020.
• Illinois ranks 26th in number of beef cows and 21 in number of dairy cows.
• Illinois ranks 14th in cattle on feed, feeding 230,000 cattle in 2020. That represents 2-days of the national harvest number.
• There are 16,269 beef cattle operations in Illinois.
• The average size cow herd in Illinois is 65 cattle.
• It took 162 minutes of labor in 1991 and 113 minutes in 2021 for the U.S. worker making Median Wage to purchase a 10 lb. ham.
• It took 92 minutes of labor in 1991 and 102 minutes in 2021 for the U.S. worker making Medium Wage to purchase four pounds of sirloin steak.
• Being the premium meat has an upside and a downside. It may be possible for beef to price itself out of being the entree of choice.
• Per capita consumption in 2020 of pork was 52 lb., beef was 58 lb. and poultry was 113 lb. Pork Consumption has been fairly stable for 30 years. Poultry consumption has been increasing for over 40 years.
• Beef consumption increased until 1976, then decreased for 25 years and has been varying between 54 and 60 pounds for 25 years.
• You are not finished when you lose. You are finished when you quit.
• Action takes you out of doubt. Doubt takes you out of action.
• The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.
• The Illinois Beef Association works for the Illinois cattle producer everyday promoting beef, lobbying legislators, building positive relationships with government agencies, providing informative activities for producers, and offering educational opportunities for juniors with interest in the beef cattle industry so producers can do what they do best-- produce wholesome, nutritious, tasty beef in a sustainable way.
Affiliate News
Jo Daviess County Beef Association
The Jo Daviess County Beef Association scholarship fund provides financial assistance to Jo Daviess County students studying agriculture or agricultural related fields. Scholarship funds were raised during the beef promotion and scholarship auction at the 2021 Jo Daviess County Beef Association banquet.
• $1,500 scholarships have been awarded to Devin Koester, Haley Brudi, Corwin Moser, Stanlee Rillie, Simon Rillie and Nicki Adolph.
• $1,000 scholarships have been awarded to: Dalton Wachter, Nicholas Girot, Wyatt Potter, Maggie Handfelt, Taylor Korte and Mackensie Furlong.
Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association
Mark your calendars for the 2022 Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association Banquet on Saturday Feb. 12, 2022 at the Western Illinois University grand ballroom. Banquet schedule includes:
• Social hour and trade show at 5:00 p.m.
• Banquet program at 6:00 p.m. The banquet program includes recognition of 2021 scholarship recipients and banquet sponsors.
• Felix and Fingers Dueling Piano Band at approximately 8:00 p.m.
• The evening will conclude with a live and silent auction to benefit the Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association scholarship program. Auction items include a backyard BBQ party, semen and breeding services packages, a Peoria Chiefs suite package, a handmade custom barn wood frame and print and many more.
Sponsorships opportunities are still available. For more information on how to be a sponsor, contact Alison McGrew at 309337-0687 or japmcgrew07@gmail.com.
For more information or advance tickets, contact president Jon Haney at 309-313-2618, secretary Gayle Baker at 563-380-8720 or Tyler Schleich at 309-335-3939.
Tri-County Cattlemen silent auction to benefit scholarship program. IBA president, Dr. Paul Walker speaking at 2021 Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association banquet.
Affiliate News
Do you have Affiliate News? Submit information to Mareah Rauch at mareah@illinoisbeef.com 217-787-4280.
Please notify Mareah with changes to affiliate officer teams.
In the Know
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Announces New Illinois State Fair Manager
Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello II recently announced the hiring of Rebecca Clark as the new manager of the Illinois State Fair.
Clark is no stranger to the fair having formerly served as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA). She currently serves as the PIO for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).
While at IDOA, Clark worked hand in hand with state fair staff promoting and marketing the fair and coordinating all press coverage.
“I’m very appreciative of Governor Pritzker and Director Costello for this opportunity,” said Rebecca Clark. “The fairgrounds have always been a special place for me. I grew up coming to the Illinois State Fair and now create memories with my own children on the fairgrounds. This opportunity brings my fair going experience full circle. I can’t wait to welcome Illinoisans to the fairgrounds, whether for the Illinois State Fair or one of the many events that call the fairgrounds home year-round.”
“Rebecca brings with her great knowledge of the Illinois State Fair from multiple avenues,” said IDOA Director, Jerry Costello II. “She knows the ins and outs of the fair due to her time while she was employed with Ag and she also played a crucial part in keeping fairgoers safe and healthy during the 2021 Illinois State Fair, while working for IEMA.”
IBA Member Named FSA State Executive Director for Illinois
The USDA has recently announced Illinois beef producer Scott Halpin as the appointment of State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Illinois. He is the proud owner and operator of Halpin Farms and Halpin Farms Cattle in conjunction with his parents and brother. The family farm specializes in a row-crop, corn and soybean rotation and produces hay and silage. Halpin has adapted conservation management practices on his farm to allow milkweed to grow in non-crop areas to support the monarch butterfly population and improve conservation efforts for on farm pollinator habitats.
In addition to his farm work, he has served as chairman for the Member Services and Public Relations committee within the Illinois Farm Bureau. Recently, he traveled internationally to learn first-hand about international trade issues as a member of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program Class of 2020. He is a graduate of Joliet Junior College where he received a degree in Agriculture Production. Halpin lives in South Wilmington with his wife, Sarah, and their three children.
FSA State Executive Directors oversee Farm Service Agency operations and agricultural policy implementation in the state. Each State Executive Director works with the State Committee to administer FSA programs and County office operations, develops and maintains stakeholder relationships with customers and other agencies and governments.
IBA Plans to Expand Staffing, Grow Resources in Marketing and Membership
The Illinois Beef Association Board of Governors has approved the creation of a new staff role to serve in the organization’s Springfield office. A search is currently underway to hire a full-time Manager of Communications and Membership for the organization, to focus on public relations, beef marketing and IBA membership activities. The new position is created as IBA expands communications work on behalf of the statewide cattle industry; Betty Haynes was named Manager, Publications & Promotions for IBA effective January 1. The new hire will work with Haynes and team members: Nancy Betz, Financial Officer and Business Manager, and Mareah Rauch, Director of Programs and Services. The four staff positions report to IBA Executive Vice President, Josh St. Peters. More details on the position, including how to apply, can be found at IllinoisBeef.com.
Biden Roundtable with Farmers Focuses on a More Competitive Meat Supply Chain
On January 3, President Biden convened a roundtable with farmers, ranchers, an independent poultry processor, and members of his Cabinet to discuss the need for greater competition in beef, pork and poultry processing and to announce the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain. The President, Secretary Vilsack, and Attorney General Garland explained the steps the Administration is taking to increase processing options for farmers and ranchers, create fairer and more competitive markets, bring down prices for consumers, and ensure farmers and ranchers get a fair price for their product.
The President highlighted the strong economy going into 2022 and explained that under his July Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, the Administration has been focused on tackling the lack of competition in agricultural markets. He explained that just a small handful of companies control the majority of the markets for beef, pork, and poultry, enabling them to squeeze farmers and ranchers while also raising prices on consumers. He also thanked bipartisan members of Congress working together on legislation to increase transparency in the cattle market.
Secretary Vilsack provided details on the Administration’s $1 billion investment of American Rescue Plan Funds to finance and support independent processing projects that will give farmers and ranchers more and better options. He further described the Department of Agriculture’s commitment to work in concert with the Department of Justice and other enforcement agencies, including new rulemakings under the Packers and Stockyards Act, and new rules to protect consumers from confusion over whether products labeled “Product of USA” are really made here at home.
Attorney General Garland spoke to the Justice Department’s commitment to increase competition across industries, including in the agricultural sector, and to enforce federal laws robustly and vigorously. He described a new joint initiative with the Department of Agriculture to better coordinate the two agencies’ federal enforcement efforts, including the launch of a new joint portal within 30 days where farmers and ranchers can lodge concerns about potential violations of the Clayton Act, Sherman Act, or Packers and Stockyards Act. Garland also described the Department’s commitment to supporting the strongest possible whistleblower protections.
Roundtable participants described how lack of competition in the meat and poultry supply chain impacts their businesses and their lives, and the challenges they face because a few large companies dominate the processing markets. The farmers and ranchers explained that they are often at the mercy of just a few buyers who determine the price they receive, and that even as these conglomerates raise prices at the grocery stores, they push down prices for farmers and ranchers, taking wealth out of rural communities and hurting consumers.
STRESS. LESS CALVES. MORE
Routes of Disease Transmisson
by Dr. Teresa L. Steckler, University of Illinois Extension
The last year has been interesting socially, economically, and most of all from a human health perspective due to Covid-19. The pandemic demonstrated just how quickly a disease can spread internationally, regionally and locally. During a disease transmission emergency, efforts to contain and control the spread are essential. Many of the basic principles for disease prevention in humans are applicable for livestock. Livestock producers should have a basic understanding of how diseases can move from animal to animal, as well as location to location.
Regardless of the disease source, animal diseases (as well as human) can be spread a variety of ways to herd mates - this varies depending on the specific disease of concern. Animal diseases can be spread by five main routes of transmission: direct contact; inhalation of aerosols; ingestion; indirect transfer by fomites (such as equipment, footwear or vehicles); or vector transmission.
Direct contact is one of the main methods of disease spread between animals. It occurs when a susceptible animal comes in direct contact with an infected animal, its body fluids or tissues. Depending on the microorganism, it may
be transferred directly by blood, saliva, urine, or feces. It may also be spread through contact with infected animal lesions or tissues. Entry into the susceptible animal generally occurs through contact with the mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth but can also enter through open wounds or breaks in the skin. Possible exposures can occur from nose-to-nose contact, biting or rubbing against each other. Some diseases of animals can also be spread during breeding or from mother-to-offspring, during gestation or via milk when nursing.
Aerosol transmission is another means of disease spread. This involves the transfer of disease agents in droplets spread through the air, which are then inhaled by another animal. Most microorganisms are not able to survive for extended periods of time within the aerosol droplets. Thus, close proximity of infected and susceptible animals is required for disease transmission. Aerosol transmission can also occur when infected droplets from urine, feces, or birthing material get stirred up from contaminated soil or dust and inhaled.
Oral transmission of disease-causing organisms involves ingestion through the consumption of contaminated feed or water, or by licking/chewing on contaminated environmental
objects. Feed and water contaminated with feces, urine or saliva are frequently the cause of oral transmission of disease agents. Fecal-oral transmission of diseases is a common means of infection in animals (and people). Shared feed and water sources can contribute to the spread of the disease.
Indirect transmission may occur by fomites. These are inanimate objects, such as equipment, clothing, footwear or vehicles, that can transfer microorganisms from an infected animal to another animal or person. Examples of fomites that may be present during a response include needles, balling guns (used to dispense medication to cattle), feed or water buckets, bedding and shovels. Even items such as clothing or vehicles may become contaminated and serve to spread pathogens.
Vector transmission refers to living organisms spreading disease from an infected animal to another. Mosquitoes, ticks, biting midges and flies are common disease carrying vectors, but sometimes rodents or birds can serve as disease vectors.
Keep in mind that transmission varies with the disease of concern and multiple routes of transmission may be possible for some diseases while other diseases may be limited to a single mode of transmission. Also, it is important to remember that some diseases may cause immediate clinical signs in livestock such as fever and lethargy as it is being transmitted, while other diseases may have a much longer latency period resulting in livestock spreading the disease initially without any clinical signs.
The old saying goes,“an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Having and implementing a biosecurity plan is a key component of any animal health strategy for disease prevention and control. Consulting with your herd veterinarian and having knowledge of diseases of concern for your area can lead to the development of a biosecurity plan that can help prevent and control the spread of disease on your farm.
One of the first steps in preventing further spread of disease is minimizing contact between susceptible and infected animals. This is often accomplished by isolating the infected animal. When working with animals in isolated or quarantined areas, dedicated equipment should be used to prevent pathogen spread outside of the area. Proper cleaning and disinfection procedures are also important for preventing the spread of pathogens by fomites, such as equipment, vehicles, or footwear. It is important to keep all animal housing as clean and dry as possible to minimize risk of environmental exposure.
As with clean food and water, clean or fresh air is just as important. Certain diseases can be transmitted through the air. To minimize aerosol transmission, maximize ventilation to an area and provide fresh air. This will also prevent humidity and odors from building up. Also, it is important to control the amount of dust generated in animal housing areas. Dust can damage the protective cells in the respiratory tract of livestock and humans, plus result in exposure to contaminated particles that can cause disease.
Keeping feed and water clean by minimizing fecal and urine contamination is extremely important. Prevent rodent, bird, raccoon, and dog access to feed and water to prevent
contamination by these vectors. Proper waste management procedures can help to keep the environment clean and dry. Cleaning and disinfection procedures for feed bunks or water tanks can help minimize transmission between animals.
There are numerous vectors that transmit diseases. Vector control begins with understanding the insect’s life cycle. Insect life stages vary and so do the specific, effective control measures. For instance, the egg laying grounds for flies are different than that of mosquitoes and midges. Due to these differences a single approach will not work. First, identify then remove possible or potential breeding areas and larval habitats. Areas of concern, such as manure or organic material, are optimal breeding grounds for some insects. Cleaning animal feeding areas and barn yards can minimize these insects and vectors. Additional areas of concern include standing water sources, such as tree holes, old tires or agitating any water sources, such as stock tanks or water troughs. In addition to cleaning these areas, several other methods exist such as: parasitic or predatory insects; insecticides, either as a knockdown or residual treatment; and baits and fly traps.
It is important to understand the diseases of concern in your area, especially mode of transmission. Understanding the diseases can help you develop a biosecurity plan with your herd veterinarian to minimize disease presence on your farm. Exposure to disease can come from a variety of sources and many disease agents can survive for extended periods of time in the environment.
The sk inny.
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Proactive Nutrient Management
Why you should be setting up a manure nutrient management plan now –and how to make it easier.
by Joli A. Hohenstein
As regulators’ eyes increasingly turn to how livestock operations are managing manure, savvy producers would be well served to voluntarily establish their own protocols and practices, before EPA or other government agencies mandate the same. For Illinois beef producers, it’s not just a question of operating sustainably and responsibly, but rather of putting in place best practices and then documenting how you accomplish them on your own farm.
That’s why producers like Dave Duzan, who is backgrounding cattle on open lots near Lexington, have taken nutrient management into their own hands. Seeing the proverbial writing on the wall, Duzan began building his own nutrient management plan six years ago. “I thought it was the right thing to do,” he says. “We’ve got to show that we’re doing the best we can with the resources we have.”
Like many producers, the idea of manure management was intimidating for Duzan. That’s why he reached out to University of Illinois Extension educators. “I attended a Nutrient Management Planning Workship offered by
IBA and University of Illinois Extension. They’ve been a tremendous resource – I continue to bounce ideas off of Jay Solomon.” Solomon, a Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator, and his colleagues at the Illinois Extension, not only helped Duzan get started, but also provided an architecture he uses for support even to this day.
Creating a Plan
Both Solomon and Duzan emphasize that a nutrient management plan isn’t a one-time exercise; it’s a tool, a living document. “It’s designed for you to go back and reference, not put it on a shelf,” Solomon says.
Start by gathering some information. “Think about how much manure you have in stock or how much you are creating each year. Get a lab analysis so you know what you’re working with,” he says. “That’s the basis of the plan, an understanding of what we’re trying to do.”
Winter is the perfect time to work on a nutrient management plan, according to Solomon, because you’ll be ready in-season. “Work through it now when it’s not nice to be outside – do all that work before hand, so that when it
comes time to do application, you know which field at which rate, and you can just start doing it; you don’t have to take the time to figure it out.”
It’s important to know how much and which nutrients the crops need – and what rate you want to apply. Then, you need to know how much acreage you have to work with and what the crop needs nutrient-wise.
If you’re growing corn, the planning process should include a soil test for phosphorus. (With beef manure, you don’t want to apply to the same place every time; you work on a two- to three-year rotation to prevent phosphorus buildup.)
Next, pull a representative manure sample and send it to a certified manure lab. Think of it like a soil test, says Solomon. “Don’t just take it at the end of application. Think about how to get a good representative sample.”
Again, now is a good time to take a sample. Otherwise, if you take it at the end of application, “you’re using last year’s manure analysis to do a plan for next year – so in essence, you’re a year behind,” he says. “If you can do a sample now and get the analysis back so you’re actually working on this year, that’s a good place to start.”
Extension educators have a number of tools like nitrogen
and phosphorus calculators to help you with the process: apps and forms alike.
At its most basic level, a nutrient management plan matches the nutrients you have in manure to the nutrients your crop needs, so the crop can efficiently use those nutrients.
“The idea is not to have manure be a waste product but a product where you utilize the nutrients,” Solomon explains. “Then, we create documentation that we’re utilizing manure and where we land applied, that we didn’t just dump it. And you track the results so you know you’re making a good estimate going forward.”
As you’re creating your plan, Solomon encourages producers to ask for help. “Your plan is only as good as your understanding of it,” he says.
Efficient Implementation
One of the first things Duzan did was invest in a good vertical beater spreader. “It’s not a must – you have to fit your pocketbook,” he says. “But, it gives us more uniform coverage, and we’re more efficient in handling.”
Duzan also put down a non-permeable base to pile
the manure on. “With that, we can turn and stack manure without having to worry about it,” he explains. “And we’re always watching runoff carefully.”
Much of manure management goes hand in hand with good animal husbandry, Duzan says – practices like using bedding in a responsible manner, scraping pens on a frequent, regular schedule. “You become better stewards of cattle, better caregivers,” he says.
Solomon also suggests identifying small changes to help make manure transport and storage easier. “Think about, ‘What are the things we can do to make it easier to move off site?’” he says.
One example: Create a drier product. Divert clean water from getting into the manure pit or storage. If water is running across an open feed lot, that’s water you have to deal with. Keep gutters clean. Use enough bed pack to keep pens dry, but not create an excessive amount to handle. As Solomon says, “Are there tweaks to your management that can reduce the amount you have to deal with without adversely impacting livestock performance?”
Beneficial Perspectives
As you’re implementing nutrient management, it’s important to think not just in terms of costs but also benefits. And if the operation is separated – cattle and grain– make sure the crop side recognizes that the farm side needs to pay for the nutrients.
Also, assess the process from different angles. “It’s not just a cost on the cattle side; it’s a benefit on the crop side,” says
Solomon. “Manure has a lot of good characteristics. It is the original organic fertilizer. It has micronutrients. Soil erosion risk is reduced because it has carbon in it.”
Duzan’s experience – and his numbers – show just that. “We charge ourselves x cost to gather, scrape and spread. It is worth $126 an acre at today’s fertilizer prices. But even six years ago, we were still on the positive.”
That’s another huge statement on the benefits of nutrient management – not only being good stewards of the land but also potentially reducing input costs by buying less commercial fertilizer. An effective plan will include provisions for recording metrics such as when and how you applied. If you aren’t weighing, simply record how many loads you move.
At the end of the year, with the right plan in place, you should be able to see exactly how and where you used the manure and its precious nutrients. “The goal is to utilize nutrients and show you properly utilized them,” says Solomon, “so that if you ever get questioned on it, you can prove that you are managing nutrients in an agronomically appropriate manner.”
The records are as much for you as they are for potential audits down the road. And they will also help you evolve your nutrient management plan – as you utilize the tactics, you’ll develop a better idea of what works best for your operation. “It took us about two years to get fully operational with nutrient management,” says Duzan. “We’ve made steady improvements as we’ve gone along.”
Plant Cover Crops. Feed Cattle. Protect Soil.
TRIFECTA OF TACTICS MAY BENEFIT ILLINOIS BEEF PRODUCERS
Researchers at UIUC and IDOA share resources for cover crop usage.
by Barb Anderson
Illinois corn and soybean farmers increasingly understand the benefits of planting cover crops; building soil health, retaining nutrients, controlling erosion and suppressing weeds. But seeing those advantages come to economic fruition requires patience.
“A lot of research has been done on the benefits of cover
crops for crop farmers,” says Dan Shike, University of Illinois animal sciences associate professor. “Now we are starting to get questions from producers about integrating cattle into the system. We see an opportunity for those producers to get a quicker return from cover crops by lowering feeding costs.”
Brain Rennecker, bureau chief with the Illinois
UIUC cover crop plot that was mechanically harvested in May at the Urbana Campus site.
Department of Agriculture Bureau of Land & Water Resources, agrees. “Cover crops, in addition to their water quality and soil benefits, offer a good protein source for cattle producers for grazing during the fall and winter,” he says. “More and more producers are learning there are good forage benefits with multi-species cover crop blends that are cheaper and require less maintenance than alfalfa as forage.”
Shike together with Kylie Ewing, University of Illinois graduate research assistant, is exploring the possibilities for beef producers to graze cover crops or harvest cover as feedstuffs.
“Illinois has two million acres of pasture and 27 million acres of cropland. When you integrate crops with livestock, the short-term economic benefit is using cropland during the winter with more land for grazing. It improves use of available forage, lengthens the grazing season and lowers feed costs,” says Ewing. “Integrating cover crops into grain and beef cattle operations will provide soil-livestock synergies and a viable opportunity to see improved cattle gains.”
Ewing’s research is just underway to determine cover crop forage yield and quality as well as feed value of different small grain forage monocultures and legume blends. She also is assessing soil properties with university crop scientists. The objective is to study the effects of grazed and ungrazed cover crops on especially physical and biological soil health.
During fall of 2020, cover crop trials were established at the Dudley Smith Farm in Pana and on the University of Illinois campus in Urbana. Four cover crop treatments were planted at each location: cereal rye, triticale, rye plus crimson clover and triticale plus crimson clover.
The Pana site was divided into grazed and ungrazed sections to study the impact of cattle on the soil and the impact of forage quality and quantity on performance. All four treatments in Urbana were harvested for haylage in the spring for use in a feed study to evaluate cattle performance.
“We are just one year in on this project,” says Shike. “We need to gather multiple-year data on both the monoculture cover crop and the various blends of species that farmers continue to try to determine which blends are best.”
Factors for Consideration
Even though the research is in its early stages, Shike and Ewing have been able to identify several management practices that producers can evaluate in their own operations today. However, benefits of those practices are moving targets as every farm and every year is different.
Ewing advises producers to first outline individual goals for incorporating cover crops and feeding cattle. Producers must decide whether to feed cows or weaned calves, for example, and whether to graze in the fall or spring or harvest cover crops for haylage instead. Once those decisions are made, a planting window with the chosen crop(s) can be established.
“Cover crops are sensitive to seeding timing. If you are just planting cover crops as cover to help retain nutrients in the soil for the next year, timing is less sensitive. But if you want to graze in the fall, you need to be more be particular on timing and species selection,” says Shike.
As part of her research, Ewing is testing planting cover
UIUC cover crop plot at grazing in April at the Dudley Smith Farm.
UIUC cover crop plot that was mechanically harvested in May at the Urbana Campus site.
crop seed into an existing corn or soybean crop using a robot that travels under the plant canopy. This improves seed-tosoil contact as compared to aerial seed application and may diminish the timing challenge.
“If cover crop planting must take place after harvest, the number of days that cover will be available for grazing is limited. When grazing cows, length of grazing is particularly important,” says Ewing. “In Pana, we had timely planting and a good stand, so we were able to spring graze.”
Ewing adds that weaned calves placed on cover crops during the winter will see better gain than cows. Spring grazing of either cows or calves is subject to weather. Traditionally wet soils in the spring are easily compacted by cattle. Other factors that must be weighed by producers when deciding what animals to graze are soil and crop yield impacts, stocking rate and cost and logistical considerations for fencing, water supply and facilities.
“Location also plays a role in using cover crops for cattle, since Illinois from north to south features a variety of beef production systems. “Timing flexibility is going to be better in southern Illinois,” Shike says. “Aerial seeding is likely required in the north to get a jump start on timing. Every day you can graze is going to increase your feed cost savings.”
While little research has been done to calculate the economics of grazing or feeding cover crops, Shike estimates getting 40 days of grazing in the fall may mean easily $100 per acre in feed cost savings. In the spring, 10-15 days of grazing may be available for $20-50 per acre in savings. A good rule of thumb may be $2 per cow per day in savings, so up to $80 per cow.
“We will continue to see cover crop grazing gain momentum in Illinois,” says Shike. “In some ways, trial and error by producers is already ahead of university research. We will share forage quality and yield, cattle performance and more with producers once research is complete.”
Rennecker notes the trend toward more cover crop conservation aids the state’s nutrient loss reduction goals. “As we see more conservation projects on the ground, we make decent progress toward our goals. But it takes time, dollars and staffing. We are stair stepping to success.”
To get started combining cover crops and cattle, Ewing recommends these websites:
Grazing Cover Crops: A How-To Guide by Pasture Project
Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations from the Sustainable Ag Research and Education (SARE)
• https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/
New Rules Facilitate Cover Crop Grazing
Illinois cattle producers have more opportunity to graze cover crops with less financial risk in 2022. For example, USDA announced last summer that producers with crop insurance can hay, graze or chop cover crops for silage, haylage or baleage at any time and still receive 100 percent of any prevented planting payments. Previously, cover crops could only be hayed, grazed or chopped after November 1 or the prevented planting payment was reduced by 65 percent.
In addition, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) no longer considers a cover crop planted following a prevented planting claim to be a second crop. But RMA will continue to consider a cover crop harvested for grain or seed a second crop subject to a reduction in the prevented planting indemnity. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also recently dropped their proposed restriction regarding mechanical harvest of cover crops.
Illinois has existing programs for producers to receive a premium benefit for planting cover crops. All cover crops reportable to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are eligible and include cereals and other grasses, legumes, brassicas and other nonlegume broadleaves, and mixtures of two or more cover crop species planted at the same time.
This Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Cover Crop Premium Discount Program, or “Fall Cover for Spring Savings,” as it is known, is offered for cover crop acres outside of other state and federal program incentives, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and state cost-share programs.
Interested participants in December could sign up acres planted to cover crops in the fall of 2021 that would be planted to an insurable crop in 2022. The state will cover 100,000 acres with a $5 per acre insurance premium discount on the following year’s crop insurance invoice for every acre of cover crop enrolled and verified in the program. As of deadline, the program was anticipated to fill quickly. The program also allows for managed haying and grazing of cover crops if it does not jeopardize the intended crop’s function and USDA crop termination rules.
Illinois also offers the Partners for Conservation Program through local Soil and Water Conservation Districts. While some of the funding is for office operations, other funding is available for cost-share conservation practices with up to 75 percent paid by the county.
“There are a multitude of programs on the federal and state levels. Producers need to be aware of what will work for their farms, as programs cannot be stacked together,” says Rennecker.
Soy nutrition is a vital component for all Illinois livestock. That’s why Illinois Soybean Association is proud to partner with other organizations in support of livestock expansion e orts across the state, supporting beef cattle producers as they work to improve farms, grow animal agriculture, and meet global demand with homegrown solutions.
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FROM COACH toCattleman
Universtiy of Illinois Men’s Basketball coach steps into the show ring at the Illinois State Fair.
by McKenzie Davison
An Unlikely Encounter
Originally from the small town of McPherson, Kans., Brad Underwood’s journey to becoming head coach at the University of Illinois men’s basketball program was not something that happened overnight. The roots of his career as a coach and mentor on the court began at HardinSimmons University in 1986, and has taken him across the country to six different states before planting him in Champaign at the coaching post he holds today.
His travels have allowed him to meet many different people with a diverse set of backgrounds along the way, including influential leaders and noted celebrity athletes. When you coach high-profile basketball programs, you find yourself running in some prominent circles of people. But an unlikely convenience store encounter early in his career with a well-known Illinois cattle producer spawned a friendship that has carried the coach through years of swapping stories, and this past summer even landed him in a heifer show at Illinois State Fair.
What began as a mundane morning soda and breakfast run to the gas station in Macomb, blossomed into a lifelong friendship between the NCAA Division I basketball icon and noted cattleman and auctioneer Jack Lowderman.
It was years ago, early in Brad’s coaching days when he was building his reputation for winning games on the court with Western Illinois University’s Leathernecks men’s basketball program. He and Jack found themselves making small talk on a daily basis, running into each other many mornings at the local Ayerco – the coach headed to an early practice at the university’s athletic complex while Jack was grabbing a hot beverage between morning chores. It was out of these morning run-ins, and Jack’s enthusiasm for Western Illinois University’s athletic programs, that he and the coach, joined by a few other locals, began including an early morning social appointment at the convenience store before work each day. The group of six men sat at the gas station discussing any recent happenings in their lives and finding solutions to the world's problems while they enjoyed their
morning coffee and soda.
"When I moved to Western Illinois University in the 1990s, it was as an assistant coach and I spent ten seasons there. I met Jack and his family, and came to appreciate their huge support of the basketball program. They are very prominent in the community, and I came to appreciate just how involved they were in the livestock industry, too," says Underwood.
The basketball coach may have grown up in cow-country, out on the Kansas plains, but his background didn’t mirror Jack’s. The Fighting Illini basketball leader doesn’t have cattle raising in his pedigree, but he had forged a friendship with someone who knew a lot about raising good cows, and also had a penchant for selling great ones.
Jack Lowderman was introduced to livestock at a very young age and says he has raised cattle his entire life. He spent a year at college and then decided to go into auctioneering. He graduated from auctioneering school at the age of eighteen in 1963 and sold livestock at five different auction markets. Jack and Tommy Williams, an Angus breeder, then partnered in an auction business for twenty years, which became the business many know today as Lowderman Auction & Real Estate Company. Through the years, Jack and his wife and sons have built a prominent auctioneering business outside of Macomb, where they also own and operate Lowderman Cattle Company.
The Lowdermans run a breeding program that’s noted for exceptional Hereford genetics, and they have sold winning cattle across the country through their annual sales. They pride themselves on the high-profile cattle they have marketed, and the success their cattle sales have helped create in other people’s show programs. And it was this reputation for marketing cattle that can build a winning program, that stitched a transaction into the relationship between Jack and the coach.
"It was kind of an accident that Brad got into the cattle business," says Lowderman.
The coach did have exposure to agriculture, and understood the basics of raising good livestock. It’s hard to grow up in a farm town and not spend some time on a farm. For Underwood, this included several summers of his youth spent baling hay, attending the local rodeos and helping
on his grandparent's farms in northwest and north-central Kansas.
"My wife was very involved in 4-H while growing up. In my early days of coaching, I often spent my vacation time helping on her family's hog operation," says Underwood.
After hearing about Jack's career, Brad gradually became more and more interested in buying and raising cattle. In 2021, Brad attended one of Lowderman's cattle auctions where he purchased a Horned Hereford heifer. Following the auction, Jack introduced the idea for Brad to come to the Illinois State Fair and exhibit his purchase.
Brad was initially surprised by the idea and explained, "Jack, I have never shown a calf before; I don't want to embarrass myself."
After some further convincing and reassurance from Jack, Brad agreed.
Beef and Basketball
During his trip to the Illinois State Fair open beef barn, Coach Underwood found himself among other familiar company. He’s not the only member of the Illinois basketball team with an interest in beef production. Connor Serven of Bushnell, is a sophomore at the University of Illinois, where he majors in agricultural and consumer economics, and also happens to play basketball under Coach Underwood.
Serven is built for the basketball court. He towers over most people at 6 foot 9 inches tall, and has been a noted athlete from his high school accomplishments on the court at Bushnell-Prairie City and in Chicago’s St. Rita high school basketball program. But he gets equally as excited, if not just a touch more animated, talking about cattle and farming as he does re-telling tales from the recent Illinois basketball game. Connor grew up showing cattle at the McDonough County Fair, and that is where he, too, met the Lowderman family.
"I always looked up to the Lowdermans for help or advice because of their success I saw in the industry," says Serven.
When Connor heard the news that his head coach would be exhibiting a heifer at the Illinois State Fair, he was eager to be there to support him.
"Being able to see my coach connect to my roots was a cool experience."
Like most show days, that trip to the Illinois State Fair
started with an early morning of preparation for Underwood and the Lowdermans. Connor traveled in from Champaign, where he was in the processing of moving into student athlete housing with the help of his parents Larry and Keli.
"I appreciated having Jack, Connor and their families there - they are all so involved in the industry, and sharing that special moment with them is something I won't ever forget," says Brad.
Lowderman made sure that there was an added cheering section that morning. A group of Western Illinois University coaching staff made the trip to Springfield, too, because they didn’t want to miss the chance to see Brad in his showring debut. There may have been a little ribbing and teasing in the open barn, ahead of that walk over to the Livestock Center, but it was all in good jest. Bystanders watched as the coaches and friends helped Underwood put on his exhibitor number and get one last walk-through of “how not to drop the show stick” while in the ring.
The first effort was a good one for Underwood and the April Hereford heifer; they stood third in a tough class but made it around the ring without any technical fouls. Ringside, a buzz of whispers could be heard as spectators in the Livestock Center tried to place a name with the familiar face exhibiting the Lowderman entry. One man out on the rail could be heard telling his kids, “that’s the danged basketball coach,” as he fumbled for his phone to capture video of the class.
After the class was excused from the ring, show staff brought Brad up to the mic and introduced him; the crowd
that had gathered gave a rousing applause as the coach yelled, “I-L-L”, the traditional Fighting Illini cheer to which the crowd responded, “I-N-I”! Jack were there, ringside, and all smiles for his friend Brad and the successful new experience as a beef exhibitor.
Following the show, Jack received calls and emails from Brad expressing his gratitude for having been given the opportunity to try something out of his comfort zone. Coach Underwood's attendance at the state fair helped showcase the importance of the beef industry as a whole and helped bring in the basketball community.
"The Illinois State Fair shows that there are a lot of outside people that don't have a direct relationship with the cattle industry but are willing to take time to learn and be involved in it," says Jack.
Brad and Connor have connected on and off the court because of their love for livestock and basketball, too.
"It is something we can talk about outside of basketball."
The two have bonded over their hobbies, strengthening their athlete-to-coach relationship seen on the court.
"An Everyday Thing"
Raising livestock is not a nine-to-five job where the work is done when you clock out for the day. Connor knows this all too well. While he showed livestock as a member of the Illinois Junior Beef Association, he spent most of his days washing, walking, feeding and working with his cattle to build a relationship with them.
"It's a lot like what we do in basketball," says Connor.
Connor, who used to spend his days in the barn, shifted his focus to the court. He often hears Coach Underwood preach to his players that college basketball is "an everyday thing."
Connor owes a lot of his success on the court to the long days he spent in the barn.
"There is no doubt that showing livestock has helped shape Connor as a person. I think we can all agree that farming is hard work and requires commitment and dedication, all of these qualities are translatable to the basketball and academic world. Connor is very disciplined in both areas, and there is no doubt that his upbringing has had a huge impact on that," says Brad.
You spend months preparing yourself for game day and show day in hopes that all your work has paid off in both basketball and showing cattle.
"When you get to game day, you have to show up and perform. If you don't, you go home and work harder for the next show or basketball game," says Connor.
The lessons and skills that Connor has learned from showing livestock and playing basketball will continue to shape him for the rest of his life.
There is no doubt that showing livestock has helped shape Connor as a person. I think we can all agree that farming is hard work and requires commitment and dedication, all of these qualities are translatable to the basketball and academic world.
- Brad Underwood University of Illinois Men’s Basketball Head Coach
"Being self-employed for many years our health insurance was at an all-time high. We struggled with the neverending increasing cost & with which route to take. During a drop off of Herefords... Dara just happened to mention that she could check into some options for us. Dara came to our rescue! She researched all the factors and we determined that offering group insurance through our Carthage Livestock Inc. Cattle sale barn was the best route to go. We saved money on our premiums, and we were able to offer our employees affordable quality health, dental, vision, and life insurance. Dara goes over and above what is normally expected to help you with your questions or concerns. We are so glad we switched and let Dara take care of our insurance needs!"
Brent & Kristene Lowderman – Carthage Livestock Inc. in Carthage, Ill.
"The health insurance costs and coverages have become very difficult to navigate for anyone self-employed. Working with Dara has taken the guess work out of the process, and has been a huge savings while having better coverage than I had been accustomed to. Thank you for the help and explanations of the coverage... and thank you very much for the substantial savings on premiums."
Bob Lemenager – Lemenager Farms, Ill.
"Dealing with health insurance coverage, prescriptions and costs is mind boggling, but with Dara's assistance and expertise she was able to find the perfect coverage and premium for our family as health care costs go up. I would recommend letting her work her magic in assisting anyone with insurance coverage needs. Dara truly looks out for her customers!" Chris Utegg – AU Showstock
Decades of Herd Building
Rincker Simmentals’ high-quality herd continues to have success in a varitey of operations.
by Jaclyn Krymowski
Alot has changed since Curt and Pam Rincker began their adventure as newlyweds and first-generation beef producers in 1977. But one thing that’s remained the same over the years is a strong passion for quality Simmental cattle. Together with their two grown children Brent and Cari, and new grandson Jace, the couple has built a herd – Rincker Simmentals – that has the look to compete in the show ring and the productivity demanded by commercial breeders. The Rinckers have marketed cattle throughout the Midwest and beyond from their home farm in Shelbyville.
“Everything has changed, Curt reflects. “We started out with cattle that we didn't have a lot of information about genetically.”
Ever since their family’s 4-H years, they’ve kept laserfocused on quality in all their breeding decisions. As the industry changed, they capitalized on the resources that came their way – from EPDs through genomic testing and embryo transfer technology. This forward-thinking attitude while leveraging both breeding stock and commercial performance has allowed the Rinckers to remain ahead of the curve at all times.
The Herd Today
Rincker Simmentals spans 520 acres and a 100-head cow herd, not including their co-op animals. High-end cattle are on an embryo flushing program, with the donors and recipients managed and overseen by Brent. The Rinckers
Cari, Curt, Pam and Brent Rincker
also feed and finish some of their own cattle, where Cari focuses on a value-added program selling beef to individual consumers.
For 16 years, the farm has hosted the annual Illini Elite Sale in September for calves and heifers. Curt says they typically attract buyers from about a dozen states. Every March they host a bull sale with both an on-farm and online component which nets an even wider audience.
Additionally, Curt says they are regular consigners at the Illinois Beef Expo, to both the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale and the MidAmerica Simmental Sale. Both of these elite sales provide a market for several of Rincker’s high genomic and high EPD ranking bulls.
Establishing a Stand-Out Herd
From where they began, Curt says the quality of their cattle has improved immensely.
“Right now, I can't imagine how we can make them much better because they look ideal to me,” he says. “But as history has it, the cattle will keep improving.”
The Rinckers describe their cattle as having average to slightly above average frame scores with average to slightly heavier muscling.
“We call them fast-growing, sound cattle,” Curt continues. “Those are traits that we didn’t have in the early years of our operation.”
A lot of emphasis is put on breeding females capable of commercial performance but also able to compete on the national levels. Likewise, bulls are able to do well for seedstock herds across the Midwest. Producing animals across such a broad spectrum with many different types of buyers with preferences has been one of their biggest challenges over the years.
“What we had to do in our business is have bulls with calving ease and yet heifers (with) the show ring qualities and traits,” Curt explains. “Sometimes those are slightly different and because of that, we use a little wider range in our A.I. tanks for breeding purposes to gain both those advantages.”
Working with and understanding the goals of buyers
enabled the Rinckers to establish variety in their breeding selections to successfully fill the different niches in the marketplace. Something that has helped them in this pursuit is genomic testing. They routinely run genomic profiles of their breeding animals, like GeneSeek’s 100K panel. Not only has this aided them in their breeding, but Curt notes it also has given their buyers the higher level of predictability they want when purchasing their cattle.
Tying the Past and Present
As you’d expect, the Rinckers have had some very memorable moments over the years, reflecting on both personal and commercial successes. Back in 2008, they were the Illinois Beef Association’s Seedstock Breeder of the year, and in 2014 they earned another association award, this time as IBA’s Farm Family of the Year.
Off the farm, the family has also enjoyed some significant wins in the show ring. One memorable banner moment was with a heifer named Patience, purchased by Cari at the Hawkeyes Simmental Sale. She was Grand Champion and class winner at numerous shows including the Illinois State Fair Junior Show.
That same year Brent had a heifer of his own named Jitterbug, purchased from Barry Wesner, who was Reserve Grand Champion at the North American International Livestock Exposition.
“Those were kind of nice ones to have,” Curt recalls. “We also had a heifer that was purchased from Dr. Paul Walker called DI Miss Excitement. She won the prestigious Champion Performance Cow-Calf pair at Illinois State Fair after being successfully shown as a heifer the previous year.”
“Some of our most memorable moments come from the kids’ showing years when they worked together as a brother and sister team,” recalls Pam. “They were very competitive at the state and regional shows. We had a lot of really great memories with those animals – the whole family spent a lot of time pampering and taking them around.”
As many show cattle families can attest, the Rinckers appreciate how the sport ingrained work ethic and learning
Sale facility at Rincker Simmentals
Pasture at Rincker Simmentals
to succeed, while enjoying the process.
Daughter Cari, now an attorney with her own practice, says that showing cattle through her childhood left a positive impact that benefits her still to this day.
“It's the hard work that I learned growing up, showing cattle and being involved in my family’s operation; that’s the same work ethic I have today when I'm preparing for trial,” she says.
Her father shared that passion, and it has carried over to the business they do today.
“Year in year out, you have to have quality animals to compete at that high-end show level,” says Curt. “We tried to do so and we had a lot of really positive experiences during the kids’ show careers. That has been really a big part of what we try to do now.”
Along with selling high-quality animals to junior exhibitors, Curt has also built a reputation as a mentor to the next generation through his shared knowledge. He was a powerful influence on the Lake Land College livestock judging program, where he coached for 10 years. Under his involvement, dozens of college students and team members received national recognition on highly competitive and winning judging teams.
From county fairs to junior nationals, Curt has judged numerous shows and has passed that passion to his children; both he and Cari even judged an Illinois State Fair showmanship contest as a team.
“Whenever I watch him judge shows and his face just lights up when he sees young people in the arena,” says Cari. “My dad just illustrates the love that he has for people. That really, truly, is what makes our industry great.”
She describers her father as always being a “cheerleader” to kids in each class, always working to make them smile and have a positive experience. Now, with their own children grown, Curt and Pam make a strong effort to get their competitive animals into good youth programs for other families to enjoy.
“We sell 100% of our top end females and bulls to our customers,” notes Curt, “and then we support them and try to
watch them and support them through their show careers.”
Getting to sit back and watch others do well with the animals they’ve worked so hard to produce is something the family enjoys and brings things full circle.
“The cattle industry in Illinois,” says Pam, “is made up of a community of people that support one another in advancing the business of beef and producing products that consumers will enjoy.”
Curt’s contributions as an industry leader reach beyond the showring and judging teams, too. His influence is seen in a number of prominent state and national livestock organizations where he volunteers his time and talents. Examples of his work include serving as past chairman on the board of Illinois Livestock Development Group, and previously as regional vice president for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Curt’s also contributed years of leadership and volunteer service to state livestock groups, and has been past president of both Illinois Beef Association and Illinois Simmental Association.
For the Love of Simmentals
Beyond building a program noted for strong cow genetics, the Rinckers have a passion for promotion of the Simmental breed and the traits that the breed contributes to the beef industry. Something that Curt says he especially appreciates is the heterosis effect they exhibit when crossing with British breeds with traits such as frame size, maternal instincts, carcass traits, and rate of gain.
Worth noting, he says that the American Simmental Association has been working with the University of Illinois to run several different trials on carcass data and feed efficiency.
“They’re a fast-growing breed as far as numbers, not only in Illinois, but also nationally,” he says. “Our association has continued to build the herds out there. We now find that a lot of the feedlots are using our Simmental genetics as the primary cross because it is truly breed complementation at its best.”
Curt presenting to a tour group from Montana.
Curt hosting collegeiate livestock jusging teams.
Black, Homo Polled ASA# 3970691
3/4 SM by CCR Cowboy Cut
Illinois Beef Expo
Photo by Abby Stier with Cindy’s Livestock Photos
Youth Contests
Livestock Center Upper Arena
FRIDAY, February 25 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds
SKILLATHON
3 p.m. Friday - Livestock Center
The Illinois Beef Expo has a long standing tradition of emphasizing youth education. The purpose of this event is to create an educational activity at the Illinois Beef Expo, which promotes youth development and personal growth through increased knowledge of the beef industry. The real goal of this competition is to encourage more young beef producers in agriculture, while improving their decision-making abilities.
Age Groups:
Juniors: ages 10-14 Seniors: ages 15-18
Contest Format:
Junior Contest Schedule
1st – Stations: Feed Identification, Equipment
Identification, Beef Breeds
2nd – Test: Identification of Parts
Senior Contest Schedule:
1st – Test: Sire Summary
2nd – Stations: Meats, Feed, Equipment, Breeds
Organized by:
For questions regarding the Skillathon, please contact Ryan Orrick at 217-234-5208 or sorrick@ lakelandcollege.edu.
JUDGING CONTEST
1. The contest will be open to both 4-H and FFA teams. There will be both team and individual competition. Teams will consist of no more than four members, with the top three scores representing the total team score. All team members will be eligible for individual competition.
2. A team or individual may be entered in either the 4-H or FFA division, but not both.
3. A contestant must be a 4-H or FFA member to be eligible.
4. Entry fee must be paid at registration.
Contest Format:
1. There will be three to four placings classes. Heifers and steers of any age from as many breeds as possible will be used for the classes.
2. There will be 10 questions asked on each of two to three classes.
3. Each class will be 10-12 minutes in length.
4. The officials will be a committee of three, to be announced at the contest.
Friday Schedule:
11:30 a.m. Registration - Livestock Center Upper Arena 12:00 p.m. Contest - Livestock Center Upper Arena
Organized by:
Blake Bloomberg and the Black Hawk East Livestock Judging Team. Please call 309-854-1835 with questions.
Site Map
Stalls must be pre-reserved by Jan.15, 2022 and paid for by Feb. 15, 2022. Any stalls not reserved and paid for by Feb. 1, 2022 will become first come, first serve to junior exhibitors upon arrival at the Illinois Beef Expo. All first come, first serve stalls must be paid for prior to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. Pre-reserved stalls are available in barns:
• 18A-E for $40/box stall
• 18F- G: $20/tie stall
• 20A-B, 21: $10/stall
• 25F-K : $40/box stall
• 25O -Q: $10/tie stall
• 36A-36D, 36F: $10/stall
• 36E: $20/stall
• 112, 113, 118: $10/stall
• 110: $20/stall
Reservations can be submitted using the Stalling Request Form avaliable at www.illinoisbeefexpo.com/stallings/. Any stalling related questions should be directed to Cori Malone at 309-533-2697 or cori.harrison@yahoo.com
Junior cattle are not allowed to stall or tie out in Barns 16A, 16B, 19, 114.
ALL Junior Show cattle must be stalled in designated barns. NO EXCEPTIONS! Cattle not stalled in designated barns or fees not paid by Friday at 5:00 p.m. - exhibitor will be ineligible to show, lose their entry fees and will not be allowed to show at the Illinois Beef Expo for two years.
No tie-outs will be allowed outside of the barns on the fairgrounds. There will be no cleanout of livestock trailers in the parking area. Trailers should be parked in the Midway Area. Violators will be fined $100 and/or barred from event.
No junior show cattle are allowed on the fairgrounds and stalls are not allowed to be set up before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24.
Trade Show Livestock Center Lower Level
Alpaca Creations
American Angus Association
BA Precast
Boehringer Ingelheim
Bowman’s Caramel Apples
Cattle Visions LLC
CJ Brown Studios
Conklin Agrovantage
Dearwester Grain Services Inc.
EAHC Structures
Earlybird Nutrition
Elanco
Frank & West Environmental Engineers Inc.
Friedman Disributing Inc.
Greenfield Contractors
Hadden Farms Inc. Apache/Palco
Hanging Threads
Hiel Trailer Sales
Hopedale Agri Center Inc.
Horse Creek Outfitters
Hueber LLC
Illinois Beef Association
Illinois Farm Bureau
Images Embroidery
Iowa Concrete Products
Kent Nutrition Group
Little Moo Boutique
Longhorn Cattle and Swine Confinements
Merck Animal Health
Multimin USA
Pike Feeds
ProHarvest Seeds
Proud Souls
PS Boutique
Purina Animal Nutrition
S & B Custom Innovations/Herd Pro
Select Sires Mid America
Show Stopper Equipment
Stephens Trailer
Sullivan’s Supply
The Equity
Top Sires
Wieser Concrete
7 For All Mankind
Junior Show
2022 RULES
New General Rules
Exhibitors must be at least 8 years of age and under 22 years of age as of Jan. 1, 2022.
All exhibitors MUST pre-enter virtually for the 2022 Illinois Beef Expo and complete in-person check-in! Early virtual entry forms will be open from Monday, Feb. 14, 2022 at 8:00 a.m. until Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Early virtual entries are $55/head per ring. Any exhibitor virtually entering after this date will pay an increase fee of $75/head until Friday, Feb. 25th at 5:00 p.m. All animals MUST be virtually entered and checked in by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022. In-person check-in will occur on Friday, Feb. 25 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. In-person check-in will include original registration paper check, weigh-in for market animals and commercial heifers, and exhibitor card pickup.
Breed heifer exhibitors do not need to bring their animal to check-in, just their original registration papers and health papers. Exhibitor number cards will be available for pick-up during in-person check-in on Friday, Feb. 25 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. IBA dues and any remaining stalling fees will need to be paid at this time (if applicable).
General Rules
Illinois Beef Expo will have two rings. Ring A will be open to all Illinois and out-of-state exhibitors. Ring B will be open to Illinois exhibitors only. All exhibitors in ring B must be Illinois residents, currently enrolled or a graduate of an Illinois K-12 school, and their cattle must be maintained in Illinois.
All exhibitors in both rings must be Illinois Junior Beef Association members. Annual dues are $25 per member. Exhibitors are expected to have original registration papers for verification purposes with them at the show on all animals, except commercial breeding females, market heifers and crossbred steers. No copies, faxes or electronic registrations will be accepted. No exceptions!
Heifers
Heifer classes will be offered for any breed that has at least 10 head.
All commercial breeding heifers will be shown by weight, lightest to heaviest. This year, commercial heifer exhibitors will need to bring their animal to in-person check-in on Friday, Feb. 25 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. to weigh their animal.
Market Animals
Steer classes will be offered for any breed that has at least 10 head.
This year, market animal exhibitors will need to bring their animal to in-person check-in on Friday, Feb.25 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. to weigh their animal.
Stalling
Exhibitors wishing to pre-reserve stalls must do so by Jan. 15, 2022 and pay by Feb. 1, 2022. Any stalls not reserved and paid for by Feb. 1 will become first come, first serve to junior exhibitors upon arrival at the Illinois Beef Expo. All first come, first serve stalls must be paid for by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 25. Pre-reserved stalls are available in barns:
• 18A-E for $40/box stall
• 18F-G: $20/tie stall
• 20A-B, 21: $10/stall
• 25F-K: $40/box stall
• 25O-Q: $10/tie stall
• 36A-36D, 36F: $10/stall
• 36E: $20/stall
• 112, 113, 118: $10/stall
• 110: $20/stall
SHOW ORDER
Saturday, February 26, 2022 - Steer Show
• Steer breeds alphabetically (beginning with Angus)
• AOB Steers
• Crossbred Steers
• Market Heifers
• Top Five Steer selection in Ring A, followed by Ring B
The Breeding Heifer Show will begin in Ring A 30 minutes after the Top Five Market Animal selection in Ring B.
• Commercial Heifers
• Horned Hereford Heifers
• Polled Hereford Heifers
Sunday, February 27, 2022 - Heifer Show
• Remaining heifer breeds alphabetically (beginning with Angus)
• Ring B will begin after Division 1 is selected in the Angus Heifer show
• AOB Heifers
• Top Five Heifer selection in Ring A, followed by Ring B
JUDGES Junior Show
Market Animal Show
Ring A Judge: Miles Shout
Ring B Judge: Zack Butler
Zack Butler
Breeding Heifer Show
Ring A Judge: Zack Butler
Ring B Judge: Miles Shout
Miles Shout
Miles resides in Yukon, Okla.with his wife Amy and three children Madison, Maddox and Mason. All three kids are extremely active in 4-H and FFA and show at all levels of State and national shows. Miles is the Yukon Cattle Manager at Express Ranch where he has been employed for 22 years. He has been very fortunate to judge many shows across the nation from multiple Junior Nationals, the National Western, state fairs and jackpot shows across the U.S. and Canada. He feels it is extremely humbling to be given the opportunity to come to Illinois and evaluate your livestock.
Zack is from Milton, Tenn. He grew up raising and showing Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle that have been exhibited at the local and national level. Every fall they have an online embryo and female sale and in December, their annual bull sale. He attended Black Hawk College where he was a member of the livestock judging team who went on to win American Royal in Kansas City. He then transferred and graduated from Oklahoma State University where he was also on the livestock judging team. He has judged numerous state and national shows with a few being the National Western Livestock Show, North American International Livestock show, Angus Atlantic Nationals, Kentucky State Fair and Maryland State Fair. Zack owns and operates Butler’s Landscaping and Lawncare, along with managing Butler Creek Farms with his dad, wife Autumn, two year old daughter, Henley and five month old daughter, Emery.
Win Points Confident Mindsets Win Points
2021 IJBA Points Show Program winners, Paige Lemenager and Kashen Ellerbrock share their secrets to success.
by Sydney Trainor
Illinois Junior Beef Association’s annual points race makes for good competition between young exhibitors each spring and summer, and in 2021, the experience was no different. But it came with valuable lessons for a couple of youth who came out on top, and earned not only winning titles but even bigger lessons in raising cattle and learning new things.
For 17-year-old Paige Lemenager the points race gave her experience to take advantage of the many IBA points shows of the show season. It was the right opportunity, too, leading her to a first-place finish in the IJBA Heifer Points Show Program. She exhibited a January Angus heifer and a January Hereford heifer throughout the entire show season from Illinois Beef Expo to the DuQuoin State Fair in September.
“I absolutely love those heifers,” Paige said. “Winning made it that much more of a bittersweet experience because they've traveled all over together, and I’ve watched them both blossom throughout their show careers.”
Those two heifers combined collected enough points for Paige to capture the first-place spot.
Kashen Ellerbrock found himself winning the IJBA Steer Points Program in 2021, fueled by adapting a mindset of determination to push himself to the top. As for Kashen, his
steer’s performance early in the show season at the Illinois Beef Expo helped push him above the rest of the competition.
“Winning Beef Expo last year in both rings, no doubt, was the most memorable part of the show season,” Kashen said. “I can't put it into words other than it was such an incredible feeling, and I am still in shock.”
Kashen and Paige each found themselves at the top of their points program; however, they each began on a different path as they traveled to the top.
Paige is the daughter of Luke and Stacy Lemenager, hails from a purebred Angus and Sim-Angus cattle operation in Hudson, Ill., she said. Her father, Luke, and her uncle, Chuck Lemenager, started Lemenager Cattle from the ground up, Paige said.
“I remember from a young age seeing how passionate my dad and uncle were about the cattle industry and how much love they had for the Angus breed,” Paige said. “I started showing Angus in 2013, traveling to jackpot shows at a young age with my cousin, Gabrielle, who sparked my interest in showing as much as anything.”
Even though Paige comes from an Angus-based cattle operation, she got her first Hereford heifer in 2016, which was one of the best decisions her family ever made, Paige
Paige and her Grand Champion Angus heifer at the Illinois State Fair Open Show.
said.
Coming from a livestock family, Kashen, the 15-year-old son of Jeff and Kelly Ellerbrock, grew up on a competitive club lamb operation in Atkinson, Ill. His path to the show cattle industry was far from traditional, Kashen added.
In the fall of 2017, he and his family attended Charlee Jones’ birthday party, which happened to be the night before the Jones’ cattle sale. Charlee’s dad, Brandon, showed Kashen and his parents the calves he was selling the next day.
“My parents and I thought the steers were pretty neat,” Kashen said. “But, we didn't know what we were looking at. Then, we found one all three of us liked, but we didn't think it was realistic to buy a steer because we didn't have the set up for a steer.
“The next night, my dad and I were deer hunting, and I had no idea what my mom was doing,” Kashen said. “We came home, and she had bought a steer.”
Kashen’s first year with a steer introduced him to a group of mentors who taught him to be serious about his work, he said. In 2019, Kashen won third overall steer at the Illinois State Fair. That moment pushed him to want to do more and do better.
“That calf in the winter never won its breed, not one time,” Kashen said. “I knew that steer had potential, and we pushed ourselves through the spring and summer to make that one as good as it could be.”
Winning in 2019 at the state fair changed Kashen’s whole mindset about everything, he said. From then on, he wanted to work to be the best at everything, he said, because he was fueled by a “crazy feeling” that lit a fire in him after accomplishing something he wanted to do for a long time.
Not only does it take high quality stock to get to the top of the IJBA Points Show Program, but according to Paige and Kashen, it takes a little something extra.
“It takes a lot of confidence, not only to put confidence in yourself but in your team, as well,”
Paige said. “I'll be the first to admit I rely heavily on my team. Raising cattle is truly a team effort, and as a family of three, we calve out cows, work on show heifers, and travel the country together.”
Livestock projects require an incredible amount of time, effort, and dedication, Kashen said.
“Be willing to put the work in and set high goals,” he said.
Sometimes kids achieve their goals in their last year, while others accomplish them halfway through their show career, Kashen said. But, hard work and a determined mindset will always end in accomplished goals, no matter what they are, he added.
“The cattle industry instills a tremendous work ethic into showmen at an early age,” Paige explained. “Showing cattle teaches young adults not only about the supply chain but also about what their hard work can lead to, whether in the show ring or back home on their production operations.”
Paige knows someone who cares about her is always looking up to or looking over her, she said. That mindset is one thing keeping her humble through the years and incredibly appreciative of the industry she has grown up in, she added.
Kashen attributes his growth as a person to some of the opportunities he receives working with and learning from some of the best people in the industry, he said.
“When my grandparents want to come watch the show, that gives me a special feeling,” Kashen said. “Not everybody has that opportunity, and when I get that opportunity, I want to make them proud. I want to make sure they drove a distance to come and watch me succeed.”
Teamwork and family play a key role in how Paige and Kashen each tackle a show season. Even though they each started the cattle industry at different points, they are a true testament to others about how creating a determined mindset and having confidence can help lead you to the top of winning the IJBA Points Program.
Kashen and his 2021 Illinois Beef Expo Grand Champion Steer Ring A and B.
SHOW RESULTS
2021 Winter Warm-Up Jackpot Show
Springfield, Ill. | Dec. 11-12 | Judges: Steven Myers, Edmond, Okla. Nick Fitzsimmons, Perry, Okla.
Grand Champion Heifer Ring A
4th Overall Heifer Ring A
5th Overall Heifer Ring A
Res. Grand Champion Heifer Ring A
3rd Overall Heifer Ring A
Grand Champion Heifer Ring B
Kinnick Paulsen
Reese Thorson
Paige Lemenager
Kessler Collins
Avery Seys
Reese Thorson
Photos by: Cindy’s Livestock Photography
Res. Grand Champion Heifer Ring B
Paige Lemenager
3rd Overall Heifer Ring B Kinnick Paulsen
4th Overall Heifer Ring B
Claire Dorsey
5th Overall Heifer Ring B
Tyler Miller
Grand Champion Steer Ring A Adam Miller
Res. Grand Champion Steer Ring A Taylor Thomas
SHOW RESULTS
2021 Winter Warm-Up Jackpot Show
Springfield, Ill. | Dec. 11-12 | Judges: Steven Myers, Edmond, Okla. Nick Fitzsimmons, Perry, Okla. Photos by: Cindy’s Livestock Photography
3rd Overall Steer Ring A
Grand Champion Steer Ring B
Res. Grand Champion Steer Ring B
4th Overall Steer Ring A
5th Overall Steer Ring A
3rd Overall Steer Ring B
Adam Miller
Taylor Thomas
Taylor Thomas
Levi Hinshaw
Colton Foose
Taylor Thomas
University of Illinois
4th Overall Steer Ring B
Cole Caldwell
5th Overall Steer Ring B
Tyler Lee
Lake Land College
Edge of Common Sense
Baxter
Black, cowboy and former large animal veteranarian
Hints for the Hired Man
1. If the new boss’s hat isn’t sweat stained, you can pretty much figger whose will be.
2. Phrases like, “My dad never paid me a dime till I was twenty-five”, or “I haven’t had a day off since dad’s funeral in 2017”, should put you on guard.
3. Expensive equipment doesn’t guarantee you’ll be paid well. That might be where the money’s all gone.
4. This should send up a warning flag, “My son is all-state in every sport in school, president of the senior class, engaged to the banker’s daughter, building a hot rod and learning to fly an airplane. He’ll be helping you with the chores.”
5. If the words “day off” or “insurance” bring a quizzical look to the boss’s face, you better think it through.
6. You may want to reconsider when the new boss says, “I never had any use for dang new fangled gadgets like milking machines, PTO post hole diggers or a round baler. They just breed sloth.”
7. It should be a tip off if the prospective employer complains that he can’t keep a hired man on the place.
8. Be suspicious if the boss’s own dogs run for cover at the sound of his voice.
9. If the boss himself lives in a 1999 New Moon single-wide, don’t expect much from his offer of ‘housing furnished”.
10. And if the term “retirement plan” is mentioned, you can rest assured it’s not your’s he’s talking about.
But the best hired man learns that critical skill for gettin’ along with a good boss - when to listen to him and when not to.
The most successful arrangement I’ve seen, that lasted for years, was between a couple ol’ compadres of mine named George and Jake. George summed up their perfect relationship this way, “Wouldn’t nobody else work for Jake and nobody else would hire me. I’ve got a job for life.”
The Vet,- the Poet,- the Cowboy Legend
This publisher’s note is to share some bittersweet news that this will be the last column from Baxter Black in Illinois Beef magazine. The former large animal veterinarian and legendary cowboy poet is hanging up his spurs after nearly 40 years of writing and speaking his noted humor. Baxter’s last column was penned in late December and sent with a note from his wife, Cindy Lou, stating that health problems are putting him, “in the retirement bracket”. We’ll miss Baxter’s wit, wisdom and way with words – but we’re grateful for his years of sharing those gifts with our readers.
BQA 2021
Certifications in Illinois
In December alone, 442 illinois beef producers became bqa certified at 9 different in-person meetings across the state in 2021, 1,931 illinois beef producers became bqa certified through both in-person and online trainings
BQA certificates are good for 3 years. curious if your BQA certification is current? call IBA today at 217-787-4280 or email mareah@illinoisbeef.com
2022 National checkoff Program funding
HOW BEEF CHECKOFF DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022
The Beef Promotion and Research Act and Order authorizes Beef Checkoff funds to only be spent in the following program areas: beef promotion, research, education, information and foreign-market development.
Each September, beef industry organizations present proposals –referred to as Authorization Requests, or “ARs” – to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee, comprised of members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the Federation of State Beef Councils, to request funding for year-long marketing, education and research projects in these program areas. The organizations approved for funding are referred to as Beef Checkoff contractors.
Currently, the Beef Checkoff has nine contractors and three subcontractors. The contractors and their programs and projects are approved within each of the program areas for the fiscal year 2022 (October 2021 to September 2022).
INDUSTRY INFORMATION
Strives for an accurate understanding of the beef industry and helps maintain a positive cattle-marketing climate.
NAMI
Builds discovery, access and confidence in veal and veal production.
2022 Funding: $74,210
NCBA
Communicates the message that real beef’s great taste and nutrition can’t be replicated, and addresses the myths around beef and beef production among various audiences.
2022 Funding: $2,473,820
NIAA
Supports the beef industry’s commitment to “One Health” – healthy humans, healthy animals – including the annual Antibiotics Symposium, which will focus on continued knowledge about responsible antibiotic use and the primary efforts aimed at combating antimicrobial resistance.
2022 Funding: $79,160
CONSUMER INFORMATION
Helps enhance beef’s image by sharing nutritional data and other positive messages with media, food editors, dietitians, physicians and others who influence consumers’ food knowledge.
AFBFA
Grows a scientifically-literate society through the beef-based STEM curriculum. Educators utilize STEM curriculum for their middle and high school students with plans for expansion into elementary classrooms this year.
2022 Funding: $926,000
MICA / NEBPI*
Builds beef consumption in highly populated Northeastern U.S. cities by working with restaurants and grocery store chains, marketing to specific consumer groups and garnering support from regional nutrition influencers.
2022 Funding: $494,760
NCBA
Increases consumer awareness of the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand campaign and positions beef as the number one protein with restaurants, culinary leaders, grocery stores and other markets through media relations.
2022 Funding: $6,234,020
PROMOTION
Includes advertising, merchandising and new product development as well as training and promotional partnerships with restaurants and supermarkets that stimulate sales of beef and veal products.
NAMI / NYBC*
Facilitates innovative approaches for consumers to access and purchase veal and enhances veal eating experiences by creating meal solutions that capitalize on taste, value and versatility.
2022 Funding: $356,230
NCBA
Connects directly with consumers to promote beef through the iconic Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. campaign. Through beef marketing and merchandising, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. educates and inspires consumers to purchase, prepare and enjoy beef.
2022 Funding: $9,202,600
RESEARCH
The foundation for virtually all Checkoff-funded programs, this category of Checkoff projects provides science by providing science related to beef nutrition, beef safety and pathogen resistance.
FMPRE
Conducts post-harvest beef safety and science-based research on processed beef’s nutritional and health benefits.
2022 Funding: $500,000
NCBA
Continues to examine beef’s role in a healthy diet to share with the scientific and nutrition community, improves beef’s unique taste attributes and develops new recipes.
2022 Funding: $8,100,000
USCA / KSU*
This research will tackle the important areas surrounding consumer beef perceptions by looking into beef enrichment with omega-3 fatty acids.
2022 Funding: $210,000
PRODUCER COMMUNICATIONS
Informs producers and importers about how their Checkoff dollars are invested through a variety of efforts and initiatives.
CBB
Executes the producer communications program to convey to producers how their Beef Checkoff investment drives demand for beef. Producers engage with The Drive publishing platform, social media and thought leaders to access transparent and factual information on the Checkoff program.
2022 Funding: $1,850,000
FOREIGN MARKETING
Develops international markets for U.S. beef through programs aimed at expanding international market penetration, gaining new market access, and improving global consumer perceptions.
USMEF
Maximizes market access for U.S. beef around the globe, develops demand among new and existing buyers overseas, and increases value of the entire carcass through export support.
2022 Funding: $8,400,000
AFBFA American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture
CBB Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board
FMPRE Foundation for Meat and Poultry Research and Education KSU* Kansas State University MICA Meat Import Council of America
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
National Institute for Animal Agriculture
Beef Industry Long Range Plan
Every fi ve years, a group of producers and industry professionals from every segment of the industry — cow calf, stocker, feedyard, dairy, sale barn, packer and retail — come together to strategize and develop the fi ve-year Beef Industry Long Range Plan (LRP). To do this, these individuals spend over a year listening, studying and researching trends and issues in the industry. The LRP is an industry-wide strategic planning process and is a separate entity from the Beef Checkoff. However, the LRP is instrumental in helping guide Beef Checkoff structure and funding decisions. Every strategy, objective and tactic contractors execute on behalf of the Beef Checkoff ties back to the LRP in one form or another.
To view the full Beef Industry Long Range Plan visit: BeefLongRangePlan.com
Here are the guiding priorities for the beef industry in the 2021 to 2025 LRP:
Grow global demand for U.S. beef by promoting beef’s health and nutritional benefits, satisfying flavor and unparalleled safety.
Improve industry-wide profitability by expanding processing capacity and developing improved value-capture models.
Intensify efforts in researching, improving and communicating U.S. beef industry sustainability.
Make traceability a reality in the U.S. beef industry.
Industry Objectives Strategic Initiatives
Drive growth in beef exports. *
Grow consumer trust in beef production. *
Improve the business and political climate of beef.
Safeguard and cultivate investment in beef industry research, marketing and innovation. *
Develop and implement better business models to improve price discovery and value distribution across all segments.
Promote and capitalize on the multiple advantages of beef. *
*Strategic initiative for the Beef Checkoff. As an industry-wide planning process, the Checkoff does not associate or work towards all LRP objectives and initiatives.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Joel York
Vice President: David Jenkins
Secretary: Aaron Schafer
Business Manager: Doug Turner
Past President: Tyler Rhode
Bureau County: John DeRycke
Central Illinois: Luke Lemenager
Illinois Valley: Open
Lamoine Valley: Tracy Rawlings
Logan County : Carla Jurgenson
Northern Illinois: Jarad Carroll
South Central: Richard Hurst
Wabash Valley: Shaye Harre
Sale Manager: Lee Stremsterfer
Directors At Large:
Grant Bedel
Jim Marsh
TJ Curtin
Bradley Walter
Kyle Beutke
Jeff Dameron
Brent Henkel
Clay Sellmeyer
Dan Naughton
Greg McClure
Lee Stremsterfer
David Mool
UPCOMING EVENTS
Industry Professionals Educate Producers on Capturing More Value
For commercial and seedstock producers, the Capturing Value panel held during the 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas was a successful addition to the education lineup. The panel included moderator, Troy Marshall, director of commercial industry relations, and four industry professionals: Clint Berry, a Superior Livestock Auction representative; Kelli Payne, Oklahoma City National Stockyards president; Doug Slattery, 44 Farms chief operations officer; Bruce Cobb, Certified Angus Beef® (CAB) executive vice president of production. The four panelists shared their different perspectives on ideas and recommendations to capture more value for feeder calves and purebred cattle.
Discussion started with a 30,000 foot view of the cattle market as Berry described the current demand drivers in the market. Berry said the industry sits at an all-time high for beef demand thanks to programs like CAB which aim to differentiate quality.
“I’ve probably never been as optimistic about the beef business as a fifth-generation farmer who has worked my entire career in the beef industry,” Black said.
Even with processing challenges, high demand for beef puts producers in a good position Berry said. Consumers recognize the eating quality of beef and are paying for it. Looking into the future, Berry said this demand will create a need for producers to differentiate. Implementing DNA technology into sorting and managing cattle will help get more upper two-thirds and prime product for consumers.
As technology helps differentiate the quality of feeder cattle, Marshall asked whether the marketplace can have too much quality product.
“If you look just 15 years ago, grid premium was near two to three dollars, and it continues to escalate because we’re doing what consumers want,” Cobb said. “We’re delivering to them what they want to share with their families. We’re delivering to restaurants what chefs expect to deliver to their customers. Retailers continue to grow in their demand level. And again, it goes back to producers selecting the right cattle, cattle being managed appropriately and then being fed correctly across the country.”
Slattery emphasized the importance of genetics seedstock producers provide to their customers. Slattery says all producers need to be willing to take steps that will help garner more value. They must start with a health program, a great nutritional program and they need to have a seedstock producer that will help with their genetics.
Receiving carcass data back at the commercial cattlemen level can be helpful, Slattery said. “We talked to all the producers when they were making bull selections to try and help them with what they need. We are working all these angles with producers to help get them more profitable.”
Payne agreed. “The ones that are doing it right are going to be the ones who are rewarded.” Regardless of herd size, Payne emphasized that as challenges occur, producers must adapt if they want to differentiate their cattle on sale day. Oklahoma City National Stockyard has seen that contrast during the special AngusLink sale days.
Buyers never forget bad cattle, she said, and in the same way they will remember the best. “You will remember the cattle you buy, put in the feedlot and just grow and grow. In other words, you remember when you lost money and when you made money.”
2021 Winter Warm-Up Jackpot Show
Springfield, Ill. | Dec. 11-12 | Judges: Steven Myers, Edmond, Okla. Nick Fitzsimmons, Perry, Okla.
Photos by: Cindy’s Livestock Photography
Champion Angus Steer Ring A Dash Simpson
Champion Angus Steer Ring B Madison Bend
Res. Angus Steer, Both Rings Waylon Paulek
Missouri ANGUS Breeders’ Futurity
2
H27H22
Race-horse style close at 7 p.m. on
Tex Playbook 5437 x Valley Oaks Miss Rita 5033
Bred to E&B Plus One Big marbling heifer with the eye appeal and maternal traits to be a breed leading female.
We’ve consistently delivered the very best genetics from our breeders across the state representing $300+ $C genetics and heifers made for the photo backdrop. That rich history continues in 2022 with the online sale.
Selling over 50 lots!
Show heifers, production females, bred heifers, bulls, embryos, flushes, and pregnancies all sell online
S S Niagara Z29 x Houston Miss Caid 759 Herd Sire Prospect
Clearwater Pride
MOGCK Entice x Clearwater Pride 8099 February Show Heifer Prospect Perfect for a first time showmen that could go on to be a top cow in any herd and produce many show ring winners.
Deer Valley Growth Fund x GPN Queen 7N41 Bred to Werner Flat Top 4136 Brood cow in the making. High performance female backed by proven cow families.
Big EPD spread 17-month-old bull with great eye appeal. Offers high-performance with a +83 WW, +149 YW, and a +300 $C index.
SAV Jesse James 0968 x BBPB Pio Lass 7437 Three IVF Embryos
Maternal excellence combined with power and performance. Limitless opportunity with this mating.
GAR Sure Fire x Vintage Blackbird 6235 Flush Opportunity
The high indexing top selling female from the 2020 SydGen Production Sale. Your chance to get offspring by the bull of your choice.
PLUS: Disaster Relief Donation Embryo lot from Sydenstricker Genetics to benefit Kentucky Cattlemans Foundation and Kansas Livestock Foundation.
Consignments by: Behlmann Angus, Birk Genetics, Birk Beef Cattle, Boyce-Dill Cattle, Brinkley Angus Ranch, Byergo Beef Genetics, Checkerhill Angus, CHR Angus Farms, Clearwater Farm, Durham Angus, Galaxy Beef, Green Gate Farm, Hillside Angus Ranch, Hoak Angus, Houston Angus, Hunter Angus, M Bar M Cattle Co., Meyer Cattle Company, M/W Cattle Co., Naylor Angus, Norman Angus, Osage Grass and Livestock, Our Place Angus, Rubel Farms, Sydenstricker Genetics, Valley Oaks Angus, and Young Cattle Genetics.
For additional information, contact Missouri Angus Association Sales Manager Kody Graves at 940-531-1851 or kody@missouriangus.org. Sale book will be inside the February issue of Missouri Angus Trails and posted online.
Join us in person for our annual meeting and banquet on Saturday, February 26 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbia, MO. Visit MissouriAngus.org. or the Trails for more details.
Dam: BBPB Pio Lass 7437
8464
New Leadership Elected to the American Angus Association Board of Directors
The 138th Annual Convention of Delegates assembled November 8, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. Five directors were elected to the board of directors, as well as a president and chairman, and a vice president and vice chairman. Newly elected officers were Jerry Connealy, Whitman, Neb., president and chairman of the Board; and Chuck Grove, Forest, Va., vice president and vice chairman of the Board. Barry Pollard, Enid, Okla., will serve as the Treasurer for the 2021-2022.
Elected to their first terms on the Board of Directors are Paul Bennett, Red House, Va.; John Dickinson, Sacramento, Calif.; Greg McCurry, Sedgwick, Kan.; and Loran Wilson, Orleans, Ind. Elected to his second term is Jim Brinkley, Milan, Mo. Directors can serve up to two three-year terms on the Board and, if elected, serve additional one-year terms in office as president and chairman and/or vice president and treasurer.
Bennett is a fourth-generation seedstock producer who grew up on his family’s operation, Knoll Crest Farm, (KCF) Inc. He graduated from Virginia Tech with an animal science degree, then returned home to run the farm with his brothers, Jim Brian and Paul, and nephew, Dalton. KCF focuses on annually generating 400 high-quality bulls to supply the commercial beef industry. A lifetime cattleman, Bennett has served as president of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF), Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association, as well as a board member of the Virginia Angus Association and the National Beef Cattle Evaluation Consortium.
Brinkley was born and raised in northern Missouri on his family’s farming operation. Today, the family’s diversified farming operation is made up of more than 1,300 acres and 400 registered Angus cows. During Brinkley’s time on the Board, he has served on the Finance & Planning, Commercial Programs, Communications & PR, and Member & Affiliate Services committees, and as Chairman of the Commercial Programs committee. He also served on the Boards of the Angus Foundation, Angus Genetics, Inc. (AGI), and as the Association’s representative on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) live cattle marketing policy committee.
Dickinson is a fifth-generation Angus breeder and a former National Junior Angus Board (NJAB) chairman. He attended the University of Illinois and obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science. After graduating, he served as a regional manager for the American Angus Association. During his tenure, he coordinated the 2002 National Angus Conference and Tour in California, hosted one of the first Angus Boot Camp seminars at Cal Poly State University and performed some of the first age-and-source audits for the AngusSource® program. In 2007, Dickinson formed Parnell Dickinson, Inc., a full-service marketing firm that works in all facets of promotion, management, and cattle trade; both seedstock and commercial.
Angus. America’s Breed.
McCurry was raised in south central Kansas, where he grew up working for his family’s cattle operation as a third-generation Angus breeder. McCurry and his wife, Pamela, live on their family’s operation, McCurry Bros. Angus. The operation manages 500 Angus cows in addition to farming corn, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa and cotton. McCurry Bros. markets 150 Angus bulls private treaty each year and sells many females. McCurry has served on many committees and boards including serving as president of Kansas Angus Association, a Kansas FSA Board of Directors member and chairman, and a Reins of Hope Riding Academy chairman.
Wilson is a lifelong Indiana cattleman. Following graduation from the Purdue Winter Course in 1973, having majored in animal science, he returned to his family’s operation. Regularly producing top-quality carcass cattle is the priority at Wilson Angus. The current operation consists of cow-calf pairs and a 300-head capacity finishing feedlot, where consistently producing carcasses that grade high-Choice and Prime is always the goal. Wilson has served as an adult co-chair of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) and as president of the Indiana Angus Association and Indiana Beef Cattle Association.
Show Results
2021
Louisville, Ky. | Nov. 16 | Dave Duello, Pine Bluffs, Wyo.
Kansas City Mo. | Oct. 23 | Randy Mulinix, Toulan, Ill.
NAILE Super Point Roll of Victory Angus Show
Photos by: Linde’s Livestock Photography
Res. Senior Bull Calf of the Year
Reese Anderson and Lampe Cattle
Embryo Transfer Dam of the Year
Four Corners Farms
Senior Champ. Female of the Year
Ashlyn Mool
Senior Champ. Female Paige Lemenager
Winter Heifer Calf Champ. Brenna Bartlow
Res. Winter Heifer Calf Champ. Mary Kate Bendlage
Res. Early Junior Heifer Champ. Jacob Bressner Spring Bull Calf Champ. Brooke Schiffbauer
2021 American Royal Super Point Roll of Victory Angus Show
Photos by: Next Level Imaging
Res. Early Junior Heifer
Addison Bartlow
2021 NAILE Junior Angus Show
Louisville, Ky. | Nov. 14 | Jon Sweeney, Clifton, Ohio
Photos by: Linde’s Livestock Photography
CCR Cowboy Cut 5048Z
Justified
Senior Champ. Female
Paige Lemenager
Res. Int. Champ. Heifer Meghan Hadden
Res. Early Jr. Champ. Heifer
Addison Bartlow
The ILLINOIS BULLETIN
January/February
CONTENTS
Mouser
BOARD
PRESIDENT Dave Roome
309-945-8400
VICE-PRESIDENT
Gene Stumpf 618-407-8374
TREASURER
Buddy Edenburn (217) 649-0108
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Dr. Tamar Crum 217-820-0964 illinoishereford@gmail.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Randy Kline, 309-824-9937
Matt Johnson, 309-883-9466
Phil Tjardes, 815-383-0003
Brent Lowderman, 309-221-9621
Luke Goldstein, 217-663-3390
Cody Crum, 217-248-7282
Jodi McMillan, 815-751-2293
Chad Benedict, 217-246-5099
Kent Burns, 618-521-3199
McMillan Awarded $5,000 Perks Ranch Scholarship
High achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2021 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 22. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its army of donors proudly awarded $160,000 in scholarships to 24 National Junior Hereford Association members to help support their higher-education goals.
The 2021 Perks Ranch Scholarship is in the value of $5,000 given by HYFA. It honors the Perks Ranch of Illinois and highlights Doug Perks’ legacy and leadership during his time on the HYFA board of directors.
Lauren McMillan of Tiskilwa, Ill., is the $5,000 Perks Ranch Scholarship winner. Lauren is majoring in agriculture leadership, education and communication at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and works on campus as a student intern for the College of ACES. She says her enthusiasm toward leadership and the Hereford breed helps her excel professionally and individually as well as focus on how to help the breed and its members take the next step so they can continuously improve.
Sayre Wins Hereford Youth Foundation of America Scholarship
High achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2021 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 22. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its army of donors proudly awarded $160,000 in scholarships to 24 National Junior Hereford Association members to help support their higher-education goals.
The 2021 Fauquier Farms, Bob & Lucy Kube Scholarship, sponsored by HYFA is a $2,500 scholarship given in recognition of the many years Bob Kube served on the HYFA board of directors.
Kube’s passion for youth and his commitment to future generations is acknowledged in this scholarship that honors a young student who shows leadership outside of the Hereford circles and into his or her community.
Kira Sayre from Arenzville, Ill., is the $2,500 Bob & Lucy Kube Scholarship winner. Sayre is the daughter of Tim and Tracie Sayre and a junior at Colorado State University, double majoring in animal and equine science with the goal of going back to manage the family’s Hereford operation, while still maintaining her passion for horses.
$100,000 in Vanier Family Scholarships Awarded to Ten Deserving Hereford Juniors
High achieving Hereford youth were awarded numerous scholarships during the 2021 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 22. In a special awards ceremony, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and its army of donors proudly awarded $160,000 in scholarships to 24 National Junior Hereford Association members to help support their higher-education goals.
Ten scholarships of $10,000 are given by the Vanier Family for a total of $100,000 in HYFA scholarships annually. Jack and the late Donna Vanier and family of CK Ranch in Kansas have paved the way for Hereford Youth to further their education and this year marks a $600,000 commitment to education from the Vanier family. The Vanier family is proud of the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members and believes the work ethic young people learn growing up in the Hereford breed sets them apart in today’s workforce.
The 2021 Vanier Scholarship recipients are:
Molly Biggs, Dixon, Ill.
Jacob Johnson, Ruth, Miss.
Trevor Johnson, Centerville, S.D.
Lauren Jones, Darlington, Wis.
Regan Mitchem, Vale, N.C.
Bailey Morrell, Willows, Calif.
Libby Rushton, Waverly, Tenn.
Madison Sifford, Goldvein, Va.
Tar Tut, Faribault, Minn.
Rusty Wolf, Alexandria, Ky.
Molly Biggs of Dixon, Ill., a sophomore at Kansas State University, is double majoring in agricultural communications and animal science. This scholarship will help further her education with the hopes of one day working with producers and educating the public about agriculture. She has worked at various cattle operations and sales, such as Spinazola Cattle and Happ Herefords, and interned with the Illinois Hereford Association.
Worrell and Mouser Named Contestants of the Year in the 2021 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout;
Other Winners Recognized in Kansas City
Now in its fifth year, the National Junior Hereford Association’s (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout contest teaches juniors about the opportunities and challenges of the cattle feeding industry. In the 2021 contest, 41 members from 15 states entered 133 steers in the program. This year’s winners received nearly $20,000 in scholarships and awards from the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and premier partner, BioZyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The young cattle feeders took center stage and were recognized for their efforts Oct. 22 at the American Hereford Association’s (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Contestants collected actual feedyard performance and carcass data on their pen of three and individual entries of Hereford and commercial Hereford-influenced steers, while gaining comprehensive industry knowledge on topics such as animal health, nutrition and marketing. All steers were fed at HRC Feed Yards, Scott City, Kan., and through a generous sponsorship from Texas Stardance Cattle, steers were hauled to and harvested at National Beef Packing Co. in Dodge City, Kan., as candidates for the Certified Hereford Beef® brand. Industry partners such as Merck Animal Health, Allflex Livestock Intelligence and Neogen played a vital role in the success of the program.
Additionally, contestants entered performance portfolios from data reports they received throughout the feeding period and answered short answer questions summarizing what they learned throughout the program. The top three contestants, in both the junior and senior divisions, were selected from the submitted portfolios and had the opportunity to compete for the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Contestant of the Year titles. The selected contestants presented a short speech followed by a panel interview about what they learned during the contest and how they can apply this knowledge in the beef industry.
After completing their performance portfolios and a rigorous interview and presentation process in front of a distinguished panel of judges, Jarrell Worrell from Mason, Texas was named the contestant of the year in the junior division and Haley Mouser, Tenstrike, Minn., earned the contestant of the year title in the senior division.
This year’s award winners are:
• Contestant of the Year – Top Three Finalists – Junior Division:
• Jayna Blume, Pierre, S.D.
• Hardy Edwards, Winterville, Ga.
• Jarrett Worrell, Mason, Texas – Junior Contestant of the Year
• Contestant of the Year – Top Three Finalists – Senior Division:
• Kade Boatman, Rockford, Ill.
• Kendall Boatman, Rockford, Ill.
• Haley Mouser, Tenstrike, Minn., Senior Contestant of the Year
• Overall Champion Steer – Nicholas Jones, Darlington, Wis.
• Champion Pen of Three Purebred Steers – Jayna Blume, Pierre, S.D.
• Reserve Champion Pen of Three Purebred Steers – Kora Hawkins, Jane Lew, W.Va.
• Highest Average Daily Gain Purebred Division –Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
• Highest Average Daily Gain Commercial Division –Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
• Largest Ribeye Area Purebred Division – Katherine Krauss, Russell, Kan.
• Largest Ribeye Area Commercial Division – Jake Drost, Klamath Falls, Ore.
2021 Hereford National and Regional Show Awards Presented
Hereford exhibitors were recognized for showcasing their outstanding breeding programs at national and regional shows this past year prior to the Ladies of the Royal sale hosted at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., Oct 23. Awards for champion national and regional Hereford show bull, show female and premier exhibitor were presented.
To qualify for these prestigious bronzes, exhibitors must have accumulated points and shown at a national or regional event. Points were calculated throughout the 2020-21 show season, which ran from May 2020 through April 2021.
National Awards
Horned National Show Bull of the Year
BK BH Fast Ball F102 ET, owned by Blakelee Hayes, Ada, Okla.; Buck Cattle Company, Madill, Okla.; and Chapman Ranches, Mannsville, Okla.
Polled National Show Bull of the Year
MYO 559 On Time 927 ET, owned by Mayo Ridge Ranch, Scott City, Kan.; Coyote Ridge Ranch, La Salle, Colo.; Foggy Bottom Farm, Taneytown, Md.; and KS Cattle Company, New Windsor, Md..
Horned National Show Female of the Year
PURPLE Iris 145G ET, owned by Lauren May of Mineral Point, Wis.
Polled National Show Female of the Year
JB MS LDSC Shelby’s 1940 ET, owned by Kai Thomsen of Madison, S.D.
Northwest Region Awards
Horned Show Bull of the Year
DCLL Tankeray Loaded 79GA, owned by Cooper and Jorie Miller of Newcastle, Wyo.
Horned Show Female of the Year
SCC 1640 Cami 935G, owned by Hadley and Wyatt Dunklau of Wayne, Neb.
Horned Premier Exhibitor
Cooper Miller, Newcastle, Wyo., is recognized as the Premier Horned Exhibitor for the northwest region.
Polled Show Bull of the Year
MYO 559 ON TIME 927 ET, owned by Mayo Ridge Ranch, Scott City, Kan., Coyote Ridge Ranch, La Salle, Colo., Foggy Bottom Farm, Taneytown, Md., and KS Cattle Company, New Windsor, Md.
Polled Show Female of the Year
JB MS LDSC Shelby’s 1940 ET, owned by Kai Thomsen.
Polled Premier Exhibitor
Hans & Vada Vickland of Longmont, Colo.
Southwest Region Awards
Horned Show Bull of the Year
BK BH Fast Ball F102 ET, owned by Blakelee Hayes, Ada, Okla., Buck Cattle Company, Madill, Okla., and Chapman Ranches, Mannsville, Okla.
Horned Show Female of the Year
KOLT GARW Candi Stock 25 ET, owned by Mason Allan, Nocona, Texas.
Horned Premier Exhibitor
Gary & Kathy Buchholz from Waxahachie, Texas.
Polled Show Bull of the Year
WORR 35B Big Shooter 559H ET, owned by Jarrett Shane Worrell of Mason, Texas.
Polled Show Female of the Year
C BAR1 Class Lass 9153, owned by Alexis Griswold, Stillwater, Okla.
Polled Premier Exhibitor
Jarrett Shane Worrell of Mason, Texas.
Northeast Region Awards
Horned Show Bull of the Year
PURPLE Sleepy Joe 80H ET, owned by Purple Reign Cattle Company, Tulon, Ill.
Horned Show Female of the Year
PURPLE Iris 145G ET, owned by Lauren May of Mineral Point, Wisc.
Horned Premier Exhibitor
Lauren May of Mineral Point, Wisc.
Polled Show Bull of the Year
2TK PERKS 5101 Chuma 8184 ET, owned by Kendall Boatman, Rockford. Ill.; Stephens Hereford Farms, Taylorville, Ill.; Perks Ranch, Rockford, Ill.; and Walker
McGuffee, Mendenhall, Miss.
Polled Show Female of the Year
ECR MS LDSC Flo’s 1928 ET, owned by Will, Ben and Thomas Freking of Alpha, Minn.
Polled Premier Exhibitor
Ray and Cyndy Howes of Foggy Bottom Farm, Taneytown, Md.
Southeast Region Awards
Horned Show Bull of the Year
DCF 642Z Dilly 002H, owned by Dry Creek Farm, Pell City, Ala.; Hoffman Ranch, Thedford, Neb.; and Buck Cattle Company, Madill, Okla.
Horned Show Female of the Year
JR 955 ET, owned by Dru Hunt of Madison, Georgia.
Horned Premier Exhibitor
Dry Creek Farm, Pell City, Ala.
Polled Show Bull of the Year
DCF 02X Pay Pal 011H ET, owned by Dry Creek Farm, Pell City, Ala., and Emily Bernard, Grand Ridge, Ill.
DCF 628 Promote 824F ET, owned by Walker Polled Hereford Farm, Morrison, Tenn.; Jernigan Farm, Columbia, Tenn.; and Dry Creek Farm, Pell City, Ala.
Polled Show Female of the Year
H Kelly 9160 ET, owned by Ethan Hopkins, Winchester, Tenn.
VC Happy Bride 060H ET, owned by Claiborne Perry, Madison, Miss.
Polled Premier Exhibitor
Dry Creek Farm, Pell City, Ala.
2021 Winter Warm-Up Jackpot Show
Springfield, Ill. | Dec. 11-12 | Judges: Steven Myers, Edmond, Okla. Nick Fitzsimmons, Perry, Okla.
Photos by: Cindy’s Livestock Photography
Champ. Horned Hereford
Both Rings
Houston Stapleton
Champ. Hereford Both Rings
Mara Knobloch
Res. Horned Hereford
Both Rings
Paige Lemenager
Res. Hereford Steer Ring A
Carson Beckman
Res. Polled Hereford
Both Rings
Clayton Stapleton
Champ. Hereford Steer Ring A
Addison Campbell
American Royal National Hereford Show
Kansas City, Mo. | Oct. 24 | Tom Hawk, Earlville, Ill.
Res. Champ. Bull
Purple Reign Cattle Company
Photos by: Legacy Livestock Imaging
Champ. Junior Bull Calf
Showtime Cattle Co. & L J suttles
Champ. Spring Heifer Calf
Purple Reign Cattle Company
Champ. Junior Yearling Female
Paige Lemenager
Champ. Junior Heifer Calf
Riley Gregory Rhodes
Res. Champ. Junior Bull Calf
Lowderman Cattle Company
Res. Champ. Senior Heifer Calf
Stetson Storey
Res. Champ. Junior Yearling
Heifer
Ella Bane
American Royal Junior Hereford Show
Kansas City, Mo. | Oct. 23 | Dave Duello, Pine Bluffs, Wyo.
Photos by: Legacy Livestock Imaging
Grand Champion Junior Female
Paige Lemenager
President’s Note
As I sit down to write this month's letter it is around 40 degrees and getting warmer. Very nice for the 14th of December. However, by the time everyone reads this it will probably be around 10 degrees with blowing and drifting snow - just another wonderful winter in Illinois!
We are planning to have a regular Illinois Beef Expo this year. With that said, the dates for this year's Expo are Feb. 24 - 27. The Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale will kick off Expo on Thursday. The MidAmerica Simmental Sale will be Friday at 2 p.m. Our Annual Illinois Simmental Banquet and meeting will be Friday night starting at 6 p.m. This year we are going to have a directory sale, anyone that would like to buy an ad for this directory can bid on one of the pages. Also, if you can’t attend the meeting you can still buy a page or put in an ad in by contacting a board member. All of our board members and contact information can be found on our website, www.illnoissimmental.com. Also, at the Annual Meeting we will be having a semen auction to benefit the 2022 National Classic that we are hosting this summer.
Our focus for the board is to have more information available on our website. The past few years we have fallen behind on this source for information. I am still trying to learn all the ins and outs of websites so please try and bear with me. The goal is to have everyone in our breed be able to look up different information. We are also going to have a link set up so that you can pay your membership dues online. If you have any ideas for our website please feel free to contact any board member or I.
Don’t forget - we are hosting the largest junior event for the Simmental breed from June 24-30 in Madison, Wis. Our committees have been working hard to make this a great event for kids and their families. If you are interested in donating to this cause either through money or time, please do not hesitate to contact me, Curt Rincker, Paul Walker, Jennifer Tarr or Sherry Adcock. These four have been spending many hours to make this event happen, and doing a great job at that.
This year our preview show is going to be June 4 and 5. Once again we are going to have our show at the McDonough County Fairgrounds just west of Macomb. On Saturday there will be cattle check-in and junior activities and the show will be on Sunday. This is a great warm-up for Junior Nationals. Any junior showperson is encouraged to become an Illinois Junior Simmental Association Member. Check out the Illinois Junior Simmental Facebook page for all the details. The membership form can be found on our state website.
I hope everyone has a safe start to the calving season! Hopefully our temperatures cooperate and the snow stays at a minimum for all of us. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Illinois Beef Expo sales, shows and Annual Illinois Simmental Banquet. It is always a good time to catch up with our fellow cattlemen. Happy 2022!
- Scott
Scott Frederick, ISA President
Show Results
2021 Winter Warm-Up Jackpot Show
Springfield, Ill. | Dec. 11-12 | Judges: Steven Myers, Edmond, Okla. Nick Fitzsimmons,
