Cattle & Forage Enthusiasts Gather in McDonough County

After a successful two days in Macomb, Illinois Beef Association (IBA) and Illinois Forage and Grasslands Council (IFGC) wrapped up their first joint Summer Conference and Forage Expo in Macomb at Spoon River College’s Community Outreach Center. The event was held June 7-8, with nearly 200 producers from across the state in attendance.

“The beef industry has some of the best people in the world and it was an honor to plan this event on behalf of our members,” said Annie Schoetmer, IBA’s new Programs and Services Manager. For Schoetmer, the event was the first of many she will plan and execute. “We had a terrific turnout and I’m already looking forward to next year.”

The conference kicked off with an Illinois Agriculture Policy update from Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Deputy Director Kristi Jones and Springfield policy experts Liz Brown and Rich Clemmons. Dr. Scott Brown, University of Missouri economist, and Meghan Grebner of Brownfield Ag News led an engaging conversation on their 2022 market outlook that was enjoyed by all.

Over the lunch hour, important beef industry business was conducted during several district meetings and the 2022 IBA Annual Meeting. Dr. Paul Walker of Danvers was elected to a second term as IBA President and Dave Duzan of Lexington was re-elected as IBA Vice-President.

“It was humbling to be re-elected to a second term as IBA President,” said Walker. “We have hit the ground running and our members will be pleased at the many accomplishments IBA will make during the coming year.”

Elections were held for new Checkoff and Policy Directors on the IBA Board of Governors during the IBA Annual Meeting. The following new directors were elected: • Anna Flikkema of Lanark was elected to serve as

Checkoff Division District 1 director representing Jo

Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll and Ogle counties. • Joan Harrison of Minier was elected to serve as

Checkoff Division District 4 director representing

Henderson, Warren, Knox, Hancock, McDonough,

Fulton and Adams counties. • Carrol Lock of Avon was elected to serve as Checkoff

Division District 5 director representing Peoria,

Woodford, Tazewell, Mason, Logan, Schuyler, Brown,

Cass, Menard, Pike, Scott, Morgan, Sangamon,

Christian, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin,

Montgomery, Madison and Bond counties. • Garrett Mattox of Anna was elected to serve as

Checkoff Division District 7 director representing St.

Clair, Clinton, Washington, Marion, Jefferson, Wayne,

Edwards, Wabash, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Franklin,

Hamilton, White, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, Gallatin,

Union, Johnson, Pope, Hardin, Alexander, Pulaski and

Massac counties. • Justin Rahn of Mount Carroll was elected to serve as Policy Division District 1 director representing Jo

Daviess, Stephenson, Carroll and Ogle counties.

The afternoon was filled with a variety of Cattlemen’s Education Series Workshops on feedstuffs and forage varieties plus heifer development and beef cutting

demonstrations.

Both groups hosted an awards dinner on Tuesday evening sponsored by Farm Credit Illinois. IFGC awarded their Outstanding Producer honors to Wes and Martha Green of Green’s Diamond G Farm, Outstanding Education/ Government Award to Dr. Teresa Steckler, beef educator with University of Illinois Extension, and Outstanding Industry Award to Dean Oswald, grazing and forage specialist with Midwest Grass and Forage. IFGC also recognized Trevor Toland of Macomb for being this year’s conference and exposition farm tour host at Toland’s River Oak Ranch.

“Having Summer Conference as a joint event with IFGC’s Forage Expo brought a level of expertise that made a lot of sense given the increased feed costs that our producers are facing in the marketplace,”said Schoetmer. “Our organizations have similar goals, so the partnership was a great fit.”

IBA also recognized leaders and award recipients at the dinner. The Illinois Beef Leadership Academy Inaugural Class of 2023 was introduced, including Trevor Maiers of Payson, Sarah Dirks of Moweaqua, Ben Lehman of Hanover, Adam and Rachel Harms of Chrisman, Gage Hagen of Quincy, Greg Swartz of Pittsfield, Sierra Day and Austin Walters of Grand Ridge.

Outgoing directors on the IBA Board of Governors were also recognized. Retiring directors included Policy director, Jarad Carroll of Mount Carroll, and Checkoff directors Justin Rahn of Mount Carroll, Ken Dau of Sheridan, Terry Boydstun of Abingdon, T.J. Curtin of Blue Mound and Jim Meller of Anna.

“It has been an eventful year at IBA with many noteworthy accomplishments,” explained Walker. “We hired a new Executive Vice President and four new staff members, worked with the Iowa Beef Council to promote beef in the Chicago area, supported IBA members in national leadership positions, created a new award to celebrate our members, started a new class of the Illinois Beef Leadership Academy. It has been exciting to read about IBA membership successes in the popular press and to work with other Illinois Commodity Groups promoting Illinois Agriculture.”

Sara Benson with Merck Animal Health presented a check for $7,093.75 to help fund the Illinois Beef Foundation’s youth scholarship program, thanks to Merck’s Cartidges for Cash program. Th e program is currently ongoing and cattle producers across the state have a chance to support the Illinois Beef Foundation by returning Revalor-XS and Ralgro cartridges to their veterinarian.

The Illinois Beef Foundation announced five scholarship recipients for 2022. This year’s recipients included Paige Lemenager, daughter of Luke and Stacy Lemenager of Hudson, Lizzie Schafer, daughter of Aaron and Sue Schafer of Owaneco, Haley Bickelhaupt, daughter of John and Julie Bickelhaupt of Mount Carroll, Lauren McMillan, daughter of Jodi and Kyle McMillan of Tiskilwa, and Jenna Spangler, daughter of John and Holly Spangler of Marietta.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE. Travis Taylor

(816) 592-3000 ttaylor@vitalix.com

IBA rounded out the night by naming the 2022 IBA award winners. These honorees were nominated and selected by a committee of their peers based on the individual or farm’s adoption of progressive management, marketing, or animal and environmental care methods. Garrett Rhode, son of Melissa and Tyler Rhode of Carlock, was named Outstanding Junior of the Year, Al Lyman of Cambridge was selected as Member of the Year, Head Bros. Land & Cattle of Blue Mound was named Environmental Steward of the Year, the Cramer family of Macomb was recognized as Commercial Producer of the Year, Art Farley of C-MOR Beef from Seymour was named Seedstock Producer of the Year and the Willrett Family of Malta was recognized as Farm Family of the Year.

“It has really been a pleasure getting to know this year’s award winners,” explained Schoetmer. “Illinois has such a diverse cattle industry and we really get to showcase that through the IBA awards program.”

The second day of the conference touted the ever-popular IFGC Forage Expo. Beef and forage enthusiasts from around the state gathered for demonstrations from leading forage producers and industry experts. Although it was a wet week in McDonough County, demonstrations were given in both an indoor/outdoor format. Presentations were made on balers, feed wagons, fescue pastures, forage testing and the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP).

“The weather definitely threw us for a loop on day two,” said Schoetmer. “But seeing such good attendance for the Forage Expo and grazing management tour was a testament to how committed the agriculturalists of Illinois are.”

The expo concluded with a grazing management tour of Toland’s River Oak Ranch thanks to IBA past-President, Trevor Toland and lessee, Carson Welsh of Welsh Farms. Toland is a pasture management expert with decades of experience in grazing and forage productivity.