On June 6, the IBA will host their annual meeting in conjunction with Cattlemen’s Education Series sessions and more. The day will conclude with the yearly awards dinner. Plus, it only costs $25 for the whole day.
20 Scholarship Winners
The Illinois Beef Foundation board has chosen eight Illinois Junior Beef Association members to be awarded $1,000 toward their college education.
22 What You Need to Know About Traceability
In January of this year, USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule to the federal docket, slated to amend the government’s animal disease traceability regulations.
24 Call Your Vet
FDA Guidance #263 will limit access to some antibiotics beginning June 11. Know what changes are coming and how to adjust accordingly through your relationship to your vet. Are you ready for June?
26 A Wonderful Life Indeed
Chuck Weilmuenster and his wife, Jeanine, have built their Fullblood Fleckvieh Simmental operation, but that is not where the story starts. While facing many ups and downs along the way, the Weilmuensters have found where they belong - raising Fleckviehs and serving their community.
31 Checking In With the Checkoff: A May Beef Month Special Edition
Have you heard the news? May is beef month. This year, we are being intentional about the celebration of May Beef Month through dinner table stories on page 32 and recipes from Illinois cattlewomen on page 34. Celebrate with us!
38 A Queen for the Livestock Industry
Paige Van Dyke has been showing Angus and Red Angus cattle since she was a little girl and her experiences are reflected in her advocacy for the industry. Read here about her newest endevour for advocacy — Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.
Angela Anderson’s BBQ Sandwich. Recipe on page 33. Photo by Devin Bollman.
Paul Walker, Danvers President
IBA Board of Governors
Email: pwalker@ilstu.edu
Policy Division
Chair: Shannon Welsh, Blandinsville
Vice Chair: Wes Hornback, Monticello Sec./Treas.: Betsy Pech, Lincoln Directors
Back in March, Dave Duzan and I traveled to Henry County for the Annual Meeting and Banquet. The Lavender Crest Winery is a great place to hold an affiliate meeting. The Henry County folks are great people, conducting many progressive beef activities. Chad Horsley and Courtney Conrad-Ericson provide excellent leadership. A successful affiliate requires a couple of dedicated leaders and numerous members willing to assume just a little responsibility. The Henry County affiliate meets these requirements in both capacities.
March 29 found IBA in full force – staff, leadership and members – at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield for Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day. This annual event is always a great day to visit with legislators in the halls and in their offices. If you have ever in the past attended or will in the future attend Ag Day in the capitol, you will be pleased regarding how many legislators know who “Illinois Beef” is. The number of senators and representatives who can personally relate to the Illinois Beef Association is growing rapidly, primarily through the efforts of Josh, our EVP, and Liz Brown, our lobbyist. Knowing legislators on a firstname basis and in reverse, legislators knowing IBA staff and leadership on a first-name basis is so important to the Illinois beef industry’s continued success.
In March, the Awards Committee met to review IBA affiliate proposals regarding grants to promote beef and the cattle industry within their local area. Last year, the IBA awarded $17,150 to local affiliates in one category. So far this year, the IBA has awarded just shy of $30,000 in two categories to 18 local affiliates. The two categories are titled “Beef Product” and “Marketing-Promotion-Sponsorship,” and up to $1,000 can be awarded to each affiliate in each category. The number of affiliates submitting grant applications this year is up substantially from last year. The IBA BOG encourages all affiliates to apply for this funding – promoting beef locally is important to the sustainability of our industry and in many ways is more successful when the promotion activity is conducted by local beef cattle producers.
This year the Beef Marketing, Promotion and Sponsorship proposals were due in mid-April. The Beef Product grants are open year around, but funding is available on a first come–first served basis. The IBA fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. These two affiliate grants are supported with monies collected through the 50 cent per head Illinois Beef Checkoff Program. If your affiliate has interest in applying for a Beef Product grant yet this year, telephone Annie in the IBA office regarding eligibility. If your local area does not have a local affiliate and there is interest, contact Josh for assistance in starting a local chapter.
In April I ran into Al Lyman in Denver at the Cattlemen’s Beef Board meeting. Hats off to Al, past CBB member Justin Rahn and all those other IBA members who have served on national committees on IBA’s behalf. The extra hours they have committed representing the IBA and its members have been and is appreciated. Due to delayed and cancelled flights I spent the first day of this CBB meeting sitting in airports. To help me be fully informed CBB CEO Greg Hanes, CBB CFO Jeff Lutz and CBB Director of Communications Sarah Metzler took the time to engage in a telephone conference call with me following the meeting to answer my numerous questions regarding CBB operations. It is great to know our staff at the CBB is this dedicated to ensuring the Checkoff Program is fully transparent.
Speaking of transparency, I will end 12 years serving as a member of the IBA Executive Committee in June and maintaining transparency in all actions has been a priority of the IBA leadership. On rare occasions confidentiality of some issues has been required – usually of a legal nature –but I assure you the Executive Committee has been kept fully informed and engaged in the resolution of these matters. Likewise, keeping the Board of Governors involved where prudent has been a high priority. I have greatly enjoyed serving as your president the past two years. It has been fun and rewarding. Many changes, most of them positive – I like to think all of them – have occurred during the 12 years I have served on the executive committee. The association has grown in number of total members; we have never been more financially solvent than we are at the present time; our junior program is flourishing with more activities offered; IBA visibility and credibility in the Capitol in Springfield is high; and, IBA is recognized as the go-to organization for all things beef. This is my last Association Focus column, so I leave you with this quote that is worth thinking about. “Never settle for less than your best; know your limits, then break them; you are not finished when you lose, you are finished when you quit.” Doc
Dr. Paul Walker concludes his final term as IBA President on June 6.
June 6, 2023 | Springfield, Illinois Artisans Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds | Coliseum Lane Register: www.illinoisbeef.com
11:00 AM Registration
11:30 PM Lunch & Annual Meeting
1:00 PM CES Session I: International Beef Trade
2:00 PM Break
2:15 PM CES Session II: Livestock Marketing
3:00 PM CES Session III: The Latest in Cattle Identification and Technology
3:45 PM IBA Office Tours & Happy Hour
6:00 PM Dinner & Awards Ceremony
Executive Edge
Josh St. Peters, Illinois Beef Association Executive Vice President
It’s May, and you apparently found the time to read through your issue of Illinois Beef magazine. Life seems to get so busy during the spring season that making time for a magazine is a feat worth recognizing, in my opinion. If your household is anything like ours, this month brings so much activity that you barely catch yourself coming and going.
For our industry, the month of May comes with plenty of tasks on the farm. Everyone has likely been elbows-deep in all kinds of seasonal work. It’s also the time of year when we celebrate “Beef Month”, a chance to mark the onset of grilling season and recognize outreach to consumers across the state. If your plans this month include any highway travel, be on the lookout for “Beef Month” billboards. We have several special advertisements located throughout the state to mark this month. We’re also continuing our work in retail promotions at major retail chains as well as local beef promotion at locker plants and meat shops downstate, too.
Hopefully this season affords you some additional time to enjoy your favorite beef dish with family and friends. This issue of the magazine features some great recipes submitted by IBA families, so maybe you’ll even find time to try one of them.
Speaking of Illinois Beef families, we have several junior
activities coming up on the horizon and our IJBA membership will be getting busy with a host of early summer events. I’m looking forward to this year’s Illinois Livestock Leadership Institute tour through central and eastern Illinois, en route to Fair Oaks Farms in northwestern Indiana. Next month’s ILLI tour is co-hosted with Illinois Pork Producers Association, and we have a great group of livestock industry teens registered to participate again this year.
New for 2023 is IBA’s Junior Beef Industry Tour, which provides a group of our older IJBA members the chance to get an in-depth look at career opportunities in the industry. Thank you to IBA sponsors and members who have agreed to let us see their operations and businesses during the six-stop tour later this month. Be watching our IBA and IJBA social media accounts for real-time reporting on beef industry career paths, and much more!
We’re also working on plans for the summer EDGE conference, which will be here before you know it. If you’ve
Beef Leadership Academy class of 2023 participants Ben Lehman, Gage Hagan, Travor Maiers and Adam Harms tour the Illinois State Capitol.
Beef Leadership Academy class of 2023 participants and IBA Programs and Services Manager Annie Schoetmer chat with Senator Doris Turner.
Trevor Maiers, Gage Hagan, Adam Harms, State Representatives Charlie Meier and Dan Swanson.
never participated in EDGE, this day-long activity brings together a wide age group of our IJBA members for a variety of learning and leadership activities. Last year’s event at the University of Illinois was a great time for all who attended, so make sure you watch our illinoisbeef.com website for the details on this year’s dates and registration information.
The 2022 Illinois Beef Leadership program has wrapped up, and I must congratulate our first class of academy participants on their tremendous achievement. It was a year-long commitment, but each of them made the time to keep coming back for the learning sessions and in-person experiences. Below you will notice photos of several of the young leaders during a recent visit to the Illinois State Capitol. This is a group of very impressive young people in our industry, and I’m certain we’ll see each of them continuing to build success in their operations, in their lives and within IBA. Soon we’ll be announcing the 2023-24 cohort for our leadership program, and I cannot wait to meet each of them and see them start their journey this year, as well.
The announcement of this next class of beef leaders will happen at our 2023 IBA Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, taking place in Springfield on June 6. It’s an afternoon and evening of great fellowship, learning and celebration. Please see the information about registration in this issue and save your seats today! We’ve reduced the cost of attending, and this year’s meeting is a shortened schedule based on feedback we received over the last few years. Please try to join us in Springfield if you’re able.
The 2023 IBA Annual Meeting will bring a close to Dr. Paul Walker’s second year as President of the organization. This also marks the end of twelve years of service on the IBA Board of Governors. During his more than a decade of leadership, “Doc” has contributed immeasurable service to this Association and our industry. He has been a tireless advocate for all producers in our state, and a very strong voice in the Board’s continued desire to grow this organization. In the boardroom he has often led the charge on policy advancements and promotional opportunities that benefited our state’s cattle operations. On behalf of our entire membership, I want to thank Dr. Paul Walker for his time and talent, and his generous leadership in IBA.
Ben Lehman chats with his State Representative and House Republican leader Tony McCombie.
Extension Update
Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension Beef Specialist
It’s okay to stare at your cows
Observation and reflection seem to be a lost art in a world dominated by phone screens, data sets, and short attention spans. I challenge you to observe and reflect when watching cows graze. Below are just a few of many observations that I have made when watching cows graze in the spring/summer grazing season.
• Cattle like shade
• Cattle don’t like fescue in the spring/summer, they prefer clovers, Bromegrass and Orchardgrass
• Cattle don’t eat the grass around manure, spiny weeds
• Cattle graze harder closer to the water
• Flies cause cows to huddle and not graze
These observations are rudimentary. However, I think they warrant discussion.
First, Cattle will seek shade. In every paddock, the majority of the cows were grazing in the shade. That day the weather was fairly typical of an Illinois June. It was warm, a bit humid, but there was a nice breeze. It was obvious that cattle preferred the shade.
Many times when developing a rotational grazing plan, producers ask “Do cattle need shade?” I think answering this question becomes easy to answer when observing cattle behavior. Allowing cattle access to seek shade makes sense to me. It is their natural behavior to seek shade. They may not need it or use it on every day of the year, but I would recommend having access to shade in a planned grazing system.
Next, it was easy to see that the cattle were not mowing the paddock from front to back at a certain height like a mower. They were selectively grazing. They preferred more tender, larger leaf plants over more stemmy, mature growth. They also tended to graze legumes, Bromegrass, and then Orchardgrass before endophyte infected Fescue.
Cattle are largely path of least resistance eaters. They like the stuff that is easy to eat. The tender, immature plants. Generally, those plants are often higher in nutritive value than a mature plant too. Unless we stock cattle at a very high density, they will typically eat the good stuff and ignore the rest.
I think this observation can help answer a lot of questions. If you’re seeding a new pasture, plant a mixture of species, but plant species that cattle like to consume. Also, if you have pastures that are predominately Fescue, maybe fall grazing should be the priority for those areas. Few things are as good as stockpiled Fescue in the early winter, but cattle sure don’t care for it in late spring and summer.
Now, I also observed several spots that were ungrazed adjacent to areas that were heavily grazed. Many times the areas that were left ungrazed were inhabited by a manure patty or a spiny weed. Cattle do not like to graze next to
manure and they do not like to graze in areas of irritation. Distance from water also influences grazing pressure. If cattle have to trail a long way to water, they will not graze that area as frequent. This is especially true in the summer. In the summer, cattle are hot and tend to drink more water. They will undoubtedly graze the area close to the water heavier.
When planning a grazing system water is likely the biggest influencer. Locating the waterer within 700-800 feet of the farthest area in the paddock will help keep grazing uniform. Having the ability to take water to different areas of the pasture can help increase pasture utilization and can greatly benefit a strip grazing or rotational grazing set-up.
Another observation was that fly pressure makes cows huddle up and stop grazing. Cows will huddle and group or stand in water or mud to limit surface area exposure to flies. This causes a decrease in time spent grazing or resting. Thus, less feed intake and more energy expenditure results in poorer performance. A good fly control program will help your cows spend more time grazing.
A large percentage of questions I receive from producers hinge on their observations. Accurate and thorough observation can quickly identify problems that need solved. I believe that the power of observation can not only identify problems, but also serve to answer many of the questions. Today with so many distractions, mainly a cell phone; it is hard to take the time to observe. I encourage you to take that time to observe. Observe your cattle. Observe their environment. Not only is it relaxing to observe cows grazing in a pasture, but observing can also be one of the most valuable components to effective herd management.
Gate Cuts
Paul Walker, Professor Emeritus, DI Walker Consulting
Living With the High Cost of Feed
Dr. Glynn Tonsor, professor of agriculture economics at Kansas State University, estimates the cost to “run” a cow in 2023 will hit $1,000 per year. Seventy percent of this expense will be feed cost. Feed prices revolve around shelled corn prices. In the 1960s to 1970s shelled corn ranged between $1.25 - $3.00 per bushel. From the 1980s until the early 2000s shelled corn was priced between $2.00 and $4.00 per bushel. For the past ten years, shelled corn has ranged between $3.00 to $6.50 per bushel. Extension specialists historically quoted the rule of thumb that “a day grazed was a dollar saved.” According to Dr. Dan Loy of Iowa State University, today it is more like $2 per day. Therefore, turning cows to pasture grazing corn stalks in the fall and grazing cover crops in the late fall and early spring just makes good economic sense. But what happens when grazing is not an option – i.e., during drought, snow cover or no fences? In Illinois, everything related to feed is regional. We essentially have three geographical regions within Illinois – north of I-80 (north of Lasalle-Peru), between I-80 and I-70 (LasallePeru to Effingham) and south of I-70 (south of Effingham). And, the seasons are two weeks behind each other as one goes north. Said another way, the further one goes north the shorter the grazing season. Consequently, feeding options and feed supplementation must be considered but they will vary depending on location within Illinois. Feeding strategies include supplementing grazing cows or cows consuming dry hay with energy in the summer months and protein in the winter, or with both if forage is limited. If a producer is located within 50 miles of an ethanol plant, modified wet (40-60% dry matter) and sometimes wet (30% or less dry matter) distillers grains can be an economical, supplemental feed. Historically, if a cattle operation was located near St. Louis, brewer’s grains were/are an economical feed stuff, whether dry or high moisture. With today’s numerous local craft brewery’s, wet brewer’s grains can be a very economical feedstuff. The biggest problem with microbreweries, wet brewer’s grains, is their high water content. High water content can limit dry matter intake, and therefore nutrient intake, and it increases transportation cost and limits storage capabilities. Hence the stress on locally-produced brewer’s grains – not far to haul and frequently available. On a dry matter basis, brewer’s grains contain 28.0% crude protein and 1.09 mcal per pound of metabolizable energy. Locally, producers will find wet brewer’s grains will vary some in nutrient content, will be available in small amounts on a frequent basis and will be low in cost – sometimes free for hauling.
Similar in feeding value to brewer’s grains are Distillers Grans with Solubles – wet, modified wet or dry – and Corn Gluten Feed usually dry. On a DM basis
and 1.45 mcal per pound of ME; CGF has 28.1% CP and 1.35 mcal per pound of ME; soybean hulls contain 9.0% CP and 0.74 mcal per pound of ME; while shelled corn has 9.0% CP and 1.50 mcal per pound of ME. Hay/pasture will vary in CP between 7% and 20%, and will range between 0.77-1.02 mcal per pound in ME.
Table 1: Beef Requirements (lb per day)
This variability in nutrient content is why a nutrient analysis of forage is so important if the producer wants to feed low cost, balanced diets. Hay or pasture that contains above 10% CP can be supplemented with SH. Hay that is below 8% CP should be supplemented with DGS, CGF or brewer’s grains. If the forage of choice is corn silage, DGS or CGF are the logical choices. When feeding corn silage, the moisture content of the diet is too high to feed wet DGS or wet brewer’s grains and maintain sufficient DM intake. Therefore, modified wet DGS should be the by-product choice. Soybean hulls are an excellent by-product choice when feeding hay, if the hay has greater than 10% CP. Generally, 3-4 pounds per day is adequate when feeding hay free choice.
Given the high cost of hay and the inconvenience of feeding a high moisture by-product, producers may consider feeding limited forage and higher amounts of SC. Depending on feedstuff costs, feeding 10-15 pounds of SC per day may make sense. For example, a 1,400-pound cow in early lactation can be fed 45% of her intake as hay and 55% of her intake as SC. This translates to about 11 pounds of hay and 14 pounds of SC to meet her daily CP and ME needs. Depending on the relative prices of SC and hay, this diet may be more economical than a diet consisting of 20 pounds of hay and only 5 pounds of SC. Diets high in SC can be successfully fed if a host of management techniques are followed.
Small herds may benefit from a product like Mix 30®. There are several options for including this feedstuff in a beef cow’s diet. Check with a local provider. Whether top dressing or feeding a TMR, producers should consider feeding an ionophore of choice. Rumensin/Bovatec/etc. will improve feed efficiency 10% when fed to beef cows at the rate of 200 mg per cow per day. For beef cows, that translates to the
same production on 10% less feed. For most producers, hiring a nutritionist to balance diets and determine rations is a wise investment, especially when utilizing by-product feeds and alternative forages. Mineral deficiencies and/or toxicities are more frequent occurrences when using the combination of by-product feedstuffs and alternative forages.
That is what is so unique about beef cows, we can feed them so many feeds so many ways and still produce a wholesome, nutritional food – beef – in a sustainable way. Yes, the cup is half full and filling. Doc
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Affiliate News
Crossroads Beef Producers met on February 23 at the Kountry Kitchen in Teutopolis. James Davison traveled from San Antonio, Texas, to talk about CattleActive. He explained how CattleActive is a great tool to have in your toolbox whether you are a cow-calf or feedlot producer. Crossroads Beef Producers is working with Davison to establish a dealer in the Effingham area.
Heartland Beef Alliance members attended a pasture fertility and weed control meeting on March 2 with guest speaker Rachel Walker, Corteva Range and Pasture Specialist.
On March 6, during Havana Tractor Customer Appreciation, alliance members prepared 300
Grill masters Larry Eimer and Randy Pech grilled and Havana FFA members served the meal.
Union County Cattlemen’s Association met on March 9. Members enjoyed a meal generously provided by Ken and Sherry Pinnon and Steve and Darla Jones. Speakers included Dr. Jordan O’Neill with Great Plains Livestock Consulting and Dr. Tom McCollough. Guests heard about the importance of high-quality mineral in a cow's diet. Specifically, minerals’ effects on calf vigor; calving intervals were discussed. Dr. McCullough further discussed research on adding garlic to the mineral and how it helped repel face flies and some types of ticks. Guests from the Shawnee Cattlemen’s Association attended the meeting making attendance over 40.
ribeye steaks.
Submitting Affiliate News
Do you have Affiliate News? Submit information to Annie Schoetmer at annie@illinoisbeef.com or call 217-787-4280. Please notify Annie with changes to affiliate officer teams.
Prairie Beef Association hosted a steak dinner on March 11 at the Clinton Country Club to show appreciation for their sponsors. Invitees included sponsors that have supported Prairie Beef Association for three or more years. Guest totals reached 45 people. Josh St. Peters provided an update on what Illinois Beef has been working on recently and affiliate president, Marcia Cooper spoke about the affiliate’s history and upcoming events for Prairie Beef Association. A special thanks to all the sponsors and supporters. Find Prairie Beef Showcase Jackpot show results on page 42.
Woodford County Beef Improvement Association held their annual meeting in Eureka on Tuesday, March 14. Nearly 70 members attended the meeting which consisted of officer elections, 2022 sponsor recognition and the recognition of Woodford County bred show winners. Jake Pierce, Beef Specialist with Hubbard Feeds, talked about general beef production practices and bottom-line influencers. IBA Programs and Services Manager, Annie Schoetmer, attended the meeting to represent IBA and make remarks.
Stephenson/Winnebago Beef Association ambassador, Aaliyah, met runners at the finish line of the Bruce Johnson Memorial Farm to Farm 5k/10k near Winslow on April 1 to hand out a tasty beef snack stick. Runners also received a swag bag which included the flyer, “Beef’s Big 10,” illustrating beef’s essential nutrients.
Adams County Beef Producers held their second annual Beef Bonanza on March 25 at The Ambiance in Quincy. JKW BBQ prepared slow-smoked brisket, K’s Family Foods, Inc. made their famous macaroni salad, Boki’s Kitchen brought their famous hot roast beef plate and Smokin’ Bull BBQ brought Prime rib. Food was also served from Hy-Vee, The Abbey and Adam’s County Beef Producers. The Fuedin’ Hillbillies provided the live music and there was a live auction.
Bureau County Cattlemen’s Association will host the Bureau County Angus Field Day and Show on Sunday, July 23, at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton. Registration will be from 8:00-9:00 with the show starting at 10:30. Contact Sally Kiner at 815-910-7095 for more information.
Calf scours are not inevitable. A strong prevention progr am is non - negotiable Dependable scour prevention is essential for calf welfare, employee morale and business profitabilit y. The immune s y s te m’s r e s p o n s e to v a c cinati o n is v ar iab l e and unpredictable That’s why giving preformed an tib o di e s in
I’m all for removing uncertainties. So yes, I stand by this product. (And no, I’m not.)
In the Know
Opportunities for Education
An important practice for every cattle producer is to continuously learn and broaden their knowledge of the industry and issues within it. A popular trend for gaining knowledge in any industy is through listening to podcasts. Illinois Beef Association reminds you of two opportunites for this task through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. According to NCBA, the Cattlemen’s Call podcast focuses on industry members and what is going on within the industry across the country. It is available on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud and Spotify. Another podcast option is NCBA’s Beltway Beef. This podcast focuses on what is going on from a legislative and political standpoint when it affects American cattle producers. According to NCBA.org discussions include issues such as product labeling, labor, taxes and others. It is available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Maybe cattle podcasts will become a new part of your daily routine!
Illinois Association of Meat Processors
The Illinois Association of Meat Processors is our state affiliate of the American Association of Meat Processors. IAMP is made up of nearly eighty plant members, an additional eighty supplier members, and nearly fifteen associate members. When asked about the purpose of IAMP, Executive Secretary Dianne Handsaker said, “We represent small to mid-sized plants and suppliers.” Handsaker went on to discuss the important role IAMP plays when it comes to legislative and regulatory matters. IAMP is also a source of educational and promotional resources. In a relatively small community of plants and supplies, IAMP is critical to providing members with information.
IAMP hosts a fall plant and supplier tour where members can network, learn and engage with other packers and suppliers around the state. IAMP also has a booth and hosts various contests at the Illinois State Fair. Most notable is the annual IAMP/ IMPPA Convention and Tradeshow held in February. This year, Lisa Zumbahlen represented the Illinois Beef Association as a contest judge at the convention. The Innovative Beef & Pork Contest is an opportunity for plants to display their unique skills. This year, the contest theme was “Stuff It.” Jones Meat & Locker of Jacksonville won Grand Champion with their Stuffed Skirt Steak. Reserve Grand Champion honors were awarded to Henry Courdt of Raber Packing Co. with his Meatloaf Stuffed Skirt Steak. The Best of Beef Award went to Eickman’s Processing of Seward with his dried beef.
IAMP is doing important business across the state to serve and represent plants, suppliers and supporters of the meat industry. Interested in how you can get more involved in IAMP? Visit https://illinoismeatprocessors.com/ or email dianne@illinoismeatprocessors.com to join!
Grand Champion - Jones Meat & Locker
Reserve Grand Champion - Henry Courdt of Raber Packing Co.
Best of Beef - Eickman’s Processing
Ag
Legislative Day
On Thursday, March 29, IBA Board members participated in Agricultural Legislative Day at the Illinois State Capitol. Governor Pritzker and Lieutenent Governor Stratton gave opening remarks, followed by 4-H Representative Naomi Dolan, Illinois FFA President Rachel Hood, Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Paige Van Dyke, Senator Doris Turner and Senator Win Stoller of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Representative Sonya Harper, and Representative Charlie Meier, of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee.
IBA BOG members Joan Harrison, Dr. Paul Walker, Betsy Pech, Bruce Betzold and IBA EVP Josh St. Peters.
Illinois Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello during Agricuture Legislative Day ceremonies.
2023 Miss Illinois County Fair Queen and IJBA secretary Paige Van Dyke and IBA President Dr. Paul Walker.
IBA President Dr. Paul Walker speaks with other ag leaders at the event.
IBA BOG members Betsy Pech and Joan Harrison chat with fellow agriculture leaders.
IBA BOG member Bruce Betzold with Chris Magnuson of Illinois Farm Bureau.
State Representative Dr. Bill Hauter with IBA BOG members Joan Harrison, Dr. Paul Walker and Betsy Pech.
IBA BOG members Dr. Paul Walker and Betsy Pech, State Representative Chris Miller, IBA BOG member Bruce Betzold and IBA EVP Josh St. Peters.
Pictured left to right: Joan Harrison, Betsy Pech, State Representative Charlie Meier, Dr. Paul Walker, Bruce Betzold and Josh St. Peters.
IBA EVP Josh St. Peters, IBA BOG members Joan Harrison, Betsy Pech and Dr. Paul Walker shared their thoughts with State Senator Sally Turner(center).
Illinois Beef Foundation Illinois Beef Foundation
Lizzie Schafer
Hometown: Owaneco
School: Butler Community College
Agricultural Communications
Molly Biggs
Hometown: Dixon
School: Kansas State University
Agricultural Communications and Journalism
Eric Schafer
Hometown: Owaneco
School: Oklahoma State University
Animal Science
Paige Van Dyke
Hometown: Louisville
School: Oklahoma State University
Agricultural Communications
2023 Scholarship Recipients
2023 scholarship recipients
Reese Anderson
Hometown: Chrisman Future School: University of Illinois
Anna Webel Hometown: Farmington Future School: Lake Land College
Lauren Wolter Hometown: Aviston Future School: Kansas State University
Adam Miller Hometown: Gridley Future School: Oklahoma State University
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRACEABILITY
In January of this year, USDA’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a proposed rule to the federal docket, slated to amend the government’s animal disease traceability regulations. This proposal would impact cattle operations, as it provides new guidance on the use of official eartags for interstate movement of beef cattle to increase traceability of animals in the supply chain.
The proposal, titled “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison” would apply to cattle 18-months or older only when crossing state or international borders. A final rule is being developed by USDA, as they have been gathering public comments and industry input. Once that final ruling is published, it is anticipated that the new regulations will take effect six months later.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed comments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) proposed rule in late April, as the government was gathering industry input on traceability.
“An outbreak of a foreign animal disease in the United States, like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), would be catastrophic to the cattle industry and our way of life,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “Traceability is about risk protection and ensuring we have the tools to quickly identify and respond to an outbreak while strengthening consumer trust in our highquality beef. Our comments emphasize the importance of protecting the U.S. cattle herd from the threat of a foreign animal disease while also protecting producers’ private data, limiting the cost of tagging devices, and operating at the speed of commerce.”
Currently, the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare provides electronic identification tags (EID) free of charge to producers in the state, through a cooperative program with USDA. The RFID “840” tags are intended for replacement cattle (bulls, cows, and breeding age heifers) and can be obtained by contacting the state agriculture officials at (217) 782-4944.
Without a national traceability system in place, the impact of a foreign animal disease outbreak would be magnified. For example, an outbreak of the highly contagious viral footand-mouth disease (FMD) in the United States would lead to an immediate stop of all livestock movement for at least 72 hours. Most major export markets would close to U.S. beef and the estimated economic impact could be as high as $228 billion.
To receive the free tags, producers are asked to pay the cost of shipping or pick them up from the Dept. of Agriculture in Springfield. A premises identification number must be on file to receive the tags, and producers can receive as many as 500 tags at this time.
A traceability system supports cattle producers quickly returning to normal operations after a disease outbreak. Traceability data would allow producers in low-risk areas to resume transporting cattle, while helping animal health officials stop the spread of disease in high-risk areas. A traceability program also helps expedite the return to an FMD-free designation, which is beneficial for trading relationships and consumer trust in beef.
As grassroots organizations, IBA’s and NCBA’s perspective on traceability has been developed by cattle producers who serve on policy boards and committees. The policies of both groups highlight that any traceability system:
• Is industry driven.
• To serve the needs and interests of beef cattle producers.
• In coordination with current and future federal, state, and tribal government animal disease traceability programs.
• Is capable of being managed and overseen by private entities that address animal disease traceability needs of the beef cattle industry in coordination with government, state, and tribal disease tracing mechanisms.
• Maintains producer data privacy.
• Is equitable to all industry sectors.
• Is compatible with common industry practices.
• Operates at the speed of commerce.
• Is credible in domestic and international markets.
• Uses electronic identification devices and electronic data transfer.
CALL YOUR VET
FDA Guidance #263 will limit access to some antibiotics beginning June 11.
by Devin Bollman
Cattle producers across the United States have been preparing for June when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry #263 will take affect, limiting over-the-counter access to certain antibiotics such as Penicillin, Oxytetracycline, Sulfa-based antibiotics, Tylosin and Cephapirin.
Dr. Teresa Steckler of University of Illinois Extension says “Guidance #263 recommends producers of medically important antimicrobial drugs that continued to be available over the counter and approved for use in animals (companion and food producing), regardless of method of delivery, to voluntarily bring these products under veterinary oversight or prescription marketing statue.”
This guidance is part of a five-year plan by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine entitled “Supporting antimicrobial stewardship in veterinary settings: Goals for fiscal years 2019-2023.” The FDA says this program aims to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies in humans and animals alike, by promoting good stewardship practices.
Producers are not required to purchase the antibiotics from a veterinarian, however, Steckler says “producers will be legally required to obtain a prescription from a licensed veterinarian and must have a valid veterinary-client-patient relationship.” While these relationships are already in place for many producers, Guidance #263 will most certainly increase the need of it for producers using any of the named antibiotics.
According to section V of the CVM Guidance for Industry #263:
While the principles for judicious use of medically important antimicrobials recommended in GFI #209
are nominally specific to the use of such drugs in foodproducing animals, FDA believes it is appropriate to apply these same judicious use principles to the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs in all animals. Based on the available scientific evidence concerning antimicrobial resistance, including information about resistance trends associated with the use of medically important antimicrobial drugs, FDA believes the judicious use of medically important antimicrobial drugs intended for use in animals should involve the scientific and clinical training of a licensed veterinarian. The involvement of a veterinarian is needed because judicious use of antimicrobial drugs requires an accurate diagnosis of the bacterial disease that is present, or likely to be present, and the selection of a suitable antimicrobial drug to address that disease.
The decision by the veterinarian to use a specific approved drug is generally based on multiple factors, such as the mode of antibacterial action, drug distribution in specific tissues, the duration of effective drug levels at the site of infection, past treatment outcomes, local burden of illness information, and concurrent animal health issues. Other important factors veterinarians consider when determining the appropriateness of a given antimicrobial use include whether: (1) there is evidence of effectiveness, (2) such use is consistent with accepted veterinary practice, (3) the use is linked to a specific etiologic agent, (4) the use is appropriately targeted to animals with or at risk of developing a specific disease, and (5) no reasonable alternatives for intervention exist. FDA believes that veterinarians are uniquely qualified to make these decisions and to determine appropriately timed
administration of the antimicrobial to treat, control, or prevent disease in animals.
Accordingly, FDA recommends that sponsors of medically important antimicrobial new animal drugs that are currently approved with OTC marketing status voluntarily revise the conditions of use of these drug products to reflect the need for professional oversight of a licensed veterinarian (i.e., change the drug from OTC to Rx marketing status). (2021)
Be sure to read Guidance #263 in its entirity at https:// www.fda.gov/media/130610/download.
Locally, Illinois veterinarians are prepared to work with beef producers on plans for managing antibiotic use for cattle. FDA’s new regulations, requiring this partnership with local animal health experts, are aimed at curbing microbial resistance and should help the industry maintain consumer confidence.
“Our food supply in this country is extremely safe based on the rules, regulations and inspection processes we have in place,” says past Illinois Beef Association board member, Dr. Jay Miller, DVM, with Timbercrest Veterinary Services in Atlanta, Illinois.
Dr. Miller believes this guidance by FDA is in the best interest of producers and health professionals, keeping the use of medically important medications within the supervision of a client-patient relationship. He says this allows everyone in the industry to help preserve valuable tools for keeping people and animals healthy.
“As stewards of the industry, producers and veterinarians work together to ensure we use the right product at the right time, and for the right condition,” adds Miller, himself a beef producer.
The next step for producers should be to establish a working relationship with a licensed veterinarian in advance
of the June deadline, if such a relationship is not already in place. Miller predicts little-to-no interruption of the supply chain, as updated rules will affect the pharmaceutical manufacturers who are guided to voluntarily comply by changing product labels to state “for prescription only.”
Give your veterinarian a call soon if you have not already discussed the updated antibiotic regulations from FDA, and make sure you are covered for continued medical access before an unplanned need arises or June 11 approaches and these antibiotics are no longer available over-the-counter. For assistance finding a cattle veterinarian in your area contact the IBA office at (217)787-4280.
Notes
1. Steckler, T. (2022). Are You Ready for the Next Phase? Prescription Only Antibiotics. Illinois Beef, pp. 34-35.
2. (2021). Recommendations for Sponsors of Medically Important Antimicrobial Drugs Approved for Use in Animals to Voluntarily Bring Under Veterinary Oversight All Products That Continue to be Available Over-the-Counter Guidance for Industry #263. pp. 5.
SA Wonderful Life Indeed A Wonderful Life Indeed
The story of Chuck Weilmuenster and his journey to the cattle industry.
by Olivia Hoots
itting on a porch with a cup of coffee or sweet tea and listening to your grandmother tell the story of how she met your grandfather, how your grandpa used to deliver mail on horseback, or even stories from the war. What about the classic tale of how short cattle used to be in the 1950s, or how tall they were in the 70s.
Like most, Chuck Weilmuenster has his own story to tell. It is one that will make you ponder the importance of sitting down to listen to the stories of those who have lived more life than you. Chuck’s story is intriguing and his dedication to live life in a simple way, pursuing things that truly matter to him, is evident. It is a life full of meaning and deep love.
Chuck has lived through times of war, love, loss and as a cattleman. With that comes a raw and honest story, which makes him live his life today in service to his wife Jeanine, God and their family.
Chapter One: The Farm in Anna
On the outskirts of Anna, Illinois, there is a gravel drive with a painted white fence that reads CJ – Chuck and Jeanine that is – Simmentals.
Down the drive sits a clean, one-story white house with a three-car garage. Three paddocks surround the house and within them is a small pond and Fullblood Fleckvieh Simmentals.
As you walk through the door of the white house you are greeted by a large great room with windows all around and a large fireplace in the middle of the far wall. In the corner there is a handmade rocking chair where Jeanine often sits. The most frequent gathering in the space is a Bible study the couple hosts with others from their church. To the left is a kitchen filled with food to share with those who visit them. Then there’s the living room, one of the best features of the house with its large picture window looking out across the paddocks and pond.
There is much wisdom to be gained from listening to Chuck. Now in their seventies, he and Jeanine continue to live life as a journey, one that changes and grows and always loves those around them.
Chapter Two: The Beginning
Chuck’s grandfather, his mom’s father, had six farms in Jersey county near Jerseyville, Illinois. His dad was raised in East St. Louis where his mother’s father was half-owner of Robertson’s Ruralist, a farm supply store during the 1940s and 1950s.
“My dad was a city slicker,” Chuck says.
His mother’s sister owned “Cars Café,” a trolley-car themed café in East St. Louis where Chuck’s mom was a waitress. His father visited one day to eat and there met his mom. Once they were married, they moved back to one of the farms his grandfather owned near Jerseyville. Another one of the farms was a dairy herd and the couple got one of the cows to milk.
“My dad could not milk the cow, but of course my mom being a farm girl could. She would be milking the cow and squirt my dad, who would get mad at her and go in the house,” Chuck says.
It sounds as if it must have been a classic romance because in 1945 Robert “Chuck” Weilmuenster entered the world.
After some years of working various jobs, Chuck’s dad started work for McDonnell Aircraft in 1949 and worked there for 27 years.
In 1957, Chuck’s grandfather passed away. The will stated the farm was to be sold so the family moved to a Godfrey,
Illinois, subdivision.
While he had been in a one room schoolhouse up until this point, Chuck now had to face the challenges a large school brought.
There was one upside Chuck eventually found in the move, however. He was now a part of agriculture classes and at that time there were only 40 kids involved, so he took the opportunity to be on every judging team. It is evident Chuck’s spirit is to be the first to volunteer and participate.
By the time he was old enough for college, he chose to follow his father’s wish to not major in agriculture. Although, he may have found a way to learn about similar things by choosing to major in biology. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville was his school of choice.
Chapter Three: Drafted
After only two years of school Chuck was drafted and while on a temporary deferment enlisted in the Air Force. He served for three years and nine months. He began as part of Strategic Air Command at the Altus Airbase in Altus, Oklahoma, and was an ejection seat specialist on Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers.
In the summer of 1968, the Air Force relocated the B-52s at Altus to various locations and transferred Chuck to Riverside, California, where there were 120 B-52s.
Though he had convinced himself he may not have to venture to Vietnam, by December of that year, he got orders to go. He began in Tampa, Florida, for a refresher course in McDonnell Douglas F-4 ejection seats.
Chuck arrived in Danang, Vietnam, on March 1, 1969. While there, the North Koreans shot down an American Airborne Early Warning and Control plane. Because of the incident, U.S. F-4s were diverted in route so he was then needed as a trained ejection seat person at the Kunsan Air Base in South Korea. He was there from April 1 to May 30 and was only in Vietnam for 10 months because of this temporary duty.
When in Kunsan, Chuck was called in because a Navy aircraft from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk had to make an emergency landing and they needed someone to safety the ejection seat. Chuck was shocked at the outward appearance of the navy plane. “It had ugly patches on the fuel tanks,” he says.
“Chuck you have got to remember, they are on a ship without parts available, unlike the Air Force,” said the sergeant. “The plane was flyable and that is all it needed to be.”
Chuck was learning not to take situations at face value.
Also during his time in South Korea, Chuck was having stomach pains one day and went to the hospital on base where the doctor said it could be his appendix. They flew him up to Pusan, near Seoul.
“Son, did they really examine you?” asked the big army doctor in Pusan.
“They had a guy out of the officer club come in and punch me in the stomach several times,” Chuck responded.
“Well, he must have wanted to get back to his card game,” the doctor explained. “You just have a bad case of gas!”
Let’s just say, Chuck was a bit humbled that day. He was
then set loose in Seoul to head back to his unit, but he did not have money to return so he headed down to the USO to get money for a train ticket.
As the train traveled toward Kunsan it traveled at what felt to Chuck like ten miles per hour, taking over ten hours to reach the destination. Many of the carts had entire families with all their possessions including chickens and other animals.
Once he returned to the base, he told his air force friends about what he had seen, ultimately intriguing them to want to experience the train ride too. Soon enough they were on an Air America flight back to Seoul. This time, they had their cameras to take pictures of the landscape – especially the rice paddies, unique to Chuck and his friends.
By this point in his life, Chuck was learning to appreciate the experiences he was given.
Chapter Four: I Asked Her to Dance
After Vietnam and South Korea, Chuck returned to college, this time at SIU Carbondale. While there, one of his friends invited him to go to a place called Bonaparte’s Retreat where there was a band and dancing.
“I saw a girl sitting across the way and decided to ask her to dance.” Jeanine Egan was her name, from Lombard, a subdivision near Chicago. She was there visiting a friend, Janie, who also attended SIUC.
But after that night, Chuck lost her phone number. It took over a week for him to come across Jeanine’s friend and retrieve the lost information.
“Janie, I lost Jeanine’s phone number,” Chuck said with the courage he could muster.
“She’s been waiting on a call from you,” Janie replied.
Once he was able to reach Jeanine, they began writing letters to one another. After meeting August 10, 1970, she was back down in October of that year to “visit her friend.” They then started visiting each other every two weeks.
After Chuck graduated from college on June 10, 1972, they married seven days later on June 17.
Chapter Five: Becoming a Farmer
Chuck’s first job after college was at an elevator in Dorchester, Illinois. “It was not a job for college graduates, but it paid the bills,” he says.
Not long after, a feed salesman told him about an opportunity in Carlinville where they wanted someone to start up their hog business.
They already owned some sows when Chuck arrived, a self-feeder too. The operation began with a twelve-sow feeding house made from a chicken house, but Chuck was not very pleased with the disposition of the hogs. He told his partners of his interest in getting new sows for the operation.
Their neighbor, Matt Murphey, had some crossbred sows. To resolve the issues, Chuck bought two groups of 25 sows from the Murphey’s and 25 more from a confinement at Palmyra.
“The first batch farrowed well, the second batch suffered some congenital tremors, the next batch suffered badly, and the next batch were affected so badly I barely had a five-pig average,” Chuck says. He knew he had to figure out
the problem. The veterinarian told him to wait for the next farrowing and surely enough they were fine after that. Chuck continued to grow the sow herd from there.
As the farm continued to grow and profits increased, by 1975 Chuck and his business partner, Zane, were building a 50-sow farrowing house. “They did not listen to my advice and so it was built with a big pit under it,” Chuck says. “It should have been a flush gutter.” It was built with oak slats, making it difficult to clean so they had to be innovative in how they cleaned the building to ensure healthy farrowing.
In 1978, Chuck and Jeanine decided it was time to start their own operation.
“We bought a small farm in Kampsville, Illinois. It was 100 acres to raise hogs on,” Chuck says. They also had a sheep herd of 50 ewes and 15 crossbred cows with a part Simmental bull.
“We had been there about six months when the hog business took a tremendous dive,” he says.
Financial difficulties led Chuck to make a career change. In December 1985 he went to work for the Farmer’s Home Administration – now called Rural Development.
They gave Chuck the option to be in one of their 15 offices where they were hiring. All he told them was he preferred a more southern location, though he had been hoping for Anna all along.
“Will you go work in Anna?” they asked. Chuck would say this proves God works in mysterious ways.
And so, in December of 1985, Chuck and Jeanine, and their three girls Becky, Melanie and Valerie, moved to Anna, where the couple still resides today.
“We could not buy a house right away and we did not have much money,” Chuck says. “We had an old Ford truck [Jeanine] learned to drive stick shift on.”
“She had to learn a lot, she was a city slicker from Chicago,” Jeanine remarks about herself. “Chuck said he wanted to farm and all I could think of was white picket fences and I thought that sounded nice. I did not know I would end up on a hog farm and then we would have cows, but I love the cows.”
After their long journey of triumphs and valleys, the Weilmuensters were beginning to figure out what would really make them happy – beef cattle.
Chapter Six: Fullblood Fleckvieh Simmentals
Anna is where they started their Fullblood Fleckvieh Simmental operation. Chuck also went to artificial insemination school so he could AI himself.
“I went to Mississippi to the Magnolia Classic sale in the early 2000s and bought a Fullblood Simmental Heifer,” Chuck says. “That started the Fullblood herd, and I have gradually sold off the purebred Simmentals so all of the cows are Fleckvieh today.”
According to the Fullblood Simmental Fleckvieh Federation, this breed dates back to 1830 when the original Simmentaler cattle were imported from Europe where they are traditionally a dual-purpose breed. There are five different strains of Simmentals in Europe, with Fleckvieh being the German strain that is more muscular.
Chuck favors the breed for their mothering ability and gentle dispositions, as well as their strong milk production because of their history as a dual-purpose breed. This gives them the ability to have fast-growing calves.
Jeanine says the breed has proven extremely valuable for crossbreeding because of these factors. The Weilmuensters have crossbred for these reasons when developing heifers and steers.
After Chuck started building his herd, he learned some breeders were endeavoring to begin a show in Louisville at the North American Livestock Exposition because there needed to be 50 animals minimum for a Fullblood show, then they would no longer have to show against the purebred Simmentals. Chuck was enthusiastic about making this happen and entered some of his animals. He took them to Louisville three times and has the ribbons hanging in their kitchen still today.
“That got me in with some of the other breeders and they invited me to bring some of my animals down to the Magnolia Classic,” Chuck says. He has now been selling cattle
there every year for almost ten years. The show is significant for U.S. Fullblood Simmental breeders. Jeanine enjoys seeing the same people every year at the show.
Their Fleckvieh operation has bled into their community, supplying animals to others in their area and work for Chucks partners who help him out day to day. Those in his circle look up to Chuck and appreciate the work he has done in creating quality cows and bulls.
Along with their influence on the cattle industry in Anna, Chuck and Jeanine have also given much of their time to Union County Cattlemen’s Association. He is currently the Secretary/Treasurer for the association, and Jeanine helps too, both influencing younger generations to be more involved in their communities. Meetings are well attended and usually include a meal and a speaker. They are also proud members of Union County Farm Bureau because of their belief in advocating for their way of life.
Chapter Seven: An Ending We All Hope For Chuck’s gratefulness for the life he has is evident when he opens his binder. It is filled with prints of his best animals, highest sellers, grades of market animals, emails from people who have bought his bulls, pictures of his family and more.
One picture is of a young man who showed one of his Fleckviehs at the fair a few years ago. Another is titled “THE BEST COW IN MY HERD C515.” Chuck takes great pride in the success of his animals.
There is something about raising cattle that makes men never want to retire. That is what it is like for Chuck. “It’s what he loves,” Jeanine says.
The Weilmuenster’s story is like one of those old movies about love and loss and picking yourself up again. At the core they are two people who seek to serve the Illinois cattle industry and the people in their community. Chuck gets up every day with an attitude of self-service and living a life of which he can be proud.
Chuck with aerial photos of his farm and his grandfather’s headquarters farm that was located in Jersey county.
North American International Livestock Exposition ribbons and backdrop photos.
CHECKING IN WITH THE CHECKOFF
The Dinner Table The Dinner Table
A PLACE FOR MEMORIES AND BEEF
While beef is a staple in the diets of many, it is even more so a reason people gather around their tables, especially for special occasions. Some think of summer grilling, others the prime rib they ate after a big promotion. Beef is often associated with core memories and experiences. What memory comes to your mind?
by Charlyn Fargo Ware
When tulips and daffodils start popping through the ground, you can almost hear the sizzle on the neighborhood grills and smell the smoke from the charcoal. Before long, you are tasting those yummy burgers and tender steaks.
With May Beef Month it is a great time to celebrate the flavors of the grill, and it is also a great time to try a new recipe or share a memory of one your mom used to make.
While people have been eating beef for thousands of years, today it is still a favorite choice for a family meal. Nutritionally, beef is an excellent source of protein and supplies 10 essential nutrients including B vitamins, zinc and iron that support an active and healthy lifestyle. The nutrients in beef provide our bodies with the strength to thrive throughout all stages of life.
On the farm where I grew up, we had a few steers we showed at the county and state fair. Our freezer was always full of beef. When it came time for a special celebration, my dad would cook steaks on the grills or my mom would make Italian beef in the slow cooker. We were a family that loved and celebrated beef. Mom would plan meals around beef, adding a vegetable from the garden, homemade rolls and often, baked apples for dessert.
Jolene Lamb of Taylorville, who coordinates culinary community education at Lincoln Land Community College, also has a ready supply of beef.
“My father-in-law raises cattle,” she says. “We are fortunate to be able to enjoy the beef he has processed. We are a typical Midwestern family that enjoys burgers on the grill in the summer months -- and while celebrating 4th of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day.”
She loves beef for its versatility, enjoyed as a casual grilled burger at a picnic, a hearty pot roast with her grandmother for Sunday dinner or a classic steak dinner to celebrate a special occasion with her husband, Michael. She’s even been known to make an elegant beef Wellington.
GRILLED BEEF TRI-TIP
“I think growing up in the Midwest there are so many memories of family gatherings and celebrations that showcased beef,” she said.
Registered dietitian Jananne Fink grew up in Aledo, Illinois, with four brothers and sisters on a family farm. She moved to Springfield to work as a nutrition specialist with University of Illinois Extension and later to Arizona to be closer to family.
“I think of burgers for birthday parties for my great nieces and nephews,” she said. “Almost all preschoolers love cheeseburgers with ketchup – and more ketchup – on the burgers. Their parents like burgers on the menu as they fit their budget and are enjoyed by all ages. They don’t even need it on a bun!”
Chef Kevin Sullivan of Springfield grew up enjoying his mom’s slow-cooked pot roast. And this Easter, after cooking more ham and turkey than he cared to count for patrons, all Sullivan wanted was his mom’s pot roast.
“I was thinking about pot roast with carrots and potatoes, slow-cooked, and melt-in-your-mouth tender,” said Sullivan. “Families were raised on cheap cuts braised long and slow. That’s how food should be – made with passion and love for the family.”
He has great memories of family dinners with beef. His mom would serve the pot roast along with a marinated vegetable salad with green peppers, pimento, red onion, early spring peas and white corn, all covered in an oil and vinegar dressing.
He now seeks out farm-raised and local beef in the Springfield area for dinners he caters and serves.
“That’s where my heart is,” says Sullivan. “My menus are mom and pop, old school, and most of the time they include beef.”
Here’s a recipe from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association website, BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com that is worth cleaning off the grill and making memories.
SALAD WITH BALSALMIC DRESSING
Ingredients: Salad:
1 beef Tri-tip Roast (1-1/2 to 2 pounds) 6 cups arugula leaves 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved Marinade: 1/2 cup cooked sweet corn, chilled
1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette 1/4 cup diced red onion
1-1/2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard 1/2 cup reduced-fat feta cheese crumbles
1 tablespoon honey 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Combine vinaigrette and mustard ingredients in small bowl. Place beef Tri-Tip Roast and 1/2 cup marinade to food-safe plastic bag; turn roast to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigerator 15 minutes to 2 hours. Stir in honey to remaining 1/4 cup marinade. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Remove roast from marinade; discard marinade. Pat dry with paper towel. Prepare gas grill for indirect cooking by lighting two thirds to one half your grill, leaving remainder off. When grill is hot (10 to 15 minutes), place roast directly above flames. Cover and sear all sides of roast, approximately 8 minutes each. Move roast to unlit area on grid. Cover and cook 14 to 16 minutes until medium rare (135°F) to medium (150°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 5°F to 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.
Combine arugula, tomatoes, corn, onions and feta in large bowl; toss gently. Place on large platter. Carve roast against the grain into 1/4-inch slices; season with salt, as desired. Top salad with steak. Drizzle with reserved dressing and pepper, as desired.
Family Recipes
Directions:
Aunt Kim’s Meatloaf and Hokey Pokey Sauce
What you’ll need:
2 lbs. hamburger
1 package onion soup mix
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all meatloaf ingredients together. Put into loaf pan, or 8x8 pan and shape into loaf. Cover top with additional ketchup and 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, or until internal temp reads 160F. Let rest for 10 mintes before serving.
Hokey Pokey Sauce:
1 can of tomato sauce (15 oz.) 1/2 tsp. onion powder salt and pepper
1/4 cup brown sugar (can use more or less, depending on how sweet you like it)
Combine all Hokey Pokey Sauce ingredients in small sauce pan. Bring to small boil over medium heat to warm. Serve over slices of meatloaf. Also, good over mashed potatoes if served with meatloaf.
Grandma T’s
Smothered Steak
What you’ll need:
2 lbs. round or sirloin steak
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup vegatable oil of choice
from Illinois’ Cattlewomen
Angela Anderson’s Sale Day BBQ Sandwiches
What
you’ll need:
3 lbs. hamburger
3 lbs. roast
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cans chicken gumbo soup
Salt & Pepper to tast
A “little” mustard & BBQ sauce
Directions:
Boil beef roast until tender and shred. In a large skillet, brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Combine roast and hamburger then add other ingredients. Simmer for 45 minutes to an hour over slow heat. This lets the flavor become savory throughout. Good to freeze and save for later.
Directions:
Cut meat into strips, removing bone and extra fat. Pour oil in large skillet and cook steak on low-medium heat, turning once until done (20 minutes or so). Simmer by pouring both soups and one can of water into the skillet with the steak. Mix. Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Optional: add peppers, onions or mushrooms for flavor and texture.
Illinois Beef Association
Seller’s Signature
PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM
State and National Beef Promotion and Research Programs
Buyer’s Signature
Both the seller & the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Illinois Beef Association. Date of Sale
of Origin
CA Queen for the Livestock Industry
How Paige Van Dyke plans to use her new crown to advocate for the livestock industry this summer. Plus, why her cattle industry experience brought her to where she is today.
by Olivia Hoots
ounty fairs in Illinois are filled with kids who each have their own aspirations – hopes and dreams if you will. Some hope to win the steer show, others the tractor pull, and some just want the sweet tea that tastes particularly good that time of year. If you visited the Clay County fair about ten years ago, you would have seen a little Paige Van Dyke hanging from the gate with her starry eyes looking at the county fair queen, hoping one day to hand out the shiny ribbons and wear a studded crown herself.
By 2014, the little girl from Louisville was Junior Miss Clay County, enjoying her time with the Miss and Little Miss at the time. Since then, she has spent much of her time in the barn while her sister competed in the pageants.
In 2022, Van Dyke was not quite sure running for Miss Clay County was for her. In the end, the decision was one based on her regard for agriculture in Illinois.
Growing up on her family’s grain and livestock operation where they have 300 acres of row crop ground and 120 head of registered Angus and Red Angus cattle, meant Van Dyke has spent her youth enveloped in the agriculture community.
“I really wanted to be an advocate for agriculture in my county and be able to represent everyone back in the barn on a higher level,” Van Dyke says. “And share with everyone the importance of agriculture and the livestock industry.”
After becoming Miss Clay County, Van Dyke was then one of 72 contestants from across Illinois competing for the title of Miss Illinois County Fair Queen. That weekend brought many different emotions, but she kept a calm demeanor. She says, “I kind of just told myself it’s in God’s hands and if this is where I am supposed to be and I am supposed to be the next Miss Illinois Clay County then so be it. I’ll take the title and I’ll do the best that I can to represent the state and the
agriculture industry.”
Sandy Hoke, director of Miss Illinois County Fair, says it has been a long time since the winner was as involved in the agriculture industry as Van Dyke. “I think this gives a whole new light to it, especially for the younger girls that are in the show ring who will see her and know they can do both,” Hoke says.
A Crown, and Boots Too
“Even though I have the crown on my head I still love to be in my boots out in the barn working,” Van Dyke says.
Being busy is what makes Van Dyke who she is and it has played a huge role in her success. She believes that if it is in God’s plan, she’s going to make it work. “He has a plan for it to all work out,” she says.
She also credits much of her success to those always willing to keep up with her busy schedule. “My mom, my dad, my grandpa, my brother, my sister, as well as my stock family,” Van Dyke lists her support system. “I could list them all but that would be very, very long.”
One person Van Dyke is most close with is her grandpa, Jim Rose. Some of his favorite memories of Van Dyke include seeing her dedication and remembering the songs they used to create together.
“She’s a Christian young lady that believes in her God and she loves her family beyond all. To me that is what makes her so special,” Rose says. He could talk about how proud he is of her all day.
When her family was only raising registered black Angus cattle, Van Dyke came to her grandpa one day and asked to show “red ones.” “And so I bought her first registered Red Angus heifer,” Rose says.
Van Dyke started showing cattle when she was about 12 years old, a few years after she
Paige Van Dyke after winning Miss Illinois County Fair Queen.
began showing hogs and sheep. Cattle was where her love for agriculture really began to increase. Some of her accomplishments include 2021 Angus Junior Nationals Fifth Overall Female, 2021 North American Junior Red Angus Event Grand Champion Futurity Heifer and Third Overall Heifer, 2021 and 2022 NAJRAE Champion Showman, 2015 World Beef Expo Reserve Champion Heifer and 2019 Duquoin State Fair Third Overall Heifer. She also got first runner up at the 2018 Master Showmanship contest at the Illinois State Fair and champion in the beef division and 2021 first runner up again and winner of the sheep division.
Her other involvements include holding leadership positions in her FFA chapter and section, winning the FFA Creed Speaking contest, 4-H visual art and public speaking, being an Illinois Junior Beef Association board member and National Angus Association member. She was also part of Illinois Livestock Ambassadors, a youth education of agriculture committee. Her favorite leadership position thus far was being president of the NAJRAE Junior Board where she introduced the senior interview contest and enjoyed helping with the big-little program. Each role has played a different part in how she views the livestock industry and seeks to advocate on behalf of farmers.
Rose recalled a moment from the state pageant when the contestants were asked about climate change and agriculture. He said her answer was unlike her competitors because her answer included the practices farmers are using to be stewards of the land. “When she tries to promote agriculture
through being Miss Illinois County Fair Queen, she’s going to know what she is talking about,” says Rose.
Being a part of the livestock industry and the future of agriculture is something that keeps getting Van Dyke out of bed in the morning. “To keep going, to keep building the family farm, to keep growing as an individual in the industry,” she says. “And just seeing the future within our youth and everything they have to offer and being able to support them and guide them throughout their journeys.” She credits her own mentors for her desire to be one herself.
A Summer of Purpose
The task of the crown she was awarded means a lot of extra time spent in Illinois for Van Dyke, since she is currently studying agricultural communications at Oklahoma State University, with a minor in special education. She aspires to one day create an agriculture program designed for special needs students, a cause close to her heart, while also working for a major agriculture company in a communications-related field.
Once school lets out in Oklahoma this month, she will be ready for a summer of Illinois county and state fairs and events. She is determined to use that time to be an advocate for agriculture and collaborate with the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
“I am excited for the summer that lies ahead in terms of that role representing all county fairs across Illinois, visiting local county fairs and representing the livestock industry at the state fairs in Springfield and Duquoin,” she says.
Hoke says Van Dyke plans to attend as many county fairs as possible and then will “reign” over the Illinois State Fair. She will be in livestock barns, handing out ribbons at some fairs and viewing exhibitor’s 4-H projects. Plus, she is counting on being able to do her favorite summer activity, show cattle, in between all the comings-and-goings.
Keep an eye out for her at your local county fair, or visit the Illinois State Fair where she is bound to make a stop by Illinois Beef Association’s Ribeye Corral and will be in the ring with her Red Angus heifer. Make sure to thank her for advocating on behalf of beef producers in our state.
by Anna
Photo
ISU Hoof N’ Horn Redbird Rumble (Ring A) Heart of Illinois Cattle Show (Ring B)
WIU Change of Pace Cattle Jackpot (Ring C)
Expo Gardens, Peoria | March 4-5 | Ty Webster, Ty Bayer, Nick Fitzsimmons
Photos by Cindy’s Livestock Photos
Grand Champion Steer All Rings
Champion Crossbred
Shown by Madeline Nightingale
Reserve Grand Champion Steer Ring A
Reserve Champion Crossbred
Shown by Adam Miller
Reserve Grand Champion Steer Ring B
Reserve Champion Crossbred
Shown by Chance Riley
Reserve Grand Champion Steer Ring C
Champion Charolais
Shown by Andrew Matthias
Third Overall Rings A & B
Champion Charolais Shown by Cole Caldwell
Third Overall Ring C
Fourth Overall Rings A & B, Champion Chianina Shown by Tyler Lee
Fourth Overall Ring C
Reserve Champion Crossbred
Owned by Taylor Thomas
Fifth Overall All Rings
Champion Maine Shown by Sam Nightingale
Grand Champion Heifer All Rings
Champion Maintainer Shown by McKlay Gensini
Reserve Champion Heifer Rings A & B
Fourth Overall Ring C, Champion Simmental
Shown by Colt Roeder
Reserve Champion Heifer Ring C
Fifth Overall Ring B, Champion Chianina
Shown by Kesler Collins
Third Overall Heifer All Rings
Champion Angus Shown by Abby Tlach
Fourth Overall Heifer Ring A
Reserve Champion Angus Shown by Kinnick Paulsen
Fourth Overall Heifer Ring B Champion Commercial Shown by Breckyn Bloomberg
Fifth Overall Heifer Ring A
Reserve Champion Simmental Shown by Mabry Schick
Showcase PRAIRIE BEEF jackpot show
Photo by Kortney
DeWitt County Fairgrounds | April 2 | Judge: Rob Johnson
Photos by Cindy’s Livestock Photos
Grand Champion Steer
Champion Crossbred
Shown by Madeline Nightingale
Reserve Grand Champion Steer
Champion Maintainer
Shown by Sam Nightingale
Third Overall Steer
Reserve Champion Maintainer
Shown by Lilly Gillespie
Fourth Overall Steer
Champion Simmental Shown by Kaylin Nottle
Fifth Overall Steer
Champion Chianina Shown by Landon Rehberg
Grand Champion Heifer
Champion AOB Shown by Quinton Day
Reserve Grand Champion Heifer
Champion Maintainer
Owned by Tyler Miller
Third Overall Heifer
Champion Angus Shown by Quinton Day
Fourth Overall Heifer
Champion Commercial Shown by Emily Atten
Fifth Overall Heifer
Reserve Champion Maintainer
Shown by Megan Mollitt
IN THIS ISSUE:
May/June 2023
President: David Jenkins
Vice President: Carla Jurgenson
Secretary: Aaron Schafer
Business Manager: Doug Turner
Past President: Joel York
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
Directors at Large:
Grant Bedel
TJ Curtin
Jim Marsh
Bradley Wolter
Kyle Buetke
Jeff Dameron
Chris Cassady
Clay Sellmeyer
Dan Naughton
Greg McClure
David Mool
Lee Stremsterfer
CONTACT
To place advertisements or your latest
contact:
www.illinoisbeef.com
ON THE COVER
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Illinois Angus Association will host their next meeting on June 2 during the Illinois Junior Angus Field Day in Bloomington.
The Illinois Junior Angus Preview Show is June 1-3. Central Illinois Preview Show is June 2 and Illinois Junior Angus Field Day is June 3. Watch out for the IJAA spring newsletter for more information.
Visit the Events page at www.illinoisangus.com for a list of other upcoming events and Angus sales this summer.
Photo taken at Dameron Angus Farm.
Angus Media names Clay Zwilling as
President Illinois native to lead largest beef breed media company
The Angus Media board of directors recently named Clay Zwilling president of the organization to guide the company as it delivers industry-leading education, information and marketing to the beef industry.
“Clay is a natural leader,” said Mark McCully, vice chairman of the Angus Media board of directors and chief executive officer for the American Angus Association. “His passion for innovation, while keeping an eye on the tradition, makes him a perfect fit.”
Most recently, Zwilling was the chief operating officer for Walton Webcasting, where he helped develop the organization during a time of rapid growth. Prior to that, he was the chief executive officer of the National Swine Registry working with the executive committee, breed boards and membership to create and execute their vision and mission. Zwilling started his professional career with Farm Credit Illinois as the director of marketplace education and development.
“Angus breeders are stewards of both their herds and family ranches, as well as the Angus legacy,” Zwilling said. “Angus Media plays an important role in telling their stories and giving them cutting-edge, cost-effective marketing tools to achieve their goals.”
Zwilling brings diversified livestock experience to Angus Media, but his roots are in the beef business. He grew up raising cattle and knows that background from other segments of the livestock industry is additive, giving him additional perspective.
“I believe the vision of Angus breeders is very much like the rest of the livestock industry,” he says. “We all want to ensure the profitability of the industry we love. That requires an understanding of the tried and true but with the ability to be innovative and creative.”
That kind of vision is exactly what intrigued him about the position, and similarly why the Angus Media board selected him as the new president.
Zwilling holds a master’s degree from Texas A&M University in Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication. He did his undergraduate work at Oklahoma State University and Lake Land College in Illinois. In addition to his work experience, Zwilling has held various leadership roles within the livestock and agriculture industries, including currently serving on the board of National Pedigreed Livestock Council and OSU Animal Science Alumni. He was an All-American and a member of the national champion livestock judging team and is a past Illinois State FFA president.
Zwilling will assume his duties as president on May 8 and will relocate to the St. Joseph area with his wife, Deanna, and their 2-year-old daughter, Allie.
For more information about Angus Media and the American Angus Association, please visit angus.org.
—Written by Holly Martin, Angus Communications
Ella Brooks earns Junior Bronze and Silver Awards
Ella Brooks, Prophetstown, Illinois, has earned the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA) Bronze and Silver awards, according to Caitlyn Brandt, events and junior activities director of the American Angus Association® in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Brooks is the 18-year-old daughter of Jeff and Shelley Brooks and attends Western Reserve Academy. She is a member of the NJAA and the Illinois Junior Angus Association, where she has served as director and royalty.
She has participated in state, regional and national shows. At the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Brooks participated in the quiz bowl and team sales contests and the All-American Certified Angus Beef® Cook-Off. She also participated in the Raising the Bar conference in 2021 and the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference in 2022.
She consigned cattle to the Dameron Angus Farm- Focus on the Future sale.
The Bronze and Silver awards are the first two levels of the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior Angus breeders must apply for the awards, then meet point requirements in many areas of participation before receiving the honors. Applicants are evaluated in areas of junior Angus association activities and leadership, participation in showmanship, contests and shows, using performance testing to improve their herd and their progress in producing and merchandising Angus cattle.
The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle, while also providing leadership and selfdevelopment opportunities for the nearly 4,500 active members nationwide.
2023 National Junior Angus Association’s Raising
the Bar conference
Angus youth gathered at the 2023 National Junior Angus Association’s Raising the Bar conference, March 30 - April 2 in Greenville, South Carolina. A total of 86 juniors from 24 states attended the conference, “Tearin’ it up with the Tigers,” where they grow as leaders and explore future college and career opportunities, while networking with peers. The group pictured is at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.
Representatives of the Illinois Junior Angus Association, were among several Angus youth at the 2023 conference. Pictured front row from left are Anne Dameron, Towanda; Ella Brooks, Prophetstown; Chloe Grant, Owaneco; Reese Anderson, Chrisman; and Addison Bartlow, Monticello. Back row from left are Brenna Bartlow, Monticello; Audrey Curtin, Blue Mound; Lauren Wolter, Aviston; and Ben Sellmeyer, Maroa.
Photos by Peyton Schmitt, American Angus Association.
Show Results
Mid-Atlantic Junior Angus Classic Regional Preview Show
Harrisonburg, VA | March 11-12 | Tom Fitzgerald, IN Photos by Next Level Images
Grand Champion Owned
Female
SCC CB Phyllis 1114
Shown by Ella Brooks
Owned Junior Champion
Heifer — Division 2
SCC Phyllis 238
Shown by Emily Brooks
Owned Reserve Intermediate Champion
Dameron Primrose 296
Shown by Emily Brooks
Champion — Intermediate Showmanship
Dameron Primrose 296
Shown by Emily Brooks
Bred-and-owned Reserve Junior Champion Heifer
Shore Acres SCC Phyllis 227
Shown by Emily Brooks
Western National Angus Futurity Super Point Roll of Victory Show
Reno, NV | April 8 | Matt Copeland, NM
Photos by Next Level Images
Luke, Stacy & Paige
703 Hinshaw Rd.
Hudson, IL 61748
Luke Cell 309-261-0752
Grand Champion Bull
Lazy JB Ego 1428
Owned by C5 Angus, Ancona, IL; Dameron Angus Farm, Lexington, IL; and Lazy JB Angus, Montrode, CO
Chuck, Tori, Curt & Grace 10098 N. 2200E Fairbury IL 61739
Chuck Cell 815-867-7011 www.lemenagercattle.com
LARRY RHODES 217-473-5868 cell 217-854-5200 o ce rhodesangus@royell.org
9350 Rte 108, Carlinville, IL 62626 www.RhodesAngus.com
The ILLINOIS BULLETIN
PRESIDENT
Gene Stumpf
618-407-8374
VICE-PRESIDENT
Kent Burns 618-521-3199
TREASURER
Buddy Edenburn 217-649-0108
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Emily Bernard 815-992-8233 illinoishereford@gmail.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Randy Kline, 309-824-9937
Matt Johnson, 309-883-9466
Cody Crum, 217-248-7282
Jodi McMillan, 815-751-2293
Chad Benedict, 217-246-5099
Matt Anderson, 309-267-1410
David Biggs, 815-441-4354
Kent Babbs, 618-322-5880
Kim Carney-Rhodes, 217-899-4104
calf belonging to the Edenburn Family, 2020 Illinois Beef Association Farm Family of the
UPDATES UPDATES
B.O.L.D. LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Lauren McMillian and Morgan Richardson Attend the Second Annual Building on Leadership Development Conference in Desdemona, TX.
We are very proud of our two IJHA members, Morgan Richardson and Lauren McMillan who attended the 2023 BOLD Conference, March 23, 2023 - March 26, 2023. They spent their three days in Desdemona, TX at GKB’s High Point Ranch learning about leadership and hearing from industry speakers.
BOLD was kicked off on Thursday, with a welcome from the NJHA Board of Directors and a game of “Get to Know you BINGO.” Attendees heard from western lifestyle influencer Kirbee Schnoor, and Jenna Morr, of Teton Ridge. Then Certified Hereford Beef hosted an educational session on meat grading and the retail sector of the beef industry. Attendees even got to slice their own CHB steaks and grill their own delicious dinner. To finish the night, laughter and fun filled the house, as teams created and acted out their own scripted movie trailers.
Day 2 of the conference was filled with workshops hosted by the NJHA Board of Directors. Lauren and Tar hosted their workshop titled, “Who are you as a leader?” Attendees also heard from keynote speaker, Kelly Barnes, and had the opportunity to tour GKB Cattle’s operations.
The last full day of the conference was spent diving into careers and professional development in round tables that included GKB Cattle, Priefert, Elanco and the American Hereford Association. The afternoon included tours of the GKB Cattle operation and the day was finished by a Certified Hereford Beef dinner and dance.
The conference wrapped up Sunday, with members of the Hereford Youth Foundation of America joining attendees.
NJHA UPDATES:
• JNHE 2023 - MAD DASH TO THE HEREFORD BASH - July 8 - July 14, 2023 - Madison, WI
• Faces of Leadership-Columbus, OH - July 23-26, 2023
PREVIEW 2023 IJHA PREVIEW SHOW
FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 2023 - SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 2023
ENTRY DEADLINE: JUNE 1
GENERAL INFORMATION:
ADDRESS:
DeKalb County Fairgrounds
1401 Suydam Rd, Sandwich IL, 60548
SCHEDULE:
THURSDAY:
• 6:00 p.m - Grounds open
FRIDAY:
• CHANGE: 2:00-4:00 p.m. - Check-in
• CHANGE: 4:00-6:00 p.m. - Hereford Bowl Test and Future Professionals Resume Review
• CHANGE: 6:00 -7:30 p.m. - Hereford Homeroom - a leadership training seminar. All juniors are invited to attend. Pizza will be provided.
SATURDAY:
• 8:00 a.m. - Opening Ceremonies
• 8:15 a.m - Fitting Contest
• 9:00 a.m. - Showmanship - (youngest to oldest, PrePeeWee at the end).
• Bred and Owned Show begins at the conclusion of showmanship
• Cow/Calf, Bulls, B&O Heifers, Steers
• Scholarship Interviews, Speeches Hybrid Individual Sales and Sales Academy.
• Approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the show
• 5:30 p.m - Junior Meeting
• 7:00 p.m - Banquet Hall
SUNDAY:
• Group photo at photo backdrop with T-Shirts sponsored by Perks Ranch prior to the beginning of the show
• Owned Heifer Show – 8:00 a.m.
ENTRY PROCESS:
• CHANGE: This year we will be using the Showman App. as our entry system.
• Entries will open on May 1, 2023 and must be completed by June 1, 2023.
• $25 PER ENTRY + $10 IJHA Dues
• CHANGE: Entries will be DUE JUNE 1st! WE ARE NOT ACCEPTING LATE ENTIRES THIS YEAR!
LODGING:
HOTELS
• Blocks of rooms are available at:
• Montcler Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
• 3300 Drew Ave
• Sandwich, IL 60548
• 630-273-6000
• Yorkville is about 20 minutes away for other hotels.
• For juniors wanting to participate in the Future Professionals Contest at JNHE. Professionals can review resumes prior to the deadline for JNHE, to make corrections.
• Resumes can be emailed to Morgan Richardson (m.richardson5254@gmail. com) by May 15th.
• Outstanding Member:
• CHANGE: The IJHA Outstanding Member will now be selected via a two-step process. Members can nominate peers when submitting their entries.
• IJHA Director Application
• Due June 1, 2023.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS:
MOLLY BIGGS, SECRETARY
• Phone: (779) 861-0725
SHOWCONTESTS:
• Email: ijha.secretary@gmail.com
SCOTT AND MONICA TORRANCE, ADVISORS
• Phone:
• Scott: 309-221-6274
• Monica: 309-333-1551
• Email:
• torrance@mtcnow.net
TOM AND TAMMY BOATMAN, ADVISORS
• Phone:
• Tom: 404-372-6754
• Tammy: 770-354-4195
• Email:
• tomtammy@perksranch.com
JACOB AND BRITTANY CHAPMAN, ADVISORS
• Phone:
• Jacob: 815-587-4061
• Brittany: 815-712-6578
• Email:
• jbchapman2009@gmail.com
FLOYD CRANE, SHOW HOST
• Phone: (815) 712-5735
President’s Comments
As I am writing this, it is the first part of April and the weather here in Southern Illinois is very extreme as usual. We can go from freezing to 80 degrees and sunny with all kinds of variable weather issues. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather now, stick around and it will change the next day or two.”
This time of year, spring calving is in full swing for some breeders and about over for others. The grass is greening up and growing with plenty of moisture so far this calendar year.
Another OKC Cattleman’s Congress, National Western, Fort Worth Stock Show and our own IL Beef Expo has come and gone. Illinois Hereford breeders were well represented and had great success in the winners circle. Congratulations to all winners and breeders on their success.
Again as in the past few years, Hereford cattle have been in high demand and many have received a high price for white face genetics.
On March 4, 2023, the Illinois Hereford association held its annual banquet and awards presentation at the Holiday Inn in Bloomington, Illinois. Much like 2022 we had very good attendance supporting this great organization.
The Senior board honored the following: Breeder of the Year: Hawk Livestock – Tom, Mandy and Jess Hawk, Hall of Fame Recipient: Ed and Judy McMillan, Distinguished Service Award: Carthage Livestock Inc. – Brent and Kris Lowderman Noah Benedict, American Hereford Association Upper Midwest Region Field Staff, updated everyone on the current activities in our region. Dr. Paul Walker, President of the Illinois Beef Association informed everyone of the current IBA activities. Tracy Sayer, gave an update on the Illinois Hereford Women activities. The Illinois Junior Hereford report was given by our State and National Junior Board member Lauren McMillan. A short presentation was also given by Dave Wilcox of Kent Feeds.
I would like to thank Buddy Edenburn and our board directors (past and current) for helping with the annual banquet and state function events. As spring and summer months approach, please be careful and safe. Be sure to check or website and the IBA hereford section for upcoming events and shows. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any Illinois Hereford board member.
Saturday March 4, 2023 @ 7:22 pm Secretary’s Minutes
Vice President Kent Burns called the meeting to order – 92 people were present, representing 44 memberships, constituting a quorum. The Secretary’s minutes from the 2022 meeting and the Treasurer’s Report for 2022 were circulated and opened for discussion. Robert Knott moved to approve the IHA’s minutes from the 2022 Annual Meeting. Randy Kline seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Jerome Tjardes moved to accept the IHA’s Treasurer’s report. John Fauth seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Tracie Sayre gave the Illinois Hereford Women report. Introduced the IHW Board; Anette Crane Vice President, Melissa Bernard Secretary, and Lisa Edenburn Treasurer. The IHW had some silent auction items with all funds going to support the state queen and princess program along with other IJHA programs. Elaina Walsh was recognized as the Queen and Allie Anderson as Princess.
Lauren McMillan, member of IJHA addressed the membership and updated on the recent activities of the Illinois Junior Hereford Association and National Junior Hereford Association. Preview Show 2023 is in Sandwich hosted by the Crane’s, JNHE is in Madison, WI.
Buddy Edenburn, committee chair for the Junior Scholarship committee, recapped the Junior Scholarships and Awards programs. Award programs available in 2023 will include the Sam Taylor Scholarship, Junior Prospect Award, and the Faces of Leadership Scholarship. A new scholarship sponsored by the Sage Family will be available in 2023 as well.
Buddy Edenburn updated the membership on plans for the 2023 Illinois Hereford Tour and announced that it will be in western Illinois. He asked for any volunteers for stops. We can’t have a tour without willing participants. He asked everyone to stay tuned for updates in the Hereford Bulletin.
Award Presentations: Randy Kline honored Hawk Livestock of Earlville, IL as the IHA Breeder of the Year. Chad Benedict presented Ed and Judy McMillan as the IHA Hall of Fame Inductee. Mark Stephens honored Brent and Chris Lowderman with the Distinguished Service Award. Kent Burns also recognized Gene Stumpf, Randy Kline and Matt Johnson as outgoing IHA board members and officers.
Kent Burns presented the Director Nominating Report and recommended the following individuals to serve a three year term: At Large – Jimmy Bernard, Grand Ridge, Illinois; At Large – Craig Crutcher, Montrose, Illinois; At Large – Andrew Spinazola, Illinois.
Mark Stephens moved to accept the nominations. Kurt Peterson seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Stephens discussed being on the committee looking for candidates for the National Hereford Board. He asked for people to think about possible candidates and contact him.
Seeing no further business, Jerome Tjardes moved to adjourn the meeting and Kyle McMillan seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Illinois Hereford Association Board of Directors Meeting
Sunday, Aoril 2, 2023 @ 10:30
List of Board Members Present: Kent Burns, Kevin Babbs, Craig Crutcher, Jody McMillan, Matt Anderson, Jimmy Bernard and Chad Benedict, Absent: David Biggs, Kim Carney-Rhodes, Cody Crum and Andrew Spinazola DISCUSSION TOPICS
1. Meeting called to order by President Burns
2. Secretary’s Report – Edenburn
a. Benedict motioned and Babbs seconded all approved minutes of annual meeting for publication.
b. Babbs motioned and McMillan seconded all approved minutes of 3/5/2023 Board of Directors meeting.
3. Treasurer’s Report – Edenburn
a. Year to year comparison was presented for review and discussion. No action necessary.
b. The outcome of the Junior Auction at the banquet was discussed, netting $2,005 this year. The board is happy with the results to date. Thoughts for future auctions include trying to get some more cutting-edge bulls.
c. Membership is 67 as of today.
4. Membership Services Report and Communications Report - Edenburn
a. Ways to get more membership were discussed. Ideas include:
i. Making the web page more interactive for members. Including giving advertising opportunities and developing a for-sale page.
ii. Developing a sale for members.
iii. Trying to get more attendance at the Banquet.
iv. Doing more in the Hereford portion of the IBA Magazine. Including a Presidents message, Fieldman message and more marketing information from AHA.
v. Discussed developing some marketing materials for display at IBE, Production Sales, Preview Show, and other locations.
vi. Discussed talking during the IJHA Preview show banquet about value of membership.
vii. Talking to State Fair staff about tying membership to showing in the open show.
viii. McMillan is going to work with daughter Lauren to start developing some marketing/display ideas.
b. Next issue of the Bulletin submission date is April 15th.
i. Need to publish Annual meeting minutes.
ii. Want to get a tour together and publish.
iii. Publish preliminary info for potential sale.
iv. Want to publish short articles with pictures of award winners from the Banquet over the next year. v. Can also publish list of award winners as filler over the next year.
vi. Buddy will start getting the PDF version of the Hereford pages and forwarding it to all members. c. No update available for Webpage.
5. 2023 IHA Committee Discussion & Appointments led by President Burn’s. Crutcher motioned and McMillan seconded, all in favor of the following list.,
a. Executive Committee
i. 2023 – Burns, Babbs, Edenburn
b. Sale Committee
i. 2023 – Bernard, Babbs, Crum, Anderson
c. Banquet Committee
i. 2023 – Edenburn, Burns, McMillan
d. Jr. Scholarship & Activities Committee
i. 2023 – Edenburn, Benedict, Carney
e. Director Nominating Committee
i. 2023 – Burns, Crutcher, Biggs
f. Tour Committee
i. 2023 – Burns, Spinazola, Bernard, Anderson, Babbs
g. Show Committee
i. 2023 – Babbs, Crutcher, Bernard
6. Sale Committee
a. AHA field man Noah Benedict presented a proposal for a future breed sale. Much discussion followed and choices were narrowed down to the following: i. Auctioneer Cody Lowderman
ii. Location Moline IL pending site visit and discussion with facility.
iii. Date February 17.
iv. More discussion and update on April 12th conference call.
7. Banquet Update (Annual Meeting)
a. Need to look for a less expensive location. The price in Bloomington is $50 per person so the banquet is losing money.
b. Discussed the possibility of going to IBA building in Springfield. Buddy will follow up with Josh St. Peters.
8. Tour Committee Update
a. Matt Anderson graciously offered to be the Saturday night stop in Moline. Several possible stops were discussed in the area including: Fleishner, Earlybird, Johnson, Mullinex, Cagwin, Knott, Peterson. Lemenager, Youngs and others. Members will contact individuals about being stops.
b. Confirmed yes: Andersen, Fleishner and Young.
c. Confirmed no: Torrance, Lemenager
9. Show Committee - Babbs
a. Breck Denbam is confirmed at the State Fair Open Judge.
b. State Fair has given us 6 more classes for the open show. Need to confirm if that is total or 6 each for horned and polled.
c. Would like to discuss with the state fair superintendent making IHA membership a requirement for showing in open show.
d. Jensen has provided a belt buckle for Reserve Champion Horned Hereford. They would like to change this to the Champion since no one is providing a price for that. This is no problem, just need to coordinate with the State Fair superintendent.
e. Discussed providing prizes for the Junior Show divisions and champions. IHA has coordinated donations in the past for this, but it takes a lot of effort. Also, many of the prizes were going to juniors who had no affiliation to IHA or IJHA. Individuals are willing to donate but someone has to volunteer to organize it.
10. American Hereford Association Update from Noah Benedict.
11. Next Meeting – Tour and Sale committees required, all welcome. Wednesday April 12th at 8 pm. Buddy will send a meeting invite to all.
IHA Update
The Illinois Hereford Association will be hosting a consignment sale on February 17, 2024. It will be hosted in Moline, Illinois. Cattle will be consigned from all over Illinois and some surrounding states. All cattle in the sale will have been through a nomination and screening process. Any member of The Illinois Hereford Association is eligible to nominate cattle. More details will be coming out very soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Illinois Hereford Association website and Facebook page for updates. We hope to see a lot of people in Moline on 2/17/2024!
American Hereford Association Newsletter
Spring is a long-awaited sight for many farmers and ranchers. It is the mark of a new season without cold temperatures, snow, and provides new life with white-faced calves being born across the country. Hereford cattle have been in high demand and the sales have reflected that. I highly encourage you to look at the sales results page on our AHA website. Study the numbers, the pedigrees, and the programs that are being sought after and think to how you can incorporate those genetics or philosophies into your program for your customers next year.
While this time of year wraps up the sale season it does hold plenty of new beginnings as well. Many of you may have seen the new MyHerd Search engine that has been launched. This is a fantastic tool to begin utilizing in your own operations. There is so many capabilities that you and your customers have access to now with your searches for registered cattle that were not previously available. I encourage you to implement this tool. Go to the resources page and watch all of the new videos pertaining to this tool. Study it, implement it, and reap the rewards! This spring also holds the start of The Fall Calf Feedout Program that is going to be held at HRC Feedyards. This is going to be another great tool to utilize for producers across the country. It is very similar to the Spring cald Feedout Program held in the fall. The enrollment deadline is May 1st, so be sure to take a look at this information on the website or contact me for more details!
Finally, the summer show season is going to be upon us before we know it! I personally can’t wait to begin traveling to state preview shows and field days in the months of May and June. I am excited to see what juniors bring to the table this year as well as see what they have bred for and what different genetics they are using in their programs. Being able to watch these juniors work with their animals early in the summer and then getting to watch them compete later on at the Junior National Hereford Expo is one of my favorite parts of the whole summer. Speaking of the JNHE, don’t forget that the Early deadline for entries is May 1st and the final deadline is June 1st. Madison Wisconsin is the place to be from June 8th-14th, you aren’t going to want to miss what Amy, Bailey, Chloe, and the junior board have in store!
I hope that everyone made it through the winter season, and that calving seasons treated you well. Keep powering through and striving to make the best Hereford cattle yet. Please never hesitate to reach out and I would love to hear from you!
President’sNote President’sNote
W ell, here it is the middle of April and it is snowing up here in the great white north. Yep, we had five days in the 70s and then on Sunday we had rain, sleet and snow. You have to love the weather in Northwest Illinois. During our span of nice days, everyone was seen in the fields hauling manure, doing field work and putting in a little seed. Now, we are going to be in a holding pattern for a few days.
Most of you are done with calving and will be back to breeding for the next set of calves. It is always a puzzle to decide what to breed to, but a great time to talk to fellow producers. Some of you are working fall calves, and beginning to market them. I think spring is one of the best times of the year, as I watch the calves running around on the new grass. The calves always look better when they are out on the green grass than when they are standing in mud, up by the buildings. With this snow up here, we will be delayed a little in taking them to the pasture.
Spring show season will be drawing to a close soon. I think you could show about every weekend this spring here in Illinois or in a neighboring state. I enjoy these little jackpot shows when the weather is nice. The start of summer brings us closer to our annual IJSA Simmental Preview show. This year we will be in Lincoln, Illinois, on June 3-4. By the time you read this, your Regional and National Classic entries should be made and deadlines for the Merit Scholarships are fast approaching. All of these events are great for the kids and their whole family. This year the National Classic will be in Des Moines, Iowa, from July 7-13.
I hope everyone has a safe spring and all of your fieldwork goes smooth and easy. Like always, if you need anything please contact me or a board member. The ISA website has some important information but most of the up-to-date reminders and notices can be found on the junior’s Facebook page.
- Scott
Scott Frederick, ISA President
Purebred Breeders
Illinois Beef, printed bi-monthly, is the official publication of the IBA. It serves as the voice of Illinois’ 12,000 beef producers.
