ILLINOIS BEEF EXPO

Sales Reports

Donor Female Stan Tarr Memorial Lot: $12,250

The Collection - Genetics Sale Feb. 25, 2023

Lots: 58

Embryo Lot Average: $1,517

Semen Lot Average: $1,666

High Selling Lot: $9,500

Consignor: Colburn Cattle Co.

Lot Type: Pregancy

by Devin Bollman

THROUGH DEDICATION COMES RECOGNITION — THIS YEAR’S EXPO WAS A YEAR OF JUST THAT

Another Illinois Beef Expo has come and gone, though this year may have looked a little different than past years. With new features, more cattle and even greater cattle men, women and juniors, the last weekend of February was flooded with memories and excitement.

Four days of hosting Illinois Beef Expo on the Illinois State Fairgrounds was phenomenal for the Illinois Beef Association. It has been truly wonderful experiencing the excitement that the state’s largest beef event entails. Stockmen from across the state gather right in the heart of Illinois for sales, livestock shows, contests, a tradeshow and the recognition of outstanding juniors and industry leaders.

The Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale kicked the weekend off, offering some of the best genetics based on performance standards utilized by the beef industry. This year’s sale sold 49 Angus and Simmental bulls for an average of $4,440. Missing from this year’s sale was Dr. Doug Parrett, but his contributions to the IPT sale and performance beef cattle in Illinois did not go unrecognized. A video memorializing him was shared in front of a building packed full of Illinois cattlemen. Junior Events began Friday with the livestock judging contest, organized by Blackhawk East’s Livestock Judging Team. The livestock center was packed with FFA and 4-Hers competing. Shortly after the conclusion of the judging contest, the Skill-A-Thon tested junior’s knowledge on all things beef. into action. With an outstanding turn out for this first-year sale, manager Ryan Haefner expressed his gratitude and honored Stan Tarr by opening the sale with a memorial lot in Tarr’s name. The special donation lot raised $12,250 for the Stan Tarr Memorial.

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This year we honored Jim and his dedication to not only the Illinois Beef Expo, but the beef industry as a whole. In his memory, the Bloomberg Memorial Award was created to be awarded to a junior exhibiting in their final year who emulates Jim and his beliefs. Will Heavner was selected by his peers to be the first recipient of the Jim Bloomberg Memorial Award.

Illinois Beef Expo is also home to a fantastic tradeshow, where over 60 vendors and sponsors had exhibits in the lower level of the Livestock Center. Vendors and sponsors included Longhorn, University of Illinois, Select Sires Mid-America, boutiques and so much more.

New this year, educational sessions put on by Ameren Illinois and Purina occurred in the lower-level auction ring just off the tradeshow.

Just on the other side of the fairgrounds, one of the newest additions to Illinois Beef Expo, the Multibreed Female Sale launched

Top 10 Exhibitors IJBA Points Show Program

Top Ten Exibitors - Heifer Division

Claire Dorsey, Moro

Tyler Miller, Atlanta

Paige Lemenager, Hudson

Wyatt Dryer, Merna

Kesler Collins, Flanagan

Maddox Reedy, Tuscola

Kira Sayre, Arenzville

Kyle Eathington, Avon

Ashlyn Mool, Lexington

The sale offered 29 head of elite females with a lot average of $5,391. Saturday night’s new addition included The Collection – a frozen opportunities sale. Kevin Mears put together over 50 outstanding lots for a successful genetics sale.

Early Saturday morning began the start of the junior show. Judges Jon Sweeney from Ohio, and Andy Higgins of Tennessee, sorted through nearly 800 head of cattle over the two days. Both men did an excellent job sorting through the cattle and expressed their amazement at the quality of cattle and junior exhibitors here in Illinois.

Addison Bartlow, Monticello

Top Ten Exibitors - Steer Division

Sophie Trainor, Tower Hill

Adam Miller, Gridley

John Lukach, Streator

Kylie Saathoff, Manteno

Levi Hinshaw, Secor

Kinlynn Dryer, Merna

Abby Clapp, LeRoy

Cole Caldwell, Elmwood

Dash Simpsen, Downs

Waylon Paulek, Stonington