YOUNG PRODUCERS CHICO STATE SHOWING AT 82ND RED BLUFF BULL & GELDING SALE

by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande

Come the last week in January, attendees filled the stands and grounds of the Tehama District Fairgrounds in Red Bluff, Calif. for the 82nd Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale. The five-day event featured a tradeshow, gelding, stock dog and bull sale. Regardless of whether one is an observer or in search of expanding their livestock pool, there is something for everyone. For many in attendance, the bull and gelding sale signals a time for catching up with old friends, but for the Chico State Beef Unit it serves as an opportunity to market and sell the bulls raised at the university’s farm.

For the last three years, Travis Heffner, the Chico State Beef Unit Manager at the University Farm, has overseen the students and bulls that are selected for the bull sale. This year’s group of students is the largest to date and Heffner has been getting more interest from students every year. The sale has served as a great opportunity for outreach whether that be for the bulls offered at the university as well as showcasing the opportunities students have while attending Chico State to potential students.

This year the Chico State team took five of their purebred black Angus bulls to the sale. The selection and preparation for the annual event begins during the spring where the students are asked to look at the bulls and provide feedback on which ones they feel should be selected. The bulls are observed based on formation and muscling with final selections made during the summertime based on which animals look the most uniform and fit for the sale. From here, the bulls chosen begin the halter breaking process. For the bulls not chosen to go to the sale they are sold through private treaty.

The set of bulls taken to Red Bluff were also used at a Chico State Livestock Field Day in the fall. To better prepare them for the field day, the bulls were worked with prior the event to ensure they looked their best. The students working with the bulls were able to participate in a fitting and showing lab to help better feature the bulls’ assets.

Any student interested in helping with the bulls is welcome to join in on the process. This year six students helped with the sale, three of which are also student employees at the Chico State University Farm’s Beef Unit. Students who help are expected to halter break, maintain hair care, wash, fit, exercise and feed the bulls. Some involved have some previous show experience and bring outside knowledge to the program. While significant time and effort is expected of the students who work with and care for the bulls, school always comes first. Heffner shares how he works with the students’ schedules to ensure that they have both time for their studies and the bulls.

Riley Taylor, an agriculture business junior, began helping with the bulls intended for Red Bluff in the fall. Originally, she had applied to be a beef unit employee and during her interview was told about the bulls going to the sale, an aspect of the job she was looking forward to. As soon as Taylor began working at the unit, she