The Stockman | April 2023

Welcome!

Thanks for joining us! We are a free, premier livestock publication featuring and serving seedstock and commercial beef producers nationwide. Raising cattle is so much more than a hobby; it is our livelihood and our passion. We understand that, and in every issue want you to see not only incredible cattle, but also relatable, entertaining, and informative editorial features for the producer with 5 or 500 head.

To us, you are more than reader or advertiser; you are a beef producer. We are committed to doing our best for you, every day. Please feel free to communicate with us, your input is appreciated.

641.425.2641

Bill and his wife, Nancy, have made their living in the cattle industry. He has provided marketing services for purebred and commercial breeders since 1970. Schermer Angus Cattle continues to be active in the NJAA and raises quality cattle near Clarion, IA. As owner of The Stockman, Bill leads by example providing producers with the highest level of customer service.

CHERYL KEPES, Assistant Editor

417.766.0990

cheryl@stockmanmag.com

Working for The Stockman is the perfect combination of two of Cheryl’s favorite things: writing and cattle. Cheryl has decades of experience as a professional writer. She finds great joy in sharing stories about people in the agricultural industry. Cheryl’s family raises registered Angus, Red Angus, and Simmental cattle in Fair Grove, MO.

Contributing Writers in this Issue

Cheryl Kepes

Sarah Hill

Justin Fruechte

Dr. Vince Collison

Kirk Lynch

KIM BANKS, Graphics

507.530.0914

kkbanks@frontiernet.net

Makayla serves as editor, graphic designer, and manager of The Stockman. Her focus and passion continues to provide high quality service and original promotional materials to cattlemen. She and her husband, Jared, raise their four kids, and together they run their family operation, JMF Herefords and SimAngus, near Morris in west central MN.

SARAH HILL, Editorial Writer

307.274.0419

sarahhill1007@yahoo.com

Kim is a graphic designer with many years of design experience. Producing creative marketing materials to help others look their best is what she loves doing the most. She and her husband, Kevin, along with their son, raise grain and have a small commercial cow/calf and feeder operation on the family farm near Lynd, MN.

Sarah lives on a small hobby farm near Arlington, SD, with her husband, Braeton, and their three daughters: Harper, 8, Vayentha, 5, and Aurora, 1. She grew up on a Missouri dairy farm and has an Agricultural Journalism degree from the University of Missouri. Sarah enjoys baking, reading, and gardening.

TY BAYER

715.573.0153

tcreds@gmail.com

Ty works alongside his family in their purebred operations, Country Lane Farm and TC Reds near Ringle, WI. An advocate for youth programs and dedicated cow/calf man, he is excited to help producers merchandise their cattle.

MILES EDDY

507.841.1787

auctioneer2013@gmail.com

Miles grew up in southwest MN raising and showing cattle, and is currently residing in MO. When Miles isn’t working cattle he loves to use his auctioneer skills. He looks forward to working and meeting other producers and helping with all their advertising and marketing needs.

RON HINRICHSEN

785.770.0222

rlangus@bluevalley.net

For the past 30 years, Ron, his wife, Lynne, and their two children have owned and operated Hinrichsen Ranch, a registered Angus ranch in Westmoreland, KS. He has an extensive background in the agricultural industry and is excited to put it to work for each of his customers.

MARK SULLIVAN

816.304.0050

marksullivancattle@gmail.com

Mark Sullivan is a familiar face to many having worked for Sullivan Supply for many years. Mark brings many years of experience to The Stockman. Mark and his wife, Linda, and two children, Erin and Leo, live in Woodbine, Iowa, and have a small herd of Charolais cattle.

CORBIN COWLES

270.991.2534

corbin.cowles32@gmail.com

Corbin is an apprentice auctioneer and real estate professional for Schrader Real Estate and Auction company. He also helps run his family’s Angus and Simmental seedstock operation, Pleasant Hill Farms. Judging shows across the country and traveling are a couple hobbies of his as well!

JAN FORD

800.693.8048

jford.17879@aol.com

With her passion for agriculture, Jan brings over 35+ years of advertising sales experience in the beef industry. She and her late husband Norm had a commercial Angus cow herd and grain operation near Tipton, IA, which her sons still manage today.

LORA HUTCHINS

615.293.3695

loralea1172@gmail.com

Lora owns and operates Destiny Angus Farm with husband Brian and daughter Morgan in Charleston, IL. They have raised and shown cattle successfully on the national level for several years. They also have owned a production herd with as many as 200 registered cows.

BRANDON CREAMER

970.596.4965

creamer b 150@hotmail.com

Brandon owns Lazy JB Angus with his parents and sister in Montrose, CO. Raised in the cattle industry, he has a true passion for it and loves marketing quality cattle throughout the US.

ZAC HALL 701.595.6887

zac@fortelivestock.com

Zac is active in his family’s operation, Hall Stock Farm, near Berthold, ND raising registered Angus, Sim-Angus and commercial cattle. He loves working with livestock and youth and as a Livestock Judging Coach.

BRIGHAM STEWART / MEGAN COLLISON

785.747.8028

megancollisondvm@gmail.com

Brigham works alongside his parents at Mid Continent Farms, their large, multi-breed cow/calf operation in Kansas. Megan graduated from ISU as a DVM in the spring of 2021 and is a big part of her family’s Angus herd and Veterinary Clinic in Iowa.

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SCHEDULING EARLY BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAMS

Extension Education

STAND EVALUATION

Seeds

Dr. Vince Collison, Collison Veterinary Services Veterinarian View

Barn Study

Straight Up

Kitchen Stock

14

fill your cup.

As I write this, the forecast is showing that another mean bout of the white, four-lettered “S” word is headed our way in the next few hours. The calendar shows that we are nearing April, but Mother Nature seems to be holding onto winter yet. We have had several days in which school has either been closed, had a late start, or been out early nearly every week for my kids since prior to Christmas. This winter reminds me a lot of the memories I have as a 3rd grader during the winter of 1996-97 - the drifts were so tall on our farm that we could sled off our barn roof! Of course it was super fun as a kid, but in today’s time we are all growing weary of the cold, wind, and snow. Sounds like the states below us (I’m from Minnesota) have been fighting the never-ending rain and mud. Those elements bring on their own long list of challenges as well. Whatever your battle is today, make sure you take some time to fill your cup. It’s easy to let yourself fall behind. Rest up, call a friend, stop for a cup of coffee - whatever gives you a glimmer of hope and makes you feel better, just do it! It’s common for people to take care of cattle before taking care of themselves, but you can’t take care of the cattle if you don’t take care of you. Hold tight to the promise of spring - warm days and green grass will be here soon!

This month we are going to take you back in time to the era of the Glenkirk Farms days, as Glen Klippenstein shares his story with us about his lifetime of working with others in the cattle industry. You also won’t want to miss the story on DLCC Ranch and how they are using heterosis and composite cattle to form their niche market in the seedstock industry.

We hope you’ll enjoy this issue!

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Purpose, and Pinch of Good Fortune Passion,

By Cheryl Kepes

No matter the audience or settingwhether it’s a stranger on an airplane or a venue of hundreds - Glen Klippenstein masterfully finds a way to steer the conversation to highlight the importance of the cattle industry. “In our industry we need to have beef customers know what we know and give them the confidence that we have in our product and not be shy about it,” Glen Klippenstein shared.

GRATITUDE, BALANCE, AND COURAGE

Glen’s never been shy about sharing the values he holds sacred. Born on May 29, 1937, in Saskatchewan, Canada he’s pursued a life firmly rooted in purpose. “Gratitude, balance, and courage – and to know the truth and to love it. That’s kind of who I am,” Glen explained.

Glen Klippenstein reflects on a lifetime of working with others to impact the trajectory of the cattle industry.

photos courtesy Glen Klippenstein

Through the years he’s leaned hard on his guiding principles as he’s navigated the development and management of a world-renowned cattle operation, served in the Missouri legislature, pioneered advancements in several cattle breeds, led breed associations and committees, judged national and international livestock shows, gave more than a thousand speeches, and garnered dozens of accolades for his achievements.

Yet, the list of awards, shelves of national champion trophies, and record-breaking bull and female sales, all pale in comparison to the value he places on mentoring youth in agriculture. “Those young people who said I positively impacted them by what I said, what they saw me do, or worked with me in a formal way - that’s my reward. I can’t imagine a reward that can be more real than that. It is something I am eternally grateful for,” Glen said.

DESIGNED FOR AG

One might say Glen was born to love the cattle business. “My DNA was filled with livestock all the way from Ukraine where my great-grandparents and grandparents came from,” Glen said. He vividly remembers the moment he realized livestock was his calling. At the age of four, his dad tasked him with caring for an orphaned Holstein calf. “When the calf took its first swallow of milk, I remember it began to wag its tail and I was hooked. I was done for from then on,” Glen recalled with a chuckle.

When Glen was 11 years old, his family moved from their farm in Canada to Pennsylvania. There his dad managed a dairy and a registered Hereford farm, thus marking the start of Glen’s passion for the Hereford breed.

During his college years at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), Glen studied and worked under the leadership of famous cattleman and professor, Herman Purdy. Glen excelled in his studies, activities, and livestock judging but his time with Professor Purdy had the greatest impact on his future. “There is something about having the opportunity to work under the tutelage of someone who is highly regarded, and that you have a closeness to. You feel special and it is an inspiration, let alone the knowledge that he transmitted,” Glen shared.

PRESIDENTIAL ENCOUNTERS

One of Glen’s favorite stories stems back to his days at Penn State working for Professor Purdy. “A story I love to tell is, one evening another student and I were at his (Purdy’s) home eating dinner. It was a Monday night, and it was the night before President Dwight D. Eisenhower would be reelected to his second term in office. The phone rang and the professor asked me to get the phone. I answered the phone and said, ‘Professor Purdy’s residence,’ on the other end it said, ‘This is General Eisenhower.’ And I almost died,” Glen recalled.

At the time, Purdy was serving as President Eisenhower’s farm advisor. The president had spent the day at his farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvnia and was reaching out to Purdy for advice on what bulls to breed his cows to in the spring. “And from that point forward I thought, oh my goodness, the President of the United States, the most important person on the planet, wants to know how to mate his cows,” Glen stated. The interaction served as a lifelong reminder to Glen of the significance and meaningfulness of working in the livestock business.

Another encounter occurred a couple years later. Professor Purdy, Glen, and another student met with President Eisenhower at his farm in Gettysburg. Glen had the privilege of listening to President Eisenhower talk about Pickets Charge and Nor mandy. “It seemed almost subcon sciously so valuable to me because I think in part my ability and op portunities to influence others have been nourished by that particular meeting,” Glen explained.

ON HIS OWN

Following graduation from Penn State, Glen struck out on his own. “I am independent. I am a born optimist and I thought I could,” Glen said. He was right. After six years, he had turned his initial $14,000 loan into $160,000 of net worth. He did it with “little overhead and a strong back.” He raised veal calves, Holstein replacement heifers, and hay.

With more assets, Glen started to build a herd of high-quality Hereford cattle. The Hereford herd grew in number and popularity. But, most importantly during this time, Glen met his future wife, Linda. The two have been married 60 years, have four children and nine grandchildren. “She (Linda) became the glue to keep us all on track,” Glen said.

GLENKIRK FARMS

A new opportunity arose in 1966. Glen forged a partnership with Kirk Pendleton, a friend and successful businessman. The two launched Glenkirk Farms with 100 cows and 680 acres located in Maysville, Missouri. The new venture prompted Glen and Linda to move their family and farm from Pennsylvania to Missouri.

Glenkirk Farms enjoyed a successful and profitable run for almost three decades. Glen’s “pushing the guardrails yet staying in the lane” philosophy propelled the cattle operation to world renown. The strings of show ring wins were so outstanding, many of the accomplishments remain unmatched to this day. From 1971 to 1984, Glenkirk Farms won grand or reserve champion Polled Hereford bull 12 times at the Nation-

above Glenkirk Farms produced national champions for decades. below Glen and Linda Klippenstein have four children and nine grandchildren.

al Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, Glenkirk Farms garnered 19 national Polled Hereford grand or reserve champions, championships at other shows in 39 states and Canada, and numerous winnings in gain tests. “At one point we had twice the number of benchmark cows as the next top herd, plus more certified meat sires

and the top three Gold Seal sires based on total performance,” Glen stated.

“Probably the most innovative project we ever pursued was to quantify the real value of about 60 sire groups, containing approximately 25 steers per sire group for semen conception rate, birth weight and vigor, calving ease, weaning weight, in feedlot value, total feed consumption, health, live processing weight, carcass weight and carcass value. We did this for 14 years from the mid seventies to late eighties on about 60 sire groups and 1,500 head. This info was invaluable to our total performance program!” Glen said.

ACCELERATED SUCCESS

The quick road to success can partially be attributed to Glen’s commitment to raising the type of cattle he believed would benefit the cattle industry the most. “I always liked cattle that were growthy and fit. So did my dad,” Glen shared. Glen sought cows that were bigger, correct, good milkers, attractive, and highly productive – while implementing strict culling as the best path to improvement. He never wa-

vered from his philosophy of placing the highest value on the momma cow. “Every great bull always has a great mother,” Glen explained.

However, his philosophies weren’t always popular because they occasionally veered from the industry norms at the time. “I always said I am going to run hard enough, fast enough, straight enough, that all the words, arrows, and rocks fall behind me,” Glen commented with a twinkle in his eye. It wasn’t long before other breeders got on board with Glen’s way of selecting and raising cattle.

From the inception of the partnership, Glenkirk Farms operated with the objective, “To produce cattle that will reproduce the greatest possible return per dollar invested.” Glenkirk Farms held its first production sale in 1970. During its 28 years of operation, Glenkirk Farms sold approximately 7,000 bulls, 7,000 females, and tens of thousands of units of semen to 22 countries. The operation estimated its total sales through the years topped $42M. In 1993, Glen and Kirk decided to dissolve the partnership to tackle other ventures.

above Reunion of the Klippenstein family along with current and past employees and their families.

MESSENGER TO MANY

Determined to spread the message about the necessity and value of the cattle industry, Glen sought a new avenue in hopes of reaching a different audience. He served as a Missouri State Senator from 1993 through 1994. He returned to the legislature as a Missouri State Representative from 2010 through 2012. During his years in office, Glen never missed an opportunity to educate fellow lawmakers and constituents about the value of agriculture.

His years of service in the cattle industry include a term as chairman of the American Polled Hereford Association, two years as chairman of the Beef Promotion and Research Board, six years as the director of the National Cattlemen’s Association, and nine years as CEO of the American Chianina Association. “When we included so many great breeders, marketers, educators, staff team members, and scientists we made a near unbeatable team to genetically engineer, efficiently and sustainably produce and market a product that does so much for humanity,” Glen stated. “My greatest pride other than family is the part we played in changing cattle to be more profitable with less problems while engaging consumers to value our great beef product.”

During his years in the cattle business, Glen managed several breeds other than Herefords. He’s responsible for bringing some of the first fullblood Simmentals to the United States. Additionally, he’s raised Angus, Chiangus, Limousin, and Charolais. “I like good cattle of any breed. And I am an advocate for hybrid vigor and keeping my customers in tact,” Glen said. Following the Glenkirk Farms dispersal, he created Klippenstein Family Farms with his son, Ivan.

Though he’s downsized his cattle herd through years, he currently continues to actively manage a small herd of Herefords, with his son Brian. People who know Glen, wouldn’t expect anything different from the 85-year-old trail-blazing cattleman.

When Glen looks back at the life journey he’s traveled – his heart overflows with gratitude. “To me cattle have been an extraordinary vehicle for a good life,” Glen shared. “And when you look at it in those terms, you think how we have an opportunity not only to care for the animals, to care for the land, to care for our families, and the opportunity to meet people face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball in terms that often are long lasting and you understand the value of a God who looks over your shoulder as you are performing all of this and giving you guidance, strength and the feeling of reward - I don’t know what else I could have done that would ever make me look back and say I wish I had done something different.”

above Glen and Linda Klippenstein have been married for 60 years and counting.

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SCHEDULING EARLY BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAMS FOR BULLS DUE TO EXTREME WINTER CONDITIONS

ebraska and much of the Great Plains have experienced above normal snowfall coupled with extremely cold temperatures and high winds resulting in -20 to -60° F wind chills this winter. Extreme cold can result in frostbite to extremities in cattle including the testicles, which in turn can have a negative impact on spermatogenesis.

Routinely having a veterinarian perform a breeding soundness exam 4-6 weeks prior to the breeding season on all bulls scheduled to be turned out with cows is a good idea. In light of weather events this winter, producers may want to schedule the exams earlier than normal so any bulls the veterinar-

ian deems below acceptable could be scheduled for a re-test, and plans could still be made to replace any bulls that do not pass and are not expected to pass a re-test, prior to the breeding season.

Infertile bulls or bulls with poor quality semen can cause producers to have an increased number of open cows and/or a reduction in the number of calves born early in the calving season.

Spermatogenesis (sperm production) takes 61 days to complete. Conditions during that time such as extreme temperatures, illness, body condition, or poor nutrition can all impact the quality of the semen pro -

duced. Therefore, if the bull still has the capacity to produce sperm, improved conditions later in the spring may subsequently improve bull fertility. If irreparable damage was done during the winter weather, the bull will need to be replaced.

The NebGuide G2332 Breeding Bull Management (unl.edu) has helpful information on managing bulls year round. In the winter, providing a windbreak, hay or crop residue bales for bedding, and a balanced diet can help prevent loss of fertility. The aforementioned NebGuide has example diets for bull maintenance, however, producers can also contact UNL beef extension personnel for assistance with ration balancing.

Consider opportunities to test bulls earlier than normal by coupling this with scheduled visits the vet already plans to make such as pregnancy diagnosis of fall cows or routine brucellosis vaccinations for replacement heifers. Knowing how the bulls test well ahead of the breeding season will give producers more options for improving semen quality or making replacement decisions.

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef

Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at: www.go.unl.edu/podcast.

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NICHE

DLCC Ranch maximizes heterosis with South Devon genetics for high-quality composite cattle.

The South Devon breed is nearly synonymous with the DLCC Ranch, owned by the Giess family, Pierz, Minn. The family’s commitment to creating South Devon and South Devon-influenced composite cattle with excellent mothering abilities, high-quality carcass performance, gentle dispositions, and success in the show ring speaks for itself.

THE EARLY YEARS

Dar Giess is a fourth-generation rancher with a background in Herefords who got into the show circle. He accepted a rodeo scholarship to Colby Community College in Kansas and took a job in Colorado after meeting Lynn, who would become his wife. Lynn is a third-generation rancher with a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University. Lynn also has had a storied career in agricultural communications, even

working under the famed cowboy poet Baxter Black for a time. So, cattle were at the heart of the Giess family from the very beginning.

In the beginning of their marriage, Dar and Lynn were managing the cattle operation owned by Lynn’s parents, with two locations - one near Sauk Rapids, Minn., and the other outside Hoven, S.D. Both ranches had stints with Angus, Charolais, Salers, and South Devon cattle, with the primary focus being Charolais at the South Dakota location.

By Sarah Hill photos courtesy DLCC Ranch

DIVING INTO SOUTH DEVONS

Dar attended a South Devon herd dispersal sale in 1987 at the Rich Prairie Livestock Exchange in Pierz. He ended up buying 13 bred heifers, and one particular heifer, Tiffany, ended up winning the national show that same year. After that, the Giess family was hooked on the South Devon breed.

Managing two ranches in different states is extremely challenging, so the Giess family worked to consolidate their cattle onto one location - the DLCC Ranch, purchased in 1996. The Salers herd dispersed in 1994, with the Charolais herd dispersing a few years later. By the early 2000s, the Giess family focus was on South Devons.

“Their passion was South Devons, and it was easier to calve them out in the Minnesota winters than some of those other breeds,” said Lane Giess, Dar and Lynn’s son. “My parents really focused on docility, and the disposition of South Devons is far superior to anything else.”

The DLCC Ranch has utilized artificial insemination since the early 1990s and began doing carcass ultrasounds in the early 2000s. “The South Devon breed is objectively challenged when it comes to proper genetic evaluations, due to it being a smaller breed population, so we wanted to capture as much data as possible to help with our ability to market bulls,” Lane said.

The Giess family currently genotypes all bulls offered in the spring sale through the North American South Devon Association, and the information is sent to the International Genetic Solutions (IGS) multi-breed genetic evaluation.

“The EPDs we get are comparable to any breed association that also uses IGS for multi-breed EPDs,” Lane said. “Because of all of the extra data that comes with IGS, we’re able to have more accurate, better evaluated animals than ever before.”

Until the mid-2000s, the Giess family’s business model was driven by selling cattle focused on phenotype. Lane says his parents were extremely critical of how they wanted their cattle to look, while using performance data to help make breeding decisions.

“With two decades of data behind our cattle, we realized that our market could be expanded, selling more bulls to commercial breeders, providing a crossbred alternative,” Lane said. “We already had a good starting point for phenotype and had a leg up on the data.”

MAXIMIZING AND MARKETING HETEROSIS

Today, DLCC Ranch is home to 300 South Devon females, with the herd split into spring and fall groups across the 850-acre spread. DLCC Ranch rents quite a bit of pasture, as the herd has grown considerably since 2015. The op eration includes about 100 acres of crop ground, which is primarily corn that’s used for silage as winter feed.

The Giess family started out selling show cattle and marketing performance bulls, but soon found their niche with commercial breed ers instead. About a third of the fe males are purebred South Devon, with another third being high per centage South Devon, and the oth er third as low percentage South Devons that serve as a base to fo cus on composite development.

“About 15 years ago, we started introducing more composites into the system, and we quickly learned that half-blood South Devons work really well,” Lane said. “We

keting them as an opportunity for commercial cattle producers to use South Devon genetics.”

Crossing other breeds with South Devons yields calves with maximum heterosis, a major selling point for the Giess family. South Devon cattle grow fairly quickly, too, and have outstanding mothering abilities and milk, according to Lane. Carcass performance is another selling point, as South Devons historically marbled similar to Angus cattle.

“From a carcass perspective, South Devons blended marbling ability with optimal cutability,” Lane added. “We had to breed out the big frames, tough calving ease, and heavy calves at birth.”

Since the mid-2000s, the DLCC Ranch has worked to breed more performance-oriented cattle with exceptional growth, focusing on improving traits that are economically relevant to commercial producers.

above DLCC Gold Dust 64G. below Cattle from the DLCC Ranch are known for their high-quality carcasses, excellent mothering abilities, and gentle dispositions.

“We wanted to keep the maternal qualities of our South Devons, but have added Simmental genetics into the mix for good feet, good udders, disposition, and moderate frame size,” Dar said. “We use Simmental on the purebred South Devon females and the half-South Devon, half-Angus females, too. We’re also adding in Angus or Red Angus bulls for a three-way cross.”

The Giess family is very selective when choosing bulls for matings with their females, Lane said, because they want to bring different traits into the herd while not setting back genetic progress.

“We use a lot of our own genetics for breeding, too, so we have to be pretty disciplined on which bulls are brought into the program,” Lane added. “We want to boost genetic diversity and add complimentary traits, so we mix in a lot of other breeds for composites with the South Devon genetics. It’s taken us decades to get to that point, but in the last five years, we’ve seen a huge demand for our cattle. In 2015, we sold less than 30 bulls. Last year, we sold close to 100.”

MORE INTEREST IN SOUTH DEVONS

Notably, many commercial cattle breeders are open to South Devon genetics, driven by the quest for dividends from heterosis. For example, more commercial breeders are using SimAngus, LimFlex or Balancer bulls on a straightbred cow base and getting good calves out of those matings.

“Because the breeds used to be so different, the resulting calves were a nightmare,” Lane said. “We had to evolve the cattle market to a point where crossbreeding is now being given a second chance.”

One unique quality about South Devon cattle is that they’re the only other black British breed that doesn’t throw white, although Lane points out that black Herefords are gaining momentum.

“It’s an opportunity for us,” Lane said. “South Devons fit into a composite system and do a lot of things very well while not being extreme in any area. We know that crossbreeding three breeds captures maximum heterosis, so if you want to capture the most dollars and complementary characteristics, then South Devons composites can be the answer.”

Dar adds that once cattle producers have worked with South Devons, they typically stay with the breed. “South Devons are very feed efficient, and with high feed prices,

feed to gain is still very high for the breed,” Dar said. “South Devons are getting more respect from bigger outfits. If you want cattle with a black or red hide without a white face, the opportunities are endless.”

South Devons are also an excellent opportunity for young cattle producers who are looking for an affordable breed to get into and sell cattle. “You can invest $50,000 in the South Devon breed and be selling crossbred bulls the next year,” Dar said.

DLCC keeps many of their home-bred females, but they sell several, too. Dar said that when his customers tell him how happy they are with their bulls, he asks them to tell their neighbors. The Giess family sells 1,000 to 1,500 units of semen from their own bulls each year, in addition to selling bulls.

“It seems like there’s more of an emphasis on heterosis in the cow herd to pick up some pounds, but when you bring heterosis back in on the sire side to capture more, the calves have an added $80 to $100 in value,” Dar said.

About 200 head calve out in late February/early March, and the other 100 calve in mid-August/September.

The operation’s nutrition program has a foundation with corn silage, with corn or barley screenings for the cows. The cattle graze from May 15 to November and are supplemented with corn. Bulls also receive silage rations with screenings, but their ration is more low energy.

“Because our sale is usually held the second or third week of April,

most guys want to turn bulls out two to three weeks after the sale, so we want the bulls to be in working condition right away,” Lane said.

At the DLCC Ranch’s annual sale, 120 to 150 total head are sold, with a mix of yearling and fall-born bulls and females. Lane said that this year, the operation has a large female inventory, so more females will be sold this year than ever before.

“We sold cattle to 25 states last year,” Lane said. “The majority of our cattle go out West, a lot to Idaho, the Dakotas, Montana, Nevada, and Utah. Missouri and Kansas are another hub. We’ve also been selling bulls to Arizona for six years. They are extremely adaptable.”

SHOW RING SUCCESS

The National Western Stock Show has been a big part of the Giess family’s lives. Dar has attended 53 consecutive shows, and Lane has attended since age 6. “It’s our big event, and we’ve won quite enough over the years,” Lane said. “It’s important for us to stay relevant in the eyes of folks who evaluate cattle for phenotype, so we like to benchmark our cattle through showing.”

DLCC Ranch has taken champion banners at the National North American South Devon Association Show and the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE). Cattle bred by DLCC swept the 2021 National South Devon Show at the NILE, with DLCC Gold Dust 64G being crowned the 2021 champion bull and DLCC Belinda Ann 33H taking 2021 champion female. The 2021 reserve champion female was also a DLCC female, DLCC Hope 29H. Gold Dust was also the 2022 Grand Champion at the NWSS National Show. Gold Dust is one of the bulls with semen available for sale.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Dar is responsible for bull delivery, and it’s a role he relishes. He loves to talk with customers about what they like and how the operation can improve. Personal relationships drive customer service for the Giess family, according to Dar. He also noted that the DLCC Ranch is committed to working just as hard for smaller customers as their larger ones. Dar said he works hard to build relationships with owner-buyers to help his customers connect those dots.

below Cattle bred by the DLCC Ranch swept the 2021 NILE Show in Montana, taking champion honors for both bulls and females.

“We try to have all of our customers follow the same vaccination protocols and standards for weaning and castrating so we can represent those cows to the best of their ability,” Dar said. “We work with smaller customers to coordinate selling sets of calves on the same day at the same sale barn so buyers can purchase a potload of the same kind of genetics. Breeders are missing out on 200 pounds in lost value just by not crossing the cattle right.”

A FAMILY ENTERPRISE

Dar and Lynn are responsible for the primary day-to-day duties at the ranch, but the operation remains firmly a family business. The entire family is actively involved in the success of the business and lend their talents as needed. Lane, a current doctoral student at Colorado State University studying animal

breeding and genetics, is deeply involved with selection decisions and bull marketing prior to and during the sale. Kate, Lane’s wife, is a skilled photographer and digital content creator, and is crucial to building awareness of the brand and helping showcase the ranching

operation. Leah, Dar and Lynn’s youngest, works for an agricultural marketing agency and helps tell the DLCC story through social and print channels. The success of the DLCC Ranch business is deeply rooted in family values. learn more dlccranch.com

31st ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE: Saturday, April 15, 2023 at the ranch near Pierz, Minn.

above DLCC Ranch sells 1,000-1,500 units of semen each year, such as DLCC Derby 64D.

below The Giess Family (l-r): Lane, Kate, Leah, Lynn and Dar.

Seeds in Season

contributed article by Justin Fruechte, Product Expert - Ag Millborn Seeds, Brookings, S.D. millbornseeds.com

SPRING STAND EVALUATION

What to do if there’s winter kill.

s the snow and ice melt, it always gets me a bit nervous as to just what will occur when brown plants break dormancy. Typically, with plenty of snow, little ice, and fewer days of extreme wind, we don’t see winter injury occur with grass and alfalfa. This year, we’ve had our fair share of ice across the Upper Plains, and you might need to evaluate your options if the fields don’t green up like you hope.

It would be extremely rare if a native stand or long-lived pasture experiences winter kill. However, the crops that are vulnerable are alfalfa and introduced grass stands. Grasses such as orchardgrass, tall forage fescue, perennial ryegrass, timothy, and meadow fescue have a reputation of thinning if winter conditions get too tough. If you experience winter kill, there are three ways to handle renovating the fields.

OPTION 1

If the injury to your field is incredibly vast, the best option is to cut your losses and rotate out. On an alfalfa stand, your nitrogen credits carry some weight heading into a corn crop, so it’s not a full loss.

OPTION 2

Another scenario is you experience winter kill on an old stand with less than five plants per square foot, but you want to limp it along one more year. In this scenario, you have a long list of annual forages to choose from. If you can get into the field early in the spring, a cool season grain such as forage oats and forage barley will really boost your early cuttings. Along with that, I suggest planting Italian ryegrass. The Italian ryegrass will ensure regrowth, so you get some additional forage in every cutting of alfalfa. If you take a first cutting and are extremely disappointed with the stand, there is a window to over seed in early June. If you find yourself in this scenario, take a look at pearl or Japanese millet. They thrive in the heat and can grow extremely fast through the summer months before they die with the first frost.

OPTION 3

In the third scenario, you have a young field that has less than 15 plants per square foot, and you want to keep it in production. If the stand was planted one year prior, you can plant alfalfa into that stand. However, alfalfa does create an autotoxicity that prevents the germination and growth of other alfalfa plants around it. So, if the stand is older than a year, you’ll need to look at perennial grasses or clovers for inter-seeding options. Improved varieties of medium red clover have proved to be suitable for maintaining quality hay in alfalfa for two to three years. Persistent cool season perennial grasses should be used here, which includes meadow fescue, orchardgrass, and tall forage fescue.

Don’t let your fields turn into the old, worn-out sod bound stands that never reach your expectations. When you have the opportunity to make sure your fields are productive this spring, take it! Your punctual effort will pay off in bales produced.

Photos courtesy Millborn Seeds learn more millbornseeds.com

Millborn Seeds, Brookings, S.D.

The team of folks at Millborn Seeds have roots that run deep in farming, agriculture, and in the overall respect for the landscape. They opened their doors in 1987 and continue to walk alongside farmers, ranchers, and landowners across thousands of acres throughout the Midwest.

Mohnen

AAA#20372520

Semen Available Exclusively At:

THOMAS RANCH BULL SALE 4.11.2023

1:00 pm at the Thomas Ranch Sale Facility harrold, sd

125 Angus Bulls

57 Charolais Bulls

28 Simmental & SimAngus™ Bulls

31 Red Angus Bulls

85+ Angus, Charolais, Simmental, & SimAngus™ heifers!

Selling in catalog order!

Lot 4 | TR MR MILESTONE 2445 | Angus

Sire: SITZ MILESTONE | AAA: 20530483

MGS: V D A R REALLY WINDY 4097

Calving ease, carcass merit, and real world performance. A must see on sale day!

Lot 9 | TR BRIGADE 2037K | Angus

Sire: 44 BRIGADE | AAA: 20513568

MGS: TR MR PAYWEIGHT 7115E

Moderate birth with over 700 lbs. of payweight at the weaning pen. A high quality 44 Brigade son with breed leading eye appeal.

Lot 12 | TR PATRIARCH 2096K | Angus

Sire: TEHAMA PATRIARCH F028 | AAA: 20513588

MGS: CONNEALY COMRADE 1385

This rugged Tehama Patriarch F028 son is CAB Targeting the Brand program quali ed!

Lot 193 | TMAS CKCC MR RIGHT TIME 2689K | 3/4 Simmental

Sire: ES RIGHT TIME FA110-4 | ASA: 4117649

MGS: MR NLC UPGRADE U8676

30+ Simmental & SimAngus™ bulls that will add heterosis to your breeding program!

Lot 220 | TMAS KING COWBOY 2920K ET | Red Angus

Sire: 4MC KING OF THE COWBOYS 706 | RAAA: 4650513

MGS: BIEBER DEEP END B597

A son of the $105,000 4MC King Of The Cowboys 706 that o ers a 724 lb. Adj WW!

Lot 225 | TMAS MULBERRY9918 206K | Red Angus

Sire: ERKS MULBERRY 9918 | RAAA: 4642365

MGS: BIEBER ROLLIN DEEP Y118

Stout, powerful, and rugged Red Angus bulls supported by genetics that will propel your program forward!

Lot 130 | CAG TR MR DBLE VISION 2628K ET | Charolais

Sire: SHARODON DOUBLE VISION 1D | AICA: EM974964

MGS: M&M OUTSIDER 4003 PLD

A herd sire prospect that is supported by the maternal prowess of the powerful BRCHE TR Dory 6501!

Graham Blagg: 530-913-6418

Jered Shipman: 806-983-7226

Tim Anderson: 605-682-9343

InnovationAgMarketing.com

Lot 132 | TR BOY ABSOLUTE 223K PLD | Charolais

Sire: SHF ABSOLUTE 1508 | AICA: M980588

MGS: M&M OUTSIDER 4003 PLD

This SHF Absolute 1508 son is unrivaled in terms of power and performance - backed by the proli c TR Ms Danika 6718D ET!

Lot 147 | TR C&S MR OUTSIDER 231 | Charolais

Sire: M&M OUTSIDER 4003 PLD | AICA: M975689

MGS: RBM TR RHINESTONE Z38

This eye appealing son of M&M Outsider 4003 PLD posted a WWR @ 112!

Troy & VeaBea Thomas | Clint, Cally & Tee Kindred 18475 Capri Place - Harrold, SD 57536

Troy: 605-222-1258 | Cally: 605-222-1515

Ranch: (605) 973-2449 | info@thomasranchcattle.com Thomasranchcattle.com

HILL VALLEY RECKONING

Reckoning is becoming the outcross pedigree sensation among breeders looking to improve “show-ring” presence, foot & structure quality, muscle mass, and body dimension!

Optics is becoming an extremely popular heifer bull who’s leading progeny are topping Hoover’s, Panther Creek, & RAML’s herds! Added frame and performance for a heifer bull with outcross pedigree to most popular sires! Make sure you research him.

Genetics Matter. Use an

Gold Dust is the culmination of our generations of selection for exceptional performance, balanced genetic merit and outstanding eye-appeal. We believe that it is possible to make attractive cattle that are great numbered - Gold Dust is our proof. With thousands of units of semen sold, and hundreds of progeny registered, we are confident this bull is not only a breed changer, but one that moves the needle in an industry hungry for crossbreeding solutions.

His Sons Sell

University research you can use.

Rick Funston, Nebraska Extension Beef Cattle Reproductive Physiologist University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef beef.unl.edu

MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR MINIMIZING EARLY PREGNANCY LOSS

As we approach the breeding season, cows and heifers are faced with a variety of stressors from the metabolic pressure of providing for a calf to changes in environment. Stress during early pregnancy is well documented to cause embryonic death and loss of pregnancy. However, making strategic management decisions during the fragile 2 months after breeding can help minimize those losses. Key areas to review management practices to minimize early pregnancy loss are transportation, temperature while being worked or transported, method of pregnancy diagnosis, and nutrition from calving to breeding.

TRANSPORTATION STRESS

Transporting cows to summer pasture oftentimes coincides with the breeding season. Especially, if cows or heifers are artificially inseminated and need to be near working facilities during that time. It is important to plan transportation, or other stressors, strategically to prevent early pregnancy loss and reducing overall pregnancy rates.

Research conducted at Colorado State University has found that transporting cattle between days 5 and 42 post insemination can result in a 10% reduction in pregnancy. This window of time is crucial for blastocyst formation, maternal rec-

ognition of pregnancy, and adhesion to the uterine wall. When cattle are loaded into a trailer and transported to a new place, they may become stressed and release a cascade of hormones that can alter the uterine environment making it less ideal for supporting a pregnancy. Prior to day 5, the embryo is still in the oviduct and protected from changes in the uterine environment. After day 42, the embryo has implanted into the uterine wall and is less susceptible to changes in environment. While transporting on days 5 to 42 pose the greatest risk, waiting to haul cows and heifers until a week or two after day 42 may help prevent late embryonic loss. Ultimately, stress during those critical time points may disturb important early embryonic processes and lead to embryonic mortality and increased pregnancy loss.

Some general guidelines for when to transport pregnant cows and heifers post breeding:

Recommended t ime to haul: Days 1 - 4 or after day 60

Risk of pregnancy loss: Days 5 - 55 or 60

HEAT STRESS

Another key to minimizing pregnancy loss when transportation is necessary, is to avoid hauling cows on excessively hot days (approximately 90° - 110° and 40% humidity or more). Research conducted at Oklahoma State University found that cows exposed to heat stress 8 – 16 days after breeding, had decreased progesterone concentration, increased prostaglandin concentrations, and reduced embryonic weights. A 2 - 2.5 degree increase in rectal temperature (representative measurement of body temperature) for as little as 9 hours has been found to reduce embryo development. Planning to haul cows on days with more moderate temperatures can help reduce stress on heifers and cows and ultimately prevent early pregnancy loss.

PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS

Implementing a pregnancy diagnosis method is key for making sound managerial decisions regarding open females. However, some pregnancy diagnosis methods carry more risk than others regarding early pregnancy loss. Currently, there are 3 options available for pregnan-

cy diagnosis: transrectal palpation, transrectal ultrasound, and a blood test. Obviously, a blood test is the least invasive method but results are not immediate and that may not be practical for producers wanting to sort females on pregnancy check day. Transrectal palpation and transrectal ultrasound allow for immediate results but pose a greater risk for early pregnancy loss and can vary greatly based on stage of pregnancy and skill of the technician. Additional research conducted at Colorado State University found that transrectal palpation between days 4274 had greater fetal losses (2.68 vs 1.38%) than transrectal ultrasound, and that heifers evaluated by inexperienced technicians had greater fetal losses than those evaluated by experienced technicians (2.07 vs 1.06%). It was also found that heifers evaluated prior to 53 days had nearly a 3 fold increase in pregnancy loss than those evaluated after 53 days of pregnancy (3.46 vs 1.26%). While an experienced technician can determine pregnancy by transrectal ultrasound as early as 25 – 30 days or by transrectal palpation by 35 –45 days, pregnancy diagnosis prior to 40-50 days of pregnancy carries an increased risk of disturbing those fragile early stages of development.

NUTRITION AT BREEDING

It is well established that deficiencies in protein and energy at breeding time has detrimental effects on fertility. Traditionally, it is recommended that cows should be at a BCS of 5 and 1st calf heifers should be at a BCS of 6 at calving for optimal reproductive performance. Managing cows and heifers to be on a positive plane of nutrition at the time of breeding is essential for the establishment of pregnancy. Studies at University of Nebraska have found that thin cows, that are on an increasing plane of nutrition and gaining weight, can have equivalent pregnancy rates as cows in moderate condition that are maintaining their body weight at breeding. However, thin cows that are determined to be losing condition can have a reduction in pregnancy rates up to 30% which may be a result of embryonic loss or anestrous at the time of breeding. Having a sound nutritional program is key to optimizing reproductive function during the breeding season.

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef

Interviews with the authors of BeefWatch newsletter articles become available throughout the month of publication and are accessible at: www.go.unl.edu/podcast.

Sc haf er Here f ords Online Sale

LJS MARK DOMINO 2207 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44344458 — Calved: 3/18/2022 — Tattoo: LE 2207

LJS MARK DOMINO 1607 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF} LJS MARK DOMINO 1321 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF,MDF}

LJS MARK DOMINO 2012 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF} LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1337 {DOD}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44151724 LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1735 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF} LJS MARK DOMINO 1444 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF} LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1204 {DLF,HYF,IEF}

LJS MARK DOMINO 1722 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF} LJS MARK DOMINO 0945 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

LJS MS MARK DOMINO 2029 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF} LJS MS MARK DOMINO1361 {DOD}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44151792 LJS MS DOMINO 1620 {DOD}{DLF,HYF,IEF} CL 1 DOMINO 0150X {SOD}{CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF} LJS MS BOGART 1210 {DLF,HYF,IEF}

CE 7.4; BW 3.3; WW 60; YW 97; DMI 0.9; SC 1.4; SCF 10.6; MM 43; M&G 74; MCE 9.6; MCW 58; UDDR 1.60; TEAT 1.70; CW 82; FAT 0.070; REA 0.82; MARB 0.50; BMI$ 291; BII$ 388; CHB$ 154

• BW 99 lb., WW 795 lb., scurred.

• Big time growth, maternal and carcass here. He’s the first calf for both parents and sets the bar high. His pedigree is a cross of two of our strongest cow families.

LJS MARK DOMINO 2213 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44344467 — Calved: 3/22/2022 — Tattoo: LE 2213

LJS MARK DOMINO 1607 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

LJS MARK DOMINO 1954 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44036654 LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1125 {DLF,HYF,IEF}

MARK DOMINO 1613 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1944 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

P44035598 LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1744 {DLF,HYF,IEF}

LJS MARK DOMINO 1321 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF,MDF}

LJS MS MARK DOMINO 1337 {DOD}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

LJS YANKEE 0904 {DLF,HYF,IEF}

LJS MS MARK DOMINO 0735 {IEP}

MARK DOMINO 1321 {CHB}{DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF,MDF}

MS ADVANCE 1401 {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF}

ADVANCE

Powerful performance cattle backed by over 60 years of performance testing and rigid culling for economically important traits. Complete performance records including weights, ultrasound carcass data, and genomically enhanced EPDs will be available on the Hereford on Demand website.

Health & Reproduction questions answered and explained.

contributed article by Dr. Vince Collison Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services, Rockwell City, Iowa collisonembryoservices.com

NAVEL INFECTION IN NEWBORN CALVES

alving season is in full swing and there are always plenty of challenges that go with it. One of the bigger issues we have seen this spring relates to navel infections in calves. Conditions in the Midwest have been fairly wet and overcast resulting in a lot of mud early on in February. This has made it hard to keep calving areas clean and dry resulting in perfect conditions for navel infections.

Navel infection is a term that is usually used for calves with swollen navels, but it actually can result in a variety of conditions. The following are some of the things to look for.

SWOLLEN NAVEL

This is a very common symptom resulting from localized infection at the site of the navel. Most of these are hard and can cause pain and fever in the calf. Antibiotics for 5 to 7 days are necessary to get this under control. The most common method of prevention is to dip or spray the newborn’s navel with iodine.

LISTLESS CALF 2-5 DAYS AFTER BIRTH

(calf won’t nurse)

This is a very common symptom that we see and is due to a septice -

mia that originates from the open navel. Septicemia is a term for blood infection and is caused by bacteria circulating in the blood throughout the calf’s body.

A newborn’s navel is an open pathway for bacteria to enter the body. Most of the bacteria are from manure in the environment and result in systemic E. coli or other types of coliform bacteria. Many of these septic calves will not be running a fever.

In addition to dipping the navel in iodine it is very important to make sure the newborn calf is nursing enough to get adequate levels of colostrum in their system. Antibodies from the colostrum play a major role in helping calves fight off this systemic infection at birth. Treatment for this requires aggressive antibiotics and bovine serum with antibodies for various calf infections is also very helpful. Also, treatment with some type of flunixin product will help with the endotoxins in their system.

A

JOINT INFECTIONS

These are one of the classic symptoms seen with navel infection. This can be seen in a little older calves, but probably originated from bacteria entering through the navel. Once the bacteria enter the body through the navel it will settle from the blood into the joints. Joints are predisposed to this type of infection because the blood vessels at the joint cartilage are shaped in a U pattern. As the blood circulates toward the cartilage and is directed back sharply, the bacteria will settle out from the blood and accumulate in the joint.

These joint infections are hard to treat and require early intervention for the best results. Aggressive antibiotic therapy combined with bovine serum is the standard treatment. Joint infections are very hard to treat and the longer they go before getting treatment, the poorer the prognosis for recovery. Even with treatment, there is often some damage to the joint which can take extended time to heal and may never return to normal. Many of these probably also start because of inadequate colostrum intake.

PNEUMONIA AND DIARRHEA

While probably not caused from the navel infection, it is common to see these conditions concurrently. Septicemia from navel infection will weaken the immune system and make calves more prone to pneumonia and diarrhea. Plus, conditions that make calves susceptible to navel infection also make them prone to pneumonia and diarrhea.

INFECTION PREVENTION

Prevention of navel infection starts with sanitation. Try to keep calving areas clean and bedded with dry straw or cornstalks. When bedding gets wet it is a nidus for infection. Wood shavings or wood chips are often used for bedding, but I would avoid using them for newborn calving pens. Wood shavings often harbor a bacteria called

Klebsiella. It is a coliform-bacteria and is commonly associated with navel infection and septicemia when wood chips are used. When weather conditions are wet it is often hard to keep pens dry enough and a prophylactic antibiotic at birth might need to be considered to help prevent infections. Iodine to the navel as mentioned before is important and get pairs out of confined areas as much as possible. If you can’t get pairs out of confined areas, try to have a dry area where only calves can go. If you are seeing some of these problems, work with your herd veterinarian to form a plan for treatment and prevention.

learn more collisonembryoservices.com

Dr. Vince Collison is co-owner of Collison Embryo and Veterinary Services PAC in Rockwell City, Iowa.

48th Annual Production Sale

2023 Bull & Female Sale

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023

At The Ranch - Pequot Lakes, MN - 1:00 PM (CST)

120 Angus Yearlings Sell

70 Bulls - 50 Open Heifers

Real Cattle Raised By Real Cattlemen

At Flying W Ranch, we strive to breed cattle that excel on a range environment. Our cows are expected to be fertile, early maturing, and easy fleshing. They must calve unassisted and care for their calves on their own. 99% of our calves are born outside with no assistance and only the trees for protection.

Where

Performance and Growth is Bred in, Not Fed On

Generations of selection without feeding creep feed has allowed us to identify the superior maternal bloodlines of our herd. The yearlings offered on our sale were raised on only grass and their mother’s milk with NO CREEP FEED. As yearlings, they have been developed in a realistic range environment with a high forage and low concentrate diet. These bulls have been bred and raised to work for you!

More Than Great Genetics

Free delivery in Minnesota and surrounding states. All bulls have been ultra-sounded and are performance and fertility tested and fully backed by a 1 year breeding guarantee.

Owned by David & Brandy Jensen

bjensen@hawkeyebreeders.com

H A premier custom collection and housing facility for your sire’s needs

H Certified export facility for countries around the world

H Female sexed semen $18 or less when CSS approved

H We can sex both male and female!

Saturday,

Sale Location: JS Ranch • Harris, Missouri

Sale Time: 1 p.m.

Rogers

Nathan Rogers: 660-748-6350

Raymond Rogers: 660-953-1562

JS Ranch

Cody Holt: 660-748-8352

ALPHA SYNDICATE: COLLISON ANGUS « ROSEBUD CATTLE CO « SCOTT & JARED WERNING « FOUR CORNERS FARMS MID

FARMS « BLIND BADGER RANCH « NIKKEL/SCHRAG « WINDY HILL MEADOWS « R&K ANGUS « MASSEY CATTLE COMPANY

Reg#: 19893755 « DOB: 02-06-2020 « Tattoo: 028

Dameron First Class x CS Georgina 919

$30,500 for 1/2 Interest raised by Stagemeyer, sold by Rosebud Cattle Co

Raised by Hickey Land and Cattle, sold by Rosebud Cattle for $20,500

Sold by Collison Angus for $9,250

Collison Angus sold for $21,000

Sold for $32,500 as Lot 11 on PVF sale

Sold for $37,500 as Lot 4 on PVF sale

Sold for $8,500 in RJ Cattle Co Online Pasture Sale

Box 28, Carievale, SK S0C 0P0

Home: 306-928-4810

Barry: 306-482-7952

Robb: 306-339-8330

Cordell: 306-482-8318

SALE MANAGEMENT

Chris Poley: 306-220-5006

Ben Wright: 519-374-3335

Shane Michelson: 403-363-9973

I grew up in rural northeast Iowa on a small cow/calf operation. I was heavily involved in our FFA chapter as well as the American Junior Simmental Association. I met my husband, Chan, at one of our national classics. After graduating from Iowa State with an Ag Ed degree, Chan and I were married, and I moved to his family farm in Kentucky. About a year after moving to Kentucky, I began teaching high school agriculture and served as an FFA advisor. I had some outstanding students during my 26-year tenure. In 2018, I decided to retire from teaching and began helping Chan with cattle records. In August of 2021, we relocated to Mount Vernon, Missouri where our grandson, Beau, lives. We have two grown children – Beau’s mom and dad, Morgan (our daughter) and Sam Wallace (son-in-law); and our son, AK, and his wife, Jordan, who live in

Where did you learn to cook?

Growing up I was always outside helping on the farm, so I didn’t cook a lot when I was younger. Fortunately, my mom was a stay-at-home mom, and we enjoyed evening meals as a family nightly. I have favorite go-to recipes of several family members that I often prepare.

What is your least favorite job in the kitchen?

When I first thought about this I immediately thought clean up, but after giving it some thought I think it is meal planning. It is easier since it is just Chan and I, but coming up with ideas is the most difficult for me.

STOCK Kitchen

What is your favorite cooking tip/trick?

I like to keep it simple – like I mentioned earlier it is often just Chan and I so a protein and a vegetable is what I often prepare. Our grandson Beau LOVES any kind of berry. I once saw on Facebook that storing berries in quart jars keeps the fruit fresh longer and they do.

What is your most requested dish?

At nearly every family gathering in Kentucky, I am asked to bring my raspberry pretzel salad. I don’t mind at all because raspberries are a favorite of mine!

learn more rockingplivestock.com for printable recipes stockmanmag.com

Cowboy approved recipes used by our favorite country cooks.

In

kitchen with Tonya Phillips Rocking P Livestock - Mt. Vernon, Mo.

SPINACH ROLL-UPS

Tonya Phillips

2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen spinach, drained and chopped

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix

8 oz. sour cream

3 oz. bacon bits

½ c. green onion, chopped

1 c. mayonnaise

1 pkg. large tortillas

Mix all ingredients except spinach. Allow mixture to set in refrigerator for approximately 15 minutes. Drain spinach and dry with paper towels – and then do it again. Add spinach to mixture. Spread mixture on tortilla, roll and then slice into 1-inch pieces.

RASPBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

Tonya Phillips

TOMATO-BASIL TART

Tonya Phillips

1 pie crust (9 inch), unbaked

5 Roma tomatoes

4 cloves garlic

½ c. Parmesan cheese

3 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

1 c. basil leaves, unpacked

1 c. mayonnaise or salad dressing

1/8 tsp. white pepper

Bake pie crust at 475 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 9 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with ½ cup mozzarella cheese. Cool on rack. Cut tomatoes into wedges; drain on paper towel. Arrange tomato wedges atop melted cheese in the baked pie shell. In a food processor bowl combine basil and garlic; cover and process until coarsely chopped. Sprinkle over tomatoes. In medium mixing bowl combine remaining mozzarella cheese, mayo, Parmesan cheese, and pepper. Spoon cheese mixture over basil mixture, spreading to evenly cover the top. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 35 to 40 minutes or until top is golden and bubbly. Serve warm.

2 ½ c. pretzels, crushed

½ c. sugar, divided

1 ½ c. butter, melted

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

2 (3 oz.) pkg. raspberry Jell-O

2 c. hot pineapple juice

2 (10 oz.) boxes frozen raspberries

1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip

Mix pretzels, ¼ cup sugar, and butter. Press into 9x13 inch glass bak- ing dish and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Let cool. Mix softened cream cheese, ¼ cup sugar and Cool Whip. Spread mix- ture on cool pretzel mixture. Dissolve Jell-O in hot pineapple juice. Add frozen raspberries. Chill in refrigerator until somewhat jellied. Spread over cream cheese/Cool Whip mixture.

*Some recipes call for another container of Cool Whip on top of the raspber- ries, but I don’t add that.

ANNUAL BULL SALE: Held every March

Sale Barn Study

COLD WEATHER BUT HOT CATTLE

this fat cattle deal to continue an upward trend going into the new year and into spring. How high we can go, that is the million-dollar question!

MARKETS CONTINUE STEADY CLIMB

s I wrote this article, we have received our first snowstorm of the winter and my four little ones could not wait to throw on their snow pants and go play in the white stuff! Me on the other hand, not so excited about leaving the warmth and comfort of my office. It is because they are looking forward to joy and fun and I am dreading frozen waters and/or sick cattle. Either way, it is safe to say that winter is upon us!

f you take one thing away from this month’s sale barn report, it is that every aspect of the cattle mar kets continues to climb at the slow and steady pace that we have seen over the past year plus. At some point we are going to head the other direction, when and for how long is the million-dollar question.

Feeder cattle continue to sell strong for all weights and class es. There continues to be a num ber crunch on feeding cattle and the feeling is this will continue through this year and the next cou ple of years. We have been seeing several bigger cattle that weigh in the 800-to-900-pound range bring ing in the $1.80 to $1.90 range de pending on quality and sex, and a lot of 600-pound cattle bringing $2.00, and several north of that. Light weight cattle will be in high demand as we get closer to grass.

Now to look at some of the market reports that we have been seeing in the barns. The fat cattle market has been on a hot streak for several weeks, until this past week, when we experienced a slight dip in the market. We have seen some highs in the mid to high forties, but these have been some extremes. Most cash cattle in the country have been trading at forty level or slightly higher the past couple of weeks. I expect there to be a few bumps in the road, but I expect

The higher fat cattle market is driving a higher price for the feeder cattle market as well, even with the higher feedstuff inputs. We have seen some front end big strings of 800 pounds bringing well into the sixties and some 600-pound cattle bringing into the seventies and eighties. Once again these are some extreme tops. We have been trying to fill up our own lots as fast as possible, as I am not sure the feeder cattle are going to get any cheaper. We have been able to find cattle at cheaper prices than that and so when we do projects they are in the black.

The cull cow and bull market has lagged the fat market, as from all reports there have been around six

Kirk Lynch, Lynch Livestock Inc., Waucoma, IA Kirk is the Beef Division manager for Lynch Livestock Inc. and oversees all aspects of their backgrounding and cattle feeding operations throughout Iowa and Kansas. He is also deeply involved in the newly reopened Humeston Livestock Exchange in Humeston, Iowa. In addition, Kirk and his wife Mary own and operate Heartland Simmentals in Northeast Iowa, which is a seed stock operation that consists of 500 registered Simmental and Angus cows. They have four children: Gabrielle (8), Brayden (7), Vivian (5), and Bianca (1).

The fat cattle are what drives all the other markets, and we continue to see this market steady to high er just about every week. We have seen some extreme tops in barns ranging $1.70 to $1.75 and several cash prices in the country bringing

percent more last year, making supply of cows. down, which be into next year, cow and bull with the same market.

The breeding been up and cently, I heard commercial pairs $2,000 and then can buy all the I want for $1,200 are looking to now is the time reasonably priced with increased are going to be ply over the next Wishing everyone Christmas and

EXCHANGE

HUMESTON LIVESTOCK

Humeston, Iowa 641-877-6092

In the News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANGUS FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW

tional Junior Recognition Program

Bronze and Silver award applications. The Foundation’s Certified Angus Beef®/National Junior Angus Association and commercial cattlemen scholarships will still be accessed at AngusFoundation.org and submitted through email.

“Angus Foundation scholarships have provided incredible support as I have furthered my education,” said Marcie Harward, National Junior Angus Board Foundation director and past scholarship recipient. “I’m grateful for my involvement in the Angus breed and its investment in the success of juniors like me.”

Certified Angus Beef ®/National Junior Angus Association Scholarship

Since 1990, the NJAA has teamed up with Certified Angus Beef® (CAB) to help Angus youth pursue their higher education goals. The selected applicant will receive a $1,500 scholarship. A separate application from the Angus Foundation scholarship application is required for the CAB/NJAA scholarship.

Access to Application: Download application at AngusFoundation.com

Submission:

Email to scholarships@angus.org

Youth can apply for Angus Foundation scholarships until May 1.

Scholarship applications are now available for college students involved with the Angus breed. The Angus Foundation awarded more than $318,000 in scholarships in 2022 alone. The Foundation offers scholarships to undergraduate, graduate and trade school students each year to help Angus youth achieve their educational goals and offset the rising costs of tuition. Applications are due May 1.

“The Angus Foundation’s scholarship program is one of the most prominent and consistent ways our donors support Angus youth,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “Our scholarships pave the way for a bright future for our industry by ensuring young people have the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

New this year, the Angus Foundation undergraduate and graduate scholarship applications are available to National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members through their American Angus Association® login, similar to the Na-

Since 1998, the Angus Foundation has awarded more than $4.2 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships. For more information about the Angus Foundation and its scholarship program, visit AngusFoundation.org.

Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships

Applicants for undergraduate and graduate scholarships must have, at one time, been a member of the NJAA and currently be an active junior, regular or life member of the American Angus Association®. The following documents are required to be considered for a 2023 undergraduate or graduate scholarship: the 2023 scholarship application; three letters of recommendation; a copy of current high school/college/university transcript; and the applicant’s Association member code.

Access to Application: AAA login (www.angusonline.org/Account/Login), “Programs” tab

Submission: Through AAA login

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship

The Angus Foundation will award four $1,500 scholarships to undergraduate students who use Angus genetics in a commercial cattle operation’s breeding program or whose parents use Angus genetics. Emphasis will be placed on applicants’ knowledge of the cattle industry and perspective of the Angus breed. The applicant or their parent/guardian must have transferred or been transferred an Angus registration paper in the last 36 months (on or after May 1, 2020) and must be considered commercial and not seedstock in their operation. The scholarship applies to any field of study.

Access to Application: Download application at AngusFoundation.com

Submission:

Email to scholarships@angus.org

Deadline: May 1, 2023

— Written by Peyton Schmitt, Angus Communications

Alexis Vandeberghe accepts an Angus Foundation scholarship from Richard Dyar, 2022 Angus Foundation board chair, at the National Junior Angus Show in Kansas City, Mo. The Foundation awarded more than $318,000 in scholarships in 2022.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ANGUS FOUNDATION’S COMMERCIAL CATTLEMEN SCHOLARSHIP

edge of the cattle industry and their perspective of the Angus breed.

“I’m grateful for the Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship awarded by the Angus Foundation,” said Tucker Huseman, 2022 scholarship recipient. “I come from a commercial ranching background and scholarships like this allow me to pursue my passion for beef cattle production through my education.”

Hereford Hall of Fame. They were inducted at a ceremony during the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association (IHBA) banquet at the Iowa Beef Expo.

The Iowa Hereford Hall of Fame honors people who have had a significant impact on the breed in the state.

Mike Dierenfeld

Youth using Angus genetics in commercial operations can apply until May 1.

The Angus Foundation offers a variety of scholarship opportunities, including to youth beyond the seedstock industry. Applications are open for the Foundation’s Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship, which awards $1,500 to four outstanding youth in the beef industry. This scholarship is unique from others offered by the Foundation as it aims to support students specifically from the commercial sector of the industry.

“We’re proud to offer this scholarship opportunity to students from commercial cattle backgrounds,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “We recognize the importance of supporting young people using Angus genetics and want to help them succeed in our industry.”

Young men and women whose families use Angus genetics in their commercial operations are eligible to receive the scholarship. Students should be pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational program at an accredited institution of higher education. Selection emphasis is placed on the applicant’s knowl-

The applicants or their parents/ guardians must have transferred or been transferred an Angus registration paper in the last 36 months (on or after May 1, 2020) and must be considered commercial and not seedstock in their operation. The scholarship applies to any field of study. A separate application, from the general Foundation application, is required for the Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship. The application can be found on the Angus Foundation website. Applicants having received or applied for Angus Foundation undergraduate scholarships, using the standard general application this year or in past years, will not be considered for this scholarship.

For more information on the Commercial Cattlemen Scholarship, visit AngusFoundation.org. Since 1998, the Angus Foundation has awarded more than $4.2 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships.

— Written by Peyton Schmitt, Angus Communications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DIERENFELD, TROWBRIDGE INDUCTED INTO IOWA HEREFORD HALL OF FAME

Mike Dierenfeld of Northwood and David Trowbridge of Tabor are the newest members of the Iowa

It’s appropriate that Dr. Mike Dierenfeld was inducted into the Iowa Hereford Hall of Fame on the eve of the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association’s (IHBA) annual sale at the Iowa Beef Expo and while he is president of the sponsoring Iowa Beef Breeds Council. In 1987, he and his wife Joan brought their first consignment to the Beef Expo –and they have consigned in all but two of the years since then.

Mike’s Hereford herd started in the fall of 1985, when he purchased two bred cows from Clarence Caraway of Lake Benton, Minn., with the intention of building a foundation for a 4-H project for his young daughter, Ashley. Those cows calved in 1986 and they brought the bull calf from one of them to the 1987 Expo, where he sold for $2,000.

A native of Deep River, Iowa, where his father was a veterinarian for about 50 years, Mike followed in his dad’s footsteps by getting his DVM from Iowa State University in 1979 and his master’s in 1998. He first practiced in southwest Minnesota for five years, before moving to Northwood in 1984 to start his own practice. The new location was a homecoming of sorts, for his wife, Joan, whom he married in 1978, was raised on a dairy farm in nearby Kensett.

Not long after the move they made the aforementioned purchase

that started MDF Polled Herefords, choosing the breed in part because of the knowledge and recommendation of a partner in one of the vet clinics. The quiet disposition of Herefords was a major selling point. Over the last nearly 40 years, the herd has grown significantly. They calved 88 cows and heifers in 2022, but this year that number will be a little over 60. Last year they sold 20 pairs to a young breeder in Maryville, Mo.

Over the years, Mike infused his herd with several prominent Canadian bloodlines, including Remitall and Medonte Highlands. One year when he was at Denver with a 4-H group, he saw and “fell in love with” a bull named Remitall Jonathan, which he says was the best bull he’s ever seen. He went to Remitall sales and tried unsuccessfully to buy him. Mike’s pursuit of great cattle didn’t stop there. A licensed pilot, he’s flown himself to sales in Canada, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, Minnesota and Illinois.

Mike’s dedication to the breed and the industry is evident in the many roles and responsibilities he has fulfilled over the years. He served two terms on the IHBA board of directors, from 2003-2009. During his tenure, he urged the association to start its own website and became its first administrator. Today that website is a major source of IHBA information and promotion. He also pushed the board to reinstate screening cattle for acceptance in the Expo sale, something that had been discontinued for various reasons. “That’s the best thing we have ever done,” he states. For more than 15 years, he and Russ Stickley alternated as the IHBA’s official vet for the sale, which was no small feat when consigning every year. Going through health papers consumed at

least 3-4 hours the night before the sale, not to mention the time it took on sale day.

Mike and Joan usually consign bred heifers to the Expo sale and are pleased to see that bred heifers have become such a hot commodity in recent years. In the early days, the Dierenfelds were pretty much the only consignors to bring bred heifers. Due to their calving schedule, their lots often arrive at the Expo with baby calves at side. Mike times his breeding program to calve in January and February, so that he has most of his calves on the ground before he gets busy looking after animals of his clients who calve a month or two later.

In 2005, Mike became one of the IHBA’s representatives to the Iowa Beef Breeds Council, where he spent three years as secretary, 10 years as treasurer and one year as vice president. He is now in his third year as IBBC president. He has found his time on the IBBC board to be rewarding and says it is the organization he has enjoyed the most. He looks forward to attending so much that in all his years of service he has only missed one meeting – and that was because he didn’t receive a notice about the meeting.

Mike’s other volunteer service covers a wide range: school board,

including a few terms as president; veterinary association; and 39 years on the Worth County Cattlemen Board, including 35 years as treasurer.

He says, “Herefords have been good to me”, and credits Joan and daughters Ashley and Allyson with keeping the operation running smoothly. Both girls were active in the Iowa Junior association and showed at the Junior National. When the girls were still at home, Ashley would be up early and waiting with a full report on what was going on outside for him when he woke up. Joan helps at the clinic and is active in their church. Both enjoy Iowa State sports and have had season football tickets since 1984.

Both daughters are married and have families of their own. All four grandkids have shown bucket calves at the Worth County Fair and the oldest granddaughter is now old enough to join 4-H and show cattle.

David Trowbridge

David and his wife of 46 years, Mary, live in Tabor. There they raised their five children and are enjoying watching the growth of their eight grandchildren. David has worked for 45 years as the manager of Gregory Feedlots Inc.,

above Dierenfeld: (l-r): Joan Dierenfeld, Mike Dierenfeld, IHBA President Thad Espenscheid.

while Mary served the children and parents at Bellevue Public Schools in Nebraska for 45 years before retiring last spring.

Raised on a dairy farm at Page, Nebraska, David’s passion for Hereford cattle started with 4-H in 1964 when a Hereford heifer was given to him by his great uncle. By the time he started college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he had a small herd of registered cows.

After college and marrying Mary, he started a career managing Gregory Feed Lots (GFL) in 1977. He grew the reputation of the custom cattle feeding operation into a nationwide cattle-feeding industry leader. He has spoken at cattlemen’s organizations in dozens of states across the nation and has given feedlot tours to groups of people from across the country and tens of nations around the world who want to learn more about the cattle feeding industry.

He worked with Certified Angus Beef in building the brand. Gregory feedlots received the Feedlot Partner of the Year in 2002 and the Progressive Partner of the Year in 2011. David received the Quality Control Officer of the Year in 2005. Scores of articles have been written over the years about GFL’s management of data for the improvement of the cattle industry and their leadership in the cattle industry.

In the late 1990’s, David and

Mike England started a Hereford herd, Beef Resources Partnership (BRP), to raise high-grading genetics for David’s customers at GFL. This started his involvement in Hereford organizations. He served on the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association board as a director from 2011 to 2014 and as president in 2015. John Hardy and David were instrumental in restarting the participation of the Hereford breed in the Governor’s Charity Steer Show.

He was elected to the American Hereford Association board of directors in 2011, serving for four years. David served as chairman of the Certified Hereford Beef board in 2015 and still serves as a director on the board today. He and Jerry Huth were responsible for starting the National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout, which has grown into a great educational program for Hereford youth.

In recognition of their efforts for the Fed Steer Shootout and the Certified Hereford beef programs, Gregory Feedlots was the recipient of the “Friend of the IHBA” award in August 2018.

David’s involvement in beef industry organizations at the state and national level grew over the years. He served as a director, a regional vice president, president-elect and finally as president of Iowa Cattlemen’s Association in 2018 and 19. David currently serves on the

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Animal Welfare Advisory Group and as a director on the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation board.

David and Mary have focused on the education of youth through 4-H programs for many years. David judged the junior feeders project for several years in Fremont County. He and Mary were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame in 2021 for their Trowbridge Class at the Mills County Fair, using their Hereford calves for children that could not have cattle at their homes. Over 100 families have participated in 4-H beef projects using BRP Herefords during the last 12 years. This 2-year program allows eight new children to pick out, train, fit and show feeder calves their first year and then do the same the second year with a bred heifer. The Trowbridge Class requires parental attendance with their child at two classroom sessions and then at least 10 weekly training sessions on the farm with the calves. Mary and David are so proud of the effects that this program has had on so many children and families in need of an affirming, rewarding and uniting family project. The youth who have gone through the 2-year program continue to return to help the new members every year as mentors and are there every week and at the fair to help. They usually have 20-30 people at the farm each week. Hereford cattle have changed the lives of so many youth when they can become involved with the great families in this industry.

The Trowbridges have five grown children – Jason (wife Karla, daughter Haley); Justin (wife Angie, daughters Auri and Bella and son Aiden); Tiffani Jedlicka (husband Scott, daughters Blaire and Sloane and sons Trent and Drake); Joshua (fiancé Jessica) and Mackenzie (fiancé Jake). Mackenzie has been very involved in 4-H beef and horse projects, along with the Trowbridge Class. She is now horse superintendent in Mills County.

below Trowbridge: (l-r): Mary Trowbridge, David Trowbridge, IHBA President Thad Espenscheid.

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79 THE STOCKMAN | April 2023

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STOCKMAN traight

About the Stockman.

I’ve raised cattle my whole life. My wife Jamie and I ranch with our kids Eli (13), Ethan (11), and Whitley (1) on Jamie’s family farm alongside her folks, Jim and Jan Lile. We will celebrate 20 years of raising Red Angus cattle this fall. I spent 20 years in agriculture education as a teacher and then as FFA state staff before we started ShowMe Genetics, a CSS custom bull collection facility in 2019. We homeschool our boys and they are active in 4H, church activities, and playing football.”

What about the beef cattle industry excites you the most?

Making genetic improvement to increase profitability is so exciting. We strive to make cattle that will work well for our customers and the decisions we make to influence that get me excited. Combining genomic data with real-world observation while putting additional performance pressure on our herd by how we manage them is rewarding. The beef industry is the one meat species where we still get to make our own genetic decisions. We want to make cattle that will be accepted in the industry as it evolves.”

Your go-to sorting apparatus?

When working cattle, we focus on going easy with them and use tub or budbox systems. I usually don’t even need a sorting stick with our herd as we focus on docility and conditioning the cattle to a positive working experience as best we can.”

Your favorite non-farm activity to do in your free time?

We create free time around here or it just doesn’t happen. I love spending time with the kids, especially as the boys play football and show cattle.”

Steven Rogers

Which animal (any species) has left the greatest impact on you?

As a kid, I had a Hampshire boar that got injured due to poor structure. I remember crying pretty hard when I realized there was nothing I could do to help him recover. There were lots of lessons from that incident, especially that no matter how hard you try you have to accept life and death in the livestock business. I also learned that structural soundness is of the utmost importance in livestock.”

The most important lesson you’ve learned in this business?

What is the most used tool on your farm? How old is it?

Describe your best day.

Our best days on the ranch are when the whole family is able to help. Usually that is on cattle working days or during hay season. We try to take time on these days to enjoy a meal outdoors and play around a little to make memories with the kids.”

The cattle business is more about people than cattle and it is impossible to please everyone. So, the two lessons I try to pass on to my kids are “Do what’s right, do your best, treat others as you want to be treated” and “shop people first, then shop cows.”

Our Kubota ATV. We’ve had it since 2017 and it is amazing how many hours and miles we put on that machine checking cattle, tagging calves, feeding, and fixing fence. I’m in it almost every day. It has been a good tool for teaching the kids to drive as well.”

What is your least favorite job on the farm?

I try to enjoy it all, but picturing sale cattle is sure not my favorite activity.”

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ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE: Held every March near Strafford, Mo.

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