The Stockman | December 2022

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.

BILL SCHERMER, Owner/Herd Consultant

641.425.2641 | bill@stockmanmag.com

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 Stock man, 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

KIM BANKS, Graphics507.530.0914 kkbanks@frontiernet.net

MAKAYLA FLOWER, Managing Editor

605.690.6050 | makayla@stockmanmag.com

Makayla serves as editor, graphic designer, and manager of The Stockman. Her focus and passion continues to pro vide 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.

HILARY ROSSOW, Editorial Assistant 605.690.4406 hilaryrossow@gmail.com

Kim is a graphic designer with many years of de sign experience. Producing cre ative 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.

Hilary Rossow grew up in eastern SD on a commercial cow/calf ranch. Dubbed by her friends, “The Grammar Hammer,” Hilary loves writing and proofing when her skills are requested. She and her husband, Brian, are SDSU alumni and now reside in Lakefield, MN.

The Stockman (ISSN 2694-1740), Vol. 4, No. 10, is published by Makayla Flower/The Stockman Magazine LLC, 1530 10th St. NW, Holloway, MN 56249, monthly, except June and July. Periodicals postage paid at Lubbock, Texas and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Makayla Flower, 1530 10th St. NW Holloway, MN 56249.

Cheryl Kepes Hilary Rossow Justin Fruechte

Dr. Vince Collison Kirk Lynch

TY BAYER 715.573.0153 tcreds@gmail.com

Ty works along side 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.

LORA HUTCHINS 615.293.3695 loralea1172@gmail.com

Lora owns and operates Desti ny Angus Farm with husband Brian and daugh ter 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.

CORBIN COWLES 270.991.2534 corbin.cowles32@gmail.com

When not coaching the University of Kentucky Live stock Judging Team, you’ll find Corbin working at his family’s Angus & Simmental operation. He has a deep passion for good people and good cattle, and takes great pride in helping others within the industry.

ZAC HALL 701.595.6887 zac@fortelivestock.com

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

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 through out the US.

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.

BRIGHAM STEWART / MEGAN COLLISON 785.747.8028 megancollisondvm@gmail.com

Brigham works alongside his parents at Mid Conti nent 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.

Providing the

highest

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.

level of customer service.

finding joy.

I’m ready to deck the halls, are you?! I love Christmas even more than the fall season (well, except for the part about writing out checks for gifts...eek!). But I very much enjoy all the Christmas preparations. Things like traditions, church services, and country Christmas music all fill my cup, just to name a few. I cherish memories of baking festive treats in the kitchen with my kids and seeing their excitement as we decorate our home.

I have a particular ceramic nativity scene that I painted as a child during vacation bible school each summer. My kids are in awe when I take that set out every Christmas; they particularly like all the animals. Now they are building a handmade tree ornament collection of their own. The ornaments are so fun to see each year, especially the ones with a photo!

December marks the 10 th issue under my belt, and a full year of having the privilege of bringing you hundreds of pages filled with stories, educational pieces, livestock offerings and resources to ag supplies. It has truly been a joy for me as my family and I have learned to navigate this path and find a new balance to life.

Prepare your hearts this season. Wishing you a Christmas full of peace, joy, and happiness!

January 1, 2023

December 1

February 1, 2023 January 10

March 1, 2023

February 10

April 1, 2023 March 10

May 1, 2023 April 10

August 1, 2023 July 10

September 1, 2023 August 10

October 1, 2023 September 10

November 1, 2023 October 10

December 1, 2023 November 10

Inspiringb d motivating, Educating,

Amanda Radke is known to be a bit of a spitfire. The cattle rancher, blogger, motivational speaker, bou tique owner, columnist, children’s book author, and 5-foot-2-inch mother of four will go toe-to-toe with any politician, celebrity, me dia giant, or organization spreading misinformation about agriculture. She encourages her audiences to join her by “leading with kindness, providing factual information, and being tough on those who want to put us out of business.”

HEART OF THE MATTER

Armed with years of experience, the South Dakota native tours the country speaking at agricultural events, workshops, and conferences.

Amanda also utilizes her website, blogs, podcasts, television appear ances, and social media platforms to educate the public about agricul ture. “I think the biggest way we can make an impact is to show peo ple our hearts. They truly don’t care what we do until they know what our intentions are and who we are,”

Amanda Radke shared.

Amanda Radke speaks up for farmers and speaks out against anti-agriculture movements.

by Cheryl Kepes photos courtesy Amanda Radke

Her heart and determination to advocate for agriculture took root during her childhood. Growing up on a Limousin operation in Mitch ell, S.D., she developed a passion for ranching and for people in the agriculture industry. When she was 8 years old, she won a purple rib bon at a 4-H public speaking con test; and she was hooked. Amanda continued to speak competitively at 4-H and FFA events throughout high school. Her high school speak ing career culminated with her win ning the National Beef Ambassador contest and the National FFA Ex temporaneous contest.

ON THE ROAD

Amanda started speaking profes sionally in her adult years thanks to the prodding of Nebraska rancher and Rural Route Radio host, Trent Loos. “It wasn’t even something that was on my radar as a career, but thanks to him (Trent Loos) for giving me that encouragement and I am now on the road at least four or five times a month speaking at dif ferent events,” Amanda explained.

Amanda tackles each speaking engagement with the goal of em powering men and women in ag riculture. The topics she addresses include challenging producers to look for solutions-based business opportunities, evaluating the dy namics of their multi-generational business, and following God’s call ing. “Every family has unique chal lenges, but we all want the same thing which is to keep the business running and honor previous gener ations and allow for future genera tions to stay in production agricul ture,” Amanda said. “It’s just not always a straight line to achieve those things.”

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

In agriculture circles Amanda’s known as a champion of agricul ture. Her social media presence soared in 2019 due to her open letter to Ellen DeGeneres responding to Ellen’s push to #beneateatless meat. Amanda’s letter went viral on social media and led to more than 50 me dia interviews.

She utilizes a variety of social media platforms to inspire and mo tivate people working in agricul ture. The content Amanda shares on her social media accounts and website serves to disseminate facts and truths about the agriculture in dustry.

above Amanda gave her first speech as an 8-year-old 4-H member.

above Amanda has been speaking professionally for decades.

above Amanda with longtime mentors Trent and Kelli Loos.

CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR

Most of Amanda’s career has been devoted to advocating for ag riculture in front of adult audiences. However, her ventures have led her to discover another demographic in need of agriculture education –children. “I started noticing that there were a lot of cartoons, books, and movies that really character ized who we were in agriculture and made the animals have the full range of emotions while the farm er or rancher was typically the side character or the bad guy in the sto ry,” Amanda explained. “I really wanted to flip that narrative on its head and make books that show cased the real heroes which are the farmers and ranchers who tend to the land and the livestock and feed people.”

In 2011, Amanda wrote her first agricultural-based children’s book, “Levi’s Lost Calf.” Artist and Red Angus cattle rancher, Michelle We ber, brought the story to life with her illustrations. The book tells the

story of a young boy, Levi, and his quest to find his missing heifer calf, Little Red.

The success of “Levi’s Lost Calf” opened the door for more collabo rative works. Three years ago, the Georgia Beef Board commissioned the duo to create another children’s book, “Can-Do Cow Kids.” Since then, the popularity of their books

has snowballed. “We work to tell agriculturally accurate stories in a way that’s fun and engaging and educational for kids,” Amanda said.

Amanda and Michelle have pub lished seven children’s books, with an eighth being released in Decem ber 2022. Due to demand, Amanda and Michelle established a publish ing house called Ag Storytellers. The business facilitates new proj ects in partnership with agricul ture-based organizations and com panies.

The popularity of her children’s books continually opens new ave nues for Amanda to convey truths about agriculture. Schools from across the country ask Amanda to read her books and share her story in their classrooms. “I have been everywhere from Los Ange les to New York City reading these books,” Amanda shared. “It is real ly rewarding to be able to teach kids where their food comes from. In a lot of cases, I am the only farmer they have ever met.”

During her school visits, Aman da capitalizes on the opportunity to teach children about the abundance and variety of jobs available in the agricultural industry. She empha sizes positions in agriculture relat ed businesses are available to all students regardless of whether they grew up on a farm or ranch.

above Amanda has published seven agricultural-based children’s books.

FAMILY LIFE

Though Amanda holds many job titles, the one she keeps closest to her heart is the title of Mom. Aman da, her husband, Tyler, and their four children, Scarlett (8), Thorne (6), Alexander (5), and Croix (4), live in Mitchell, S.D. Though she’s fiery and passionate about agricul ture, nothing eclipses her commit ment to her faith and family.

In 2019, Amanda and Tyler felt God calling them to be foster par ents. Since then, the Radke family has cared for more than a dozen fos ter children. “It is really rewarding for us to teach kids about farm life and give kids that are vulnerable and need space to heal the opportu nity to spend time in nature, outside with cattle, and with our family,” Amanda said.

The Radkes count it a blessing to be able to share their agricultural lifestyle with kids who might never get the experience otherwise. Ad ditionally, an unexpected blessing developed from their foster care journey. The Radkes adopted their son, Alex, out of foster care in 2021.

above Tyler and Amanda Radke with their children, Scarlett (8), Thorne (6), Alex (5), and Croix (4). below NOLZ Limousin (adults,l-r): Dave and Peggy Nolz, Courtney (Nolz) and Eliott Coughlin, judge Bob May, Amanda and Tyler Radke, and Kaley Nolz. The Nolz grandkids (l-r): Croix, Holly, Alex, Carol, Isla, Scarlett, Thorne.

RANCH LIFE

The Radke family partners with Amanda’s parents, Dave and Peggy Nolz, to operate Nolz Limousin. The ranch hosts an annual private

treaty bull sale in which custom ers choose their next herd sire on a first-come, first-served basis. Nolz Limousin has been producing pure bred Limousin cattle for more than 40 years.

Limousin isn’t the only breed un der the Radkes’ management. The Radke family operates Radke Cat tle Co., a purebred Maine Anjou operation. Tyler grew up raising Maine Anjou cattle and continued developing the herd after marry ing Amanda. “He brought some Maines to the place and there have been some growing pains there let me tell you,” Amanda said with a laugh.

Radke Cattle Co. focuses on rais ing steers and heifers to sell in the fall. “I always tell folks as hard as it was to change and focus on two breeds when Tyler and I first came back to the ranch, instead of taking away from the pie or a slice of the pie, we found ways to diversify,” Amanda stated.

left Alex Radke gives his bottle calf, Buddy, a drink of milk at a book reading.

above Tyler and Amanda’s kids showing off a bottle calf and answering questions at one of her book readings.

ONE OPPORTUNITY AT A TIME

Amanda never misses an oppor tunity to share about the important contributions farmers and ranchers make to feed the world. She encour ages people involved in agriculture to strike up conversations about what they do with members of their communities. “I think there is this misconception that in order to be an advocate we have to go viral on Tik Tok or reach millions of people, but genuinely I think it is one person at a time, one interaction at a time, and continually showing up and being around people who are interested in learning more about what you do,” Amanda said.

Though battling the stream of attacks against agriculture can be daunting, Amanda embraces the challenge. “In rural America there are some of the finest people in this country who are working hard, raising their families, and trying to do what is right. And I think if the general public had a chance to meet us, they would genuinely fall in love with us,” Amanda stated.

Amanda’s determined to inspire others in production agriculture and to win over anti-agriculture activ ists. For her - it’s more than a career, it’s a calling.

- Amanda Radke

“I think the biggest way we can make an impact is to show people our hearts. They truly don’t care what we do until they know what our intentions are and who we are.”

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POST-WEANING COWHERD MANAGEMENT

To build a nutrition program for a cow-calf system, it is important to know the herd’s nutritional re quirements, have set trigger points to make rapid changes in nutri tional management if needed and know the quality and quantity of your forage resources. With many producers across the state starting to or already weaning calves, it’s a good time to note the body con dition score (BCS) of the cowherd. For many spring-calving herds, the time between now and when winter hits is the best time to increase the condition score of the cowherd prior to winter weather. The last chance to economically increase cow BCS during late gestation is the last 90

days prior to calving. However, weather changes and forage avail ability/quality can make achieving an optimum BCS 60 to 90 days before calving difficult. After that, adding additional body condition on a thin cow that has calved and is lactating can require large amounts of high-quality feeds to meet her in creased nutrient requirements.

According to recent weather forecasts, expect a wet and cold Nebraska winter. Although mois ture is welcome after another dry year, it can create issues with nu tritional management and cow body condition. When the effective temperature is below the animal’s lower critical temperature, the ani mal must increase heat production to maintain a con stant body tem perature. To pro duce more heat, a cow must either re ceive more energy from the feed ra tion or draw on her body stores. Seven days or more of cold, windy or wet

weather will increase cow energy requirements 10 to 30%. If hay or forage quality is good, intake will increase; however, the increased intake and overall energy intake may not meet requirements. With low-quality forage, cows will need additional energy supplementation during extreme weather. If cows are not fed enough during cold stress periods, they can easily drop a body condition score (BCS) in 30 days or less. Thin cows going into a wet, cold winter have less body condition or fat reserves available to help off set the lack of dietary energy. These types of cows will be more suscep tible to decreased performance and health of both them and subsequent offspring.

Current BCS of the cowherd de termines supplementation goals and strategies. Thin (BCS ≤ 4) or young cows can be sorted and fed sepa rately from the mature cowherd. This would allow for more strategic supplementation and decrease over all feed costs. Typically, a cow must gain 75 to 100 lb to increase 1 full BCS, but during late gestation that number increases to account for fe tal growth and placental weight.

T.L. Meyer, Nebraska Extension Educator

Travis Mulliniks, UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef beef.unl.edu

After weaning is a good time to note the body condition score (BCS) of the cowherd. Photo credit Troy Walz.

Cows in a BCS of 6 or slightly greater prior to winter influence the winter supplementation strate gy, too. This additional fat cover on the cow can be utilized as an energy supplement to offset potential ener gy deficiencies. However, this needs to be done mindfully, not allowing cows to lose too much BCS prior to calving.

At the end of the day, BCS is an insurance policy or risk manage ment. It is easier to stay ahead while maintaining adequate BCS than let ting cows slip and get behind. Get ting behind during late gestation and early lactation can decrease pregnancy rates and calf perfor mance.

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

Things to consider for winter management:

Match forage resources (ie., quality of feedstuffs) for each management group to minimize costs

Adjust supplemental energy for periods of cold stress, especially for thin cows

Courtesy University of NE - Lincoln, UNL Beef

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crossroads

By Cheryl Kepes photos courtesy Cheryl Linthicum

Cheryl Linthicum shares about her life apart from the cattle industry and why she came back.

left photo Jimmy (center) and Cheryl (right) in Sydney, Australia in 1992 with Mel Gibson (left). That day, Jimmy and Cheryl judged several of his cattle, including the bull “Prince Charles.” right photo Cheryl and Jimmy judging in Kansas City in 2020.

or most of her childhood Cheryl Linthicum stood in the shadow of a giant in the cattle industry. Starting at the age of 11, Cheryl served as the voice of her father, Jimmy Linthi cum, who was deaf, conveying his livestock judging reasons to audienc es at cattle shows across the country and world. But it wasn’t long before Cheryl stepped out of her father’s shadow and into a spotlight of her own.

By the time she was 18, fairs and breed associations were paying her to judge. Through the years, Cher yl has independently judged more than 400 cattle shows; including the steer show at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), the national Simmental and Scottish Highlander shows at the National Western Stock Show

(NWSS), junior national Hereford, Brangus, and Charolais shows, as well as the Canadian Western Agrib ition National Simmental Show. Ad ditionally, she has judged more than 500 cattle shows with her dad. Along the way, Cheryl has built the reputa tion of a venerable cattlewoman and livestock judge.

Most recently, Cheryl has emerged as the captain of JCL Red Angus. Her father’s passing in March, placed her solely in the driver’s seat of the cattle operation. But Cheryl was implicitly involved in JCL Red Angus long be fore she lost her father to cancer. In fact, the father-daughter duo decided to start the herd together seven years ago, as a sort of nod to the days they worked side-by-side during Cheryl’s younger years.

COWBOY BOOTS AND HIGH HEELS

Though well-known for her deep roots in agriculture, there is a side to Cheryl unknown to many people in the cattle industry. A side that wears a tailored business suit, three-inch heels, and travels the United States and overseas training and advising companies and government entities on U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and international accounting matters. The same Cher yl who rises before the sun to feed cattle, also rises before the sun to journey from a New York City highrise to an office skyscraper blocks away.

As comfortable and well-versed as she is giving reasons at hundreds of cattle shows through the years, she’s as equally at ease training people from all over the world on SEC re porting and international accounting guidelines. She’s a certified public accountant, holds a master’s degree in business, and a doctorate in inter

national accounting, with minors in finance and econometrics.

Her non-agriculture career has led her to jobs with the SEC in Wash ington D.C., KPMG accounting firm in New York City, and to a decades long teaching career as an account ing professor and eventually associ ate dean at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Additionally, Cher yl has worked as a consultant and facilitated international account

ing training for clients in the Unit ed States, England, Germany, and Switzerland. Today, she serves on the SEC Institute Advisory Board, based in New York.

Her educational and career pur suits charted a course that sailed her far from the family ranch in Welch, Oklahoma. Since graduating from high school she’s lived in California, Colorado, Texas, and New York.

below A view of part of Cheryl’s vertical commute when working in New York City – a dozen elevators and a kind elevator director. below Cheryl in New York on November 15, 2022.

nabove Cheryl judging the National Junior Hereford Heifer Show, Indianapolis, Ind., in 2010.

TWO WORLDS MELD

The demanding nature of SEC work and international accounting required a copious amount of time and travel forcing Cheryl to take a 15-year, nearly complete hiatus from judging, raising, and showing cattle. Nonetheless, during the time apart from the cattle industry, les sons deeply woven into her character from life on the ranch still emerged. Cheryl and her dad wrote, then text ed nearly every day.

The countless early mornings and late nights working without com plaint at the SEC and KPMG caught the attention of her coworkers. “The work ethic was something I was of ten complimented on, and I would look at people and think to myself, ‘You really don’t know my dad, do you? Because these are holiday hours compared to what I was doing with him,’” Cheryl Linthicum chuckled.

RETURN TO THE CATTLE BUSINESS

No matter where her travels car ried her, Cheryl’s heart never left the ranch in Welch. “What I have learned is that cattle are part of my DNA, they are a part of who I am. Cattle and the people in the livestock industry help keep me grounded in a way that nothing else has,” Cheryl explained.

In 2015, Cheryl returned to the ranch for Christmas and the conver sation with her dad landed on the two of them working together to develop a herd of cattle from scratch. Jimmy had held on to a few Limousin after his dispersal years earlier, but that was all the cattle he had.

Cheryl remembers their conversa tion like it was yesterday. “I will nev er forget this; it was Christmas and Dad and I were talking. And he said, ‘I love Limousin cattle, but the kids (Cheryl’s niece and nephew) even

tually want to sell their cattle and I would really like to get into another breed.’ And I said, ‘What breed are you thinking about Dad?’ And we talked about several breeds. Dad said, ‘You know the breed that I real ly think would work on this country that we are in is Red Angus.’ I said, ‘Well, let’s buy a few.’”

Over the next six months, Cheryl carved out time to scout the country for their first Red Angus purchase. “Our deal was that I would buy the first set of cattle and embryos and he would do the work,” Cheryl recalled. “It was a blast. I told Dad I will pay for everything for two years and then the cattle have to pay for themselves. That is virtually unheard of in a purebred business. He just looked at me and said, ‘I think we can do it.’ So, we worked really hard together.”

The father-daughter team knocked it out of the park. In just a handful of years, Cheryl and Jimmy built a

above Father-daughter time: Jimmy imparting his knowledge to Cheryl. She routinely references three binders full of notes from her dad.

championship Red Angus herd. Two years into their newly developed cat tle operation they owned six Red An gus, the cow herd grew to 62 head by year four, and by year six they had bred a national champion Red Angus bull, JCL POLO, and been honored at the Fort Worth Stock Show and American Royal as premier exhibitor and premier breeder.

UNSUSPECTING TURN

A few years into their Red Angus venture Jimmy was diagnosed with cancer. Prior to his diagnosis Cher yl had already started falling back into some of the rhythms of the cat tle operation. She purchased a 50acre farm, two miles from the home ranch and poured hours into budget ing, planning matings, and other re sponsibilities.

After her dad’s diagnosis, Cheryl settled into her farm in Welch as her primary residence during the sum mer. “When Dad first got sick, three

that summer. That was the point that I realized there is a rhythm to this life that I miss,” Cheryl shared.

For a time, the chemotherapy worked, and Jimmy’s cancer stayed at bay. Cheryl and Jimmy’s collabo ration forged ahead, and the Red An gus herd flourished. The two were having the time of their lives. But the ride came to a grinding halt last fall. “Dad found out that his cancer had come back in October and by the end of November he was in such bad shape he couldn’t go out to the barn, and most people don’t realize that,” Cheryl said.

left JCL Polo. below The entrance to Cheryl’s farm.

above and below Cheryl’s barn and farmhouse on her property.

above JCL Red Angus wins premier breeder and premier exhibitor at the American Royal.

NOTES FROM DAD

Once again, during the period of COVID, Cheryl stayed at her farm house in Welch. She rolled up her sleeves and went back to taking care of the cows and her dad. On the days he felt up to it, Jimmy started coaching Cheryl on all the details of the operation. “It is very humbling, to think you know a lot and then to come back and Dad had to reteach me. I had to relearn and learn anew because a lot of things had changed,” Cheryl stated. Once COVID subsid ed and classes went back in session, Cheryl took a leave to stay in Welch with her father and the ranch.

She started writing down every thing he told her, just like she had done as a kid taking notes on her small spiral memo pad when pre senting his judging reasons at cat tle shows. Jimmy documented his knowledge too. (Cheryl has three

tabbed binders full.) He started leav ing Cheryl notes around the show barn, feed bin, and office. “I still find notes everywhere. I opened a clipper box three weeks ago and Dad had left me a note deep in the box: ‘Cheryl, use blade 7112 or bevel edge comb when slicking heads and necks or slicking cows in the sum mer.’ He knew I wouldn’t know. And I found notes just like that at just the right place, at just the time I need ed them for the last seven months,” Cheryl added.

JCL RED ANGUS

During some of her most difficult days, Cheryl found herself falling into her father’s tendencies. “The cattle have saved me in the last year. As sick as Dad was, and as hard as this has been, those cattle are my sal vation,” Cheryl shared. “There were days that Dad was so sick, and after he passed away, that I would go out to the barn. Dad was notorious for walking in a pen with a comb and just combing on a heifer or one of his favorite bulls, and I found myself do ing that with my favorites.”

Running the ranch and balancing her international accounting career has tak en a toll. But she has found strength and growth in this journey that’s guided her to lean on others for support. Many people

above Jimmy loved combing his show barn favorites.

below One of Jimmy’s many notes left for Cheryl.

have stepped to help Cheryl at the ranch. Additionally, Cheryl hired Trycen King as a fulltime herdsman last spring to assist with daily oper ations at JCL Red Angus. “Trycen is with JCL because of Dad – the two had forged a strong bond before his passing,” Cheryl said.

Currently, 60 momma cows com prise the JCL Red Angus herd. JCL Red Angus continues with its orig inal purpose of raising show calves for juniors and improving the quality of the Red Angus breed.

A CROSSROADS

But now Cheryl stands at a cross roads. Offers to buy part or all of JCL Red Angus continue to come her way. She knows her life will nev er be the same yet, she embraces the many avenues set before her. What path she will choose remains uncer tain.

Though Cheryl is still mulling over what her future will look like, there is one thing she knows for sure. The choice she made to root herself in Welch these past few years was the best decision of her life. “I would not trade that solid year and a half that I had with my dad for anything.

I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Cheryl shared. “And if somebody told me that this was my last day on earth and asked me what I was the most proud of, that I had the most satisfaction from doing, it’s not from getting a Ph.D., it’s not from work ing in New York, it’s not from trav eling to London business class every two months for years, it’s coming back to Welch and spending that year and a half with Dad. Nothing else touches it.”

learn more jclredangus.com

Seeds in Season

Functional forage and pasture.

RESEEDING POTHOLE ACRES FOR MORE FORAGE OPPORTUNITY

As the year progressed, we not only watched our grass supply shrink, but we also observed our water supply in creeks and dug outs disappear. Now that the wa ter has dissipated from low-lying land, barren ground is left behind. Areas like these, that have the po tential to support grass growth, are providing the opportunity for more grazable acres. If these areas don’t have standing water annually, I rec ommend seeding them.

Acres like these tend to have two scenarios that lead to different

seeding recommendations: the pot hole acres that are mucky and salty, and the low-lying areas that have ponding water for extended periods of time. Both have unique charac teristics that require different grass species.

The mucky, salty soils require grasses that can tolerate a high pH, both wet and dry soil condi tions, and saline soils. The most suitable grasses to overcome these challenges are wheatgrasses. Gen erally, wheatgrasses are tough, durable forage grasses that grow

in a wide variety of conditions. The hybrid Green Wheatgrass variety, AC Saltand er, has proved to work best here. Not only will it survive the conditions, but it’s one of the high er-quality grasses when it comes to grazing or hay ing.

In addition to the Green Wheatgrass, I recommend mixing in Tall Wheatgrass, Intermediate Wheatgrass, and

contributed article by Justin Fruechte, Forage & Cover Crop Specialist Millborn Seeds, Brookings, S.D. millbornseeds.com

Western Wheatgrass.

Out of those three, Tall Wheatgrass will grow the best here, but is a very poor-quality grass that cattle tend to turn their nose up at. Inter mediate Wheatgrass is high yielding and drought tolerant with fair tolerance to saline soils.

Western Wheat grass will be very long lived when it’s established, and the cattle love it, though it may fade with too much ponding wa ter. The pot hole areas that tend to hold wa ter in the spring af

ter snow melts, but dry out in the summer, are candidates for reseed ing. The forage grasses that particu larly like water are Garrison Creep ing Foxtail, Reed Canary, Red Top, and Timothy. Garrison Creeping Foxtail is an early maturing cool season that’ll stay viable under wa ter for nearly 30 days. It’s an excel lent quality grass and does creep or spread like its name suggests.

Livestock producers often have a love/hate relationship with Reed Canary grass, as it’s high yielding and will grow alongside of cat tails in water, but it becomes very unpalatable as it matures. In fact, the wild growing plants have high alkaloid levels that make it unde sirable for grazing. Red Top is a mid-height, lower yielding grass that isn’t as aggressive as Reed Ca nary or Creeping Foxtail. Timothy is predominantly used for quali ty hay production. Keep in mind with Timothy that it will thrive in high-quality soil with abundant moisture but won’t perform well if

water pools over it for more than a couple weeks.

Anytime you’re reseeding grass, it’s best to use a combination of multiple species. This will ensure that your mixture is protected against a variety of growing con ditions and provides continuous growth for your livestock through out the year.

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.

SD 605-697-6306

Photos courtesy Millborn Seeds learn more millbornseeds.com

Veterinarian View

SUPEROVULATION BASICS

One of the most common ques tions we get is, “Why won’t my do nor flush better?” It’s a pretty sim ple question that encompasses a lot of complex issues.

SUPEROVULATION PROCESS

Probably the first thing to address is what is going on when we super ovulate a donor. The ovaries are very dynamic organs that change from day-to-day. Cows will have waves of follicles develop every 7 to 10 days. During the middle part of a

21-day cycle these follicular waves start out with a group of follicles, but they regress as one follicle be comes dominate and continues to develop.

The same thing happens at the end of the 21-day cycle, but the dominate follicle will continue to grow as the corpus luteum re gresses and will be the follicle that ovulates when the cow comes into heat. The purpose of stimulating a cow with FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) is to recruit the small fol licles that are present in the current

wave of follicles during the middle of her 21-day cycle. So, knowing these basics, here is what we can do better to improve her response.

IMPROVING RESPONSE

1. Examine ovaries with an ul trasound 1 to 2 days before starting her on FSH. If a cow has a cyst or a dominate follicle present at the time you want to start FSH, the response will be poor. Dominate follicles have a suppressive effect on the oth er smaller follicles and will usually result in poorer response.

The best way to correct this is to do a dominate follicle removal (DFR) if needed with an aspiration probe at the time of the ultrasound exam. This immediately removes the effects of the dominate follicle, allows smaller follicles to continue developing, and will help improve odds of a better result.

2. Genetics can play a large role. When doing ultrasound examina tions of cows, you can get some idea of what kind of follicular re serves a donor has. On cows with large responses

Health & Reproduction questions answered and explained.

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

Improving donors’ response to flushing.

you usually see lots of little follicles sitting under the surface of an ova ry. The cows with poorer responses won’t have these follicular reserves present.

Cows that have typically good responses to superovulation will usually have daughters that also respond well. The same holds true with poor responders, their daugh ters usually aren’t large responders. When giving FSH you can only re cruit follicles that are available to recruit.

3. Nutrition has to be right. Fol licular dynamics are heavily de pendent on proper nutrition.

Make sure that the donors are get ting proper amounts of trace min erals and vitamins. We prefer that chelates are used in the mineral to improve absorption. A lot of com plex enzyme reactions occur during follicular development and depend on trace minerals and vitamins.

The main source of energy in the diet should be from fiber-based en ergy sources. When concentrates increase in a ration, the response to superovulation is usually reduced. For a cow’s reproductive physiol ogy to be right, her rumen has to

be right. If a cow’s nutrition has not been right, it can take several months on an improved diet for her to get back into a good physiologi cal state.

These are probably the top three things we look at when trying to im prove response to superovulation. learn more collisonembryoservices.com

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

Join us in our current series to debunk the misconceptions perpetuated against agriculture!

101Agvocation

By Hilary Rossow

The case for omnivores.

The final installment of The Stockman’s series, Agvocation 101, examines concerns some consumers express regarding production agri culture.

OMNIVORES

Human bodies are designed to eat meat as well as plant material. Sharp canine teeth and a monogastric di gestive system are clear indicators of this fact. However, there are many reasons a person may choose a veg an diet or lifestyle.

Health concerns such as Type 2 diabetes, gallbladder issues, or high cholesterol can sometimes be mitigated by a vegan diet. Howev er, many vegans adopted a no-an imal-product diet because of their concerns about animal welfare or environmental impact.

There are different types of vege tarian diets. Vegan diets have no red meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy, or eggs. Variations include those adopting a plant-based diet that may contain dairy, eggs, or fish.

Part 3

POULTRY AND EGGS

The poultry industry comes un der fire for its concentrated animal farming operation (CAFO) housing. Birds are raised in cages for meat and eggs. From some consumers perspectives, this may seem cruel and inferior to a cage-free or freerange situation. However, chickens and turkeys specifically have can nibalistic tendencies, and keeping birds separated or in small groups ensure the health and safety of the animals. Feed and water can also be monitored more closely to watch feed intake for possible health is sues. Eggs can be collected effi ciently with fewer damaged eggs when hens are kept in cages.

Additionally, poultry barns are well ventilated and climate con

trolled to ensure the health of the birds and humans inside the build ings. Sick and underperforming animals are a labor and financial burden to producers, so ensuring a safe, healthy environment is a top priority for animal owners across all species.

Lastly, many people do not real ize that chickens lay eggs even if they are not fertilized. Proper nu trition ensures the health of the bird and nutritional value of the egg.

MILK

Concerns some consumers have with consuming cow’s milk cen ter on additives and possible con tamination. According to the food science department at Cornell Uni versity, all raw milk is tested before

it is picked up at dairy farms and before it is unloaded at the process ing facility. Milk must be free of pathogens, antibiotics, pests, and other foreign material, or it will be rejected. Not only will the producer not receive money for that milk, but the producer may also be fined, and future loads penalized.

MEAT

As farmers and ranchers, the care and health of the animals left in their care is of high importance. Animals produce food either with their offspring, their eggs, or their milk. When they are no longer able to produce these, they enter the food chain themselves. Much research has been done and many stringent rules have been implemented by the

FDA to ensure animals are treated in the most humane way until their last breath.

Conversely, very few animals are given a painless death in na ture. Disease, predators, pests, and natural disasters are all pain ful and possibly preventable ends animals in nature face. Producers have many tools at their disposal to combat these issues and ensure the health and longevity of each animal in their care. If animal agriculture were abolished, the animals would still exist, but their existence may contain pain, disease, and pest in festation.

REPRODUCTION

Even if animals were not kept in captivity, nature dictates that they reproduce. Hormone changes in the female body make her recep tive to the male, the male senses these changes, and they mate. Na ture itself shows us this is true in the baby raccoons, deer, birds, and other critters seen in the wild. Hu mans intervene by providing a safe, disease-mitigating environment that also ensure the best traits are captured and undesirable ones are eliminated.

FIBER

One exceptional talent cattle have is the ability to turn fiber that is in edible and unusable to humans into delicious, nutritious beef and milk. Humans cannot digest forages and most parts of grain. Cattle, howev er, convert grass, hay, and haylage into highly nutritious muscle. Most pasture terrain is unfit for large scale human habitation because of the terrain but is ideal in many cas es for maintaining cow/calf pairs as well as sheep.

Many byproducts of other ag riculture industries are readily consumable and highly nutritious to beef and dairy cattle. Ethanol plants use corn for biodiesel and ethanol, and the corn gluten meal and distillers grains (wet and dry) are exceptionally high in total di gestible nutrients (TDN) and would be wasted if not for animal agricul ture. Additionally, byproducts like cottonseed meal, beet pulp, and peanut byproducts are all high in TDN, but have no other large com mercial use.

MANURE

Manure from concentrated ani mal feeding operations (CAFOs) is easily accessed and high in nitro gen and phosphorus that is readily absorbed by plants. This increas es the amount of topsoil as well as its nutrient content ensuring its longevity. Farmers with access to manure can generally decrease the dollars spent on inputs to grow crops by saving on chemicals need ed to augment the nutrients in their fields’ soil. Additionally, manure is one of few fertilizers that can be used in organic farming, according to the USDA.

NUTRITION

Tofu is bean curd. It is prepared by coagulating soy milk then press ing those curds into a solid block with varying degrees of squishi ness. Tofu contains high levels of manganese and calcium and is a fa vorite of many vegetarians as a pro tein source. Conversely, beef is a great source of iron, zinc, vitamins B3, B5, B6, and B12 as well as pro tein, according to the National Cat tlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

vs.

INFORM

People making a living in produc tion agriculture do not take the an imals they raise for granted. Their health is of paramount importance. Decades of research has shown the most humane ways to treat these animals from birth to slaughter.

Agriculture is facing fire daily worldwide from uninformed activ ists armed with assumptions about

an industry they know little about. Finding ways to educate others in a non-confrontational way with facts is key. Encouraging peers in agri culture to do their own research and arm themselves with hard truths about food safety and nutrition while also pointing out the humane and compassionate care given these animals will help ensure the future of animal agriculture.

learn more from our resources: 1. www.ncba.org 2. www.usda.gov 3. www.foodscience.cornell.edu

Category 18 - Technical Article ‘Self-Care for You and Others’ by B. Lynn Gordon March 2021

FIRST PLACE

Category 26 - In-depth reporting (single) Seedstock Marketing - 2020 and Beyond, 1 and 2, by B. Lynn Gordon January and February 2021

FIRST PLACE

Category 28 - Miscellaneous Writing

‘Unsung Heroes of the Seedstock Industry,’ by B. Lynn Gordon February, March, April 2021

FIRST PLACE

Category 34 - Two page ad design Ad for Wall Street Cattle Co., by Makayla Flower October 2021 subscribe for free at stockmanmag.com/subscribe

In our third year of participation, The Stockman is thrilled to announce the following Livestock Publications Council 2022 Awards Contest:

I grew up as a fifth generation farm kid on my dad’s family century farm near Wolverton, Minn. Living right on the border we farmed land on both sides of the Red River. In my time growing up we raised sugar beets, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, alfalfa hay, and a few years had some sunflowers and edible beans. We always had livestock, starting out with sheep and hogs, and moved on to Angus cattle. The cattle side of the business developed into Nord Angus Farms. We helped my mom every year with National Ag week displays and demonstrations as well as ag in the classroom. We brought many farm animals into the schools and had field trips to the farm which we loved because we got to stay home and help. As we got older, we became more involved in breeding and exhibiting purebred Angus cattle. We started with a 4-H heifer and each year we bred them and bought another heifer and built our herd. Today we have cattle sold throughout the country. We sell show and breeding heifers,

I currently reside just west of Valley City, N.D., with my husband, Dan. I work for North Dakota Farm Bureau as their Southeast Field Representative. I spend many hours on the road visiting with farmers and ranchers about the future of agriculture. I also enjoy learning about the different policy issues within the state. In addition, I dedicate time to a va riety of professional and community organizations. When I am not on the road for work, I am usually head ed down the interstate to another cattle show. I also enjoy camping, fishing, Bison tailgating, and spending time with my family and my corgis Gemma, Finnegan, and

What is your favorite cooking tip/trick?

To get the fat off any meat broths, etc., refrig erate for a few hours so the broth hardens on top and can be easily removed.”

What is your least favorite job in the Going out to buy all the ingredients.”

What dish do you request the most?

Anything that involves chocolate. I have a huge sweet tooth and anyone who knows me knows that is the way to my heart!”

print Alisha’s recipes at: www.stockmanmag.com

What is your favorite thing to make?

I grew up making lefse, especially around the holidays. Lefse makes me think of home, and all the years I grew up with family around making it. Anyone that has made lefse before, knows that it can also be frustrating. I was lucky to have the “special touch” of rolling and flipping the dough.” “

Where did you learn to cook?

“

I learned to cook at home with my mom. We also watched cooking shows growing up.

SLOPPY JOES

Alisha Nord Donnelly

1 ½ lbs. extra-lean ground beef

½ onion, diced

1 green pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 c. water, divided ¾ c. ketchup

2 T. brown sugar

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 ½ tsp. salt, or to taste

½ tsp. ground black pepper

1 dash Worcestershire sauce

1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Place ground beef and onion in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir until beef is browned and crumbled, about 10 minutes. Stir in green pepper and garlic; cook and stir until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup water and stir, scraping the pan to dissolve any brown flavor bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Add remaining 1 cup water and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid has evaporated and mixture is thick, about 40 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne pepper.

OVEN BARBECUED BEEF BRISKET

Alisha Nord Donnelly

3 ½ lb. fresh beef brisket, if larger adjust other ingredients

¾ c. water

½ c. chopped onion, 1 med.

3 T. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. cider vinegar or white wine vinegar

1 T. chili powder

1 tsp. instant beef bouillon granules

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ c. bottled BBQ sauce

Trim fat from meat. Place meat in a 13x9x2 baking pan. In a small bowl stir together water, onion, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, chili powder, bouillon granules, cayenne pep per, and garlic. Pour over meat. Cover with foil. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 3 hours or until tender, turning once. Remove meat and discard juices. Thinly slice meat across the grain. Serve with any barbecue sauce.

LEFSE

10 pounds potatoes, peeled ½ c. butter 1/3 c. heavy cream

1 T. salt

1 T. white sugar 2 ½ c. all-purpose flour

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until ten der, about 20 minutes then drain. Run hot potatoes through a potato ricer into a large bowl. Beat butter, cream, salt, and sugar into riced potatoes. Let cool to room temperature. Stir flour into potato mixture to form a soft dough. Pull off pieces of dough and form into walnut-sized balls. Lightly flour a clean cloth and roll out lefse balls to 1/8 inch thick. Heat a griddle over high heat. Cook lefse on the hot griddle until brown blisters form, about 1 minute per side. Place cooked lefse on a damp towel to cool slightly. Repeat with remaining dough, stacking them on top of each other as they’re cooked; cover until ready to serve.

ANNUAL SALE:

First Friday in February - Belfield, N.D.

Alisha Nord Donnelly

Sale Barn Study

WEATHER BUT HOT

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 excit ed 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 wa ters and/or sick cattle. Either way, it is safe to say that winter is upon us!

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!

HOLDS STEADY INTO

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

s I write my monthly article my computer says it is 32 degrees out side. Mary and I have decided it is time to pull out the snowpants and boots for the kids and get the winter clothing around for us to do chores. It will only be six weeks before we are taking shifts at night checking on the heifers that are due to calve the first of the year. It is hard to be lieve we are at that point of the year again and it seems a little early to be bundling up! Well, hopefully it is just a little cold spell and not a sign of things to come. Anyway, let’s look at what we are seeing in the barns.

On the fat cattle side of things, we have seen a steady increase ev ery week in the market over the past couple of months, it also appears that we have hit a bit of a plateau. The cash market in the country hovers in the low $1.50s. We have been seeing some hard, long time fed, high probability of being prime cattle, bringing in the high 50s and low 60s through the barns. With the bullish fat cattle market over the past couple of years, look for the slow and steady rise to contin ue throughout the winter into the spring.

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

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

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).

MINNESOTA BEEF EXPO WELCOMES CATTLE PRODUCERS AND YOUTH LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS TO

ST. PAUL

ST. PAUL , Minn. – The Min nesota Beef Expo welcomed cat tle producers and youth livestock exhibitors back to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Oct. 20-23, 2022. This four-day event cele brating and promoting the beef in dustry is the largest all-breed beef show in Minnesota that includes youth contests, cattle sales, a trade show, educational seminars, and a junior show where more than 600 exhibitors from across the Midwest showcased approximately 1,000 head of cattle.

The Expo kicked off Thursday, Oct. 20, with a youth knowledge bowl testing participants’ beef in dustry understanding. In the se nior division, Rachael Dose, Lydia Rose, Nicole Sievert and Mitchell Olson took home first. In the in termediate division Marshall Held berg, Ella Doehling, Landin Rose and Kelly Willegal were champi ons. And in the junior division, first place winners were Molly Muel ler, Caleb Klehr, Eli Doehling and Kathryn Rose.

pare their cattle for the show ring. Following the seminar 12 teams competed for champion fitting hon ors in the annual Sullivan Supply fitting contest. The champion team consisted of Jace Taylor, Charlie Frieman, Tyler DeGroot and Mat thew Friemann.

Finally on Thursday evening, youth exhibitors and cattle pro ducers gathered for the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program’s (MYBEP) Ideas & Insights Sym posium where attendees learn from industry professionals and a celeb rity, keynote speaker. This year’s keynote speaker was Katey Jo Gor don, winner of season two of the Ultimate Cowboy Showdown.

Friday’s schedule offered a judg ing contest where participants com peted in four age categories for top prizes. In the senior division, Jill Schoenfeld was the top individ ual and Team Simmy was the top team. In the intermediate division, the champion individual was Ken nedy Rolfsmeier, and the champion team was The Beef Brats. Chan ning Lind took home top individual honors in the junior division, and Dakota County was the top team. And finally, Marie Prodell was the individual champion in the adult division.

nah Wetzel and Luke Bjorklund.

The Supreme Row Show and Sale, consisting of 78 lots, was held Saturday, Oct. 22. Supreme Row Champions took home $6,750 in prize money thanks to sponsors Agri-Media Livestock Group, Min nesota Farm Guide, Purina Animal Nutrition, Optimizer Calf Gel and Rabo AgriFinance.

Thursday also brought the Sulli van Supply Stock Show Universi ty Fitting Seminar where experts taught youth how to clip and pre

Friday’s youth activities ended with an exciting junior showman ship contest judged by Kelli Ander son and Jeana Hurlbut. Champions in their respective divisions were Adalyn Pfaff, Hannah Thome, Na talie Marshall, Aiden Hiniker, Han

The Supreme Row Champion Fe male was a WP BARBARA 203, consigned by Windy Pine Cattle, Woodville, Wis., and purchased by Julianne Putzke, Rice Lake, Wis. Reserve Supreme Row Champi on Female honors went to a Peine Sweet Ability 229K consigned by Peine Cattle Company, Hastings, Minn., and purchased by McKen na Cleveringa, Alton, Iowa. The Supreme Row Champion Steer was Hamilton, consigned by Kennedy Rolfsmeier, Brandt, S.D., and pur chased by Macey Miller, Mandan, N.D. The Reserve Supreme Row Champion Steer was JC Blackjack 267 consigned by Jared Carlson,

In the News

Pipestone, Minn., and purchased by Audrey Redalen, Fountain, Minn. The high seller was Peine Sweet Ability 229K consigned by Peine Cattle Company, Hastings, Minn., purchased by McKenna Cleverin ga, Alton, Iowa, for $15,750.

After an intensive application process, participants in the Min nesota Youth Beef Experience Pro gram (MYBEP) were awarded heif ers on Saturday afternoon. Each winner is responsible for raising, breeding and maintaining complete records on care of the animal, while providing monthly progress reports to the original owner and the Min nesota Beef Expo. The breeders who donated heifers will also serve as mentors to the respective win ners.

The 2022 MYBEP heifer recipi ents are:

▶ Taylor Wolf of Cleveland, Minn., received an Angus heifer donated by Scharpe Angus, Jim and Myrna Scharpe, Matt and Gwen Scharpe, and Katelyn Scharpe of Arlington, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Angus Association.

▶ Zachary Orthaus of Hugo, Minn., received a Charolais heifer donated by Eklund Stock Farm of Cambridge, Minn., on behalf of the MN/WI Charolais Association.

▶ Aubree Paplow of Sanborn, Minn., received a Charolais heifer donated by the Minnesota/Wiscon sin Charolais Association and will be mentored by Chad Zehnder.

▶ Alison George of Mondovi, Wis., received a Hereford heifer donated by Neil Farms, Steve and Keely Neil and family of Northfield Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Hereford Breeders.

▶ Owen Thomforde of Zumbro ta, Minn., received a Red Angus heifer donated by Compeer Finan

cial and will be mentored by Steve Pomerenke.

▶ Briley Olsonawski of Newfold en, Minn., received a Shorthorn heifer donated by Bayerl Family Farm, Scott, Carrie, Randilynn and Mackenzie Bayerl of Kimball, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association.

▶ Connor Wilts of Kerkhoven, Minn., received a Simmental heifer donated by Rockin H Simmentals, Matt, Holly, Taten, Maxten and Eli Hoffman of Canby, Minn., on be half of the Minnesota Simmental Association.

▶ Lydia Rose of Henderson, Minn., received a Simmental heif er donated by Mueller Farms, Jim and Stacie Mueller and family of Arlington, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association.

▶ Brady Mitchell of Detroit Lakes, Minn., received a South Devon heifer donated by the Sadler Cattle Company, Jim Sadler and Gail Johnson of Anoka, Minn., on behalf of the Northern States South Devon Association.

▶ Brenden Bryce of Lowry, Minn., received the MYBEP Sym posium heifer donated by the Min nesota State Cattlemen’s Associa tion and will be mentored by Mark Pesek.

Finally, during Saturday and Sunday’s highly competitive junior shows, approximately 1,000 head of cattle were sorted by Jon De Clerck of College Station, Texas, and Cheramie Viator pf Tomball, Texas. Supreme Champion Female honors went to Austin Foss of Saint Ansgar, Iowa with his Angus heif er. Reserve Supreme Champion Female went to Luke Bjorklund of Henning, Minn., with his Red An gus heifer.

Jace Taylor of Blue Earth, Minn.,

and Shelby Robinson of Richmond, Ohio, had the Champion and Re serve Champion Prospect Calves, respectively. Jimmy Tibbetts of Mineral Point, Wis., exhibited the Supreme Champion Market Beef, and Ethan Lulich of Lyndon Sta tion, Wis., showed the Reserve Su preme Champion Market Beef.

The 2023 Minnesota Beef Expo will be held Oct. 19-22, at the Min nesota State Fairgrounds. For fur ther information on the Minnesota Beef Expo, a listing of complete results or high-resolution photos please contact Blaire Huneke at blaire.huneke@mnstatefair.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION: KEEPING COWS MATERNAL

A cow that can have a calf all on her own has become so common place it’s a trait that’s easy to take for granted.

“One of our biggest success sto ries is calving ease. Obviously tracking calving dystocia events at birth and weighing those calves have allowed Angus to have a lot of success in the calving ease debate,” says Kelli Retallick-Riley, president of Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI®).

But the “maternal” discussion is far more complex than a healthy live birth, she says, and seedstock producers are using more data and

In the News

(...continued)

knowledge to create better dams each year.

Retallick-Riley joined breeders Chad Denowh, Gartner-Denowh Angus, and Joe Lowe, Oak Hollow Angus, on The Angus Conversa tion podcast to discuss what it takes to have cows that work where they live and work further down the line.

“The cows are kind of the em ployee,” Lowe says. “They have to show up. It’s our job to take care of the cow. It is the cow’s job to take care of the calf.” He and his father raise Angus seedstock near Smiths Grove, Kentucky, where they use both genomics and phenotype to select for good mothers.

“If they can walk, if they can slick off and they can breed — those are the three non-starters if they don’t in our environment,” he says, noting many of his customers deal with fescue pressure.

Both he and Denowh have been early adopters of programs that help turn data into answers, such as the American Angus Association’s Maternal Plus record keeping sys tem.

“We want the cows to look the part first and foremost, but they also have to have the structure, the leg structure, the udder structure, to hold up and stay in these herds for a long amount of time,” says Denowh, who is the sixth genera tion on his family’s Sidney, Mon tana, ranch. “Everybody up in this country culls their open cows, and if they don’t stay in the herd, they don’t make you money.”

His family adopted the An gus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) program when it came out in the 1970s, so they have more than 50 years of trends to draw on.

“We work a lot with efficiency and raising a good calf in a timely

manner,” Denowh says.

Both cattlemen work at having a calf crop that is in demand, no mat ter the intended marketing.

“There’s a lot of guys that don’t think you can have maternal and carcass together — sure you can, it just takes longer,” Denowh says.

Sometimes that means not us ing the top carcass bull if it doesn’t meet certain maternal parameters. He’s seen mature cow weights stay moderate while pushing growth and he’s made improvements in calving ease while also improving marbling.

“I don’t think they’re antagonis tic at all, any of the traits. I think you just have to find out which traits are most important to you and have a program and stick to it,” De nowh says.

The best cows are those you hardly notice.

“Everyone says the best cow’s the one you don’t know she’s there until she’s six, and you look down and she’s got two daughters in the herd,” Lowe observes.

Retallick-Riley and her team at AGI continues to use the Associa tion’s database — the largest single beef breed database in the world — to find ways to better characterize maternal genetics. That will allow them to create additional selection tools, such as cow fertility or re gionally adapted expected progeny differences (EPDs).

Since calving ease EPDs came out in 2005, the breed has steadily added additional traits that aid in cow herd selection, such as docili ty, heifer pregnancy, hair shed, foot angle and claw set.

“We’ve been spoiled because we have great members who re ally take care of their cow herd. They cull hard,” Retallick-Riley

says. “They really get rid of those problem animals in those problem areas, but we’re here to help them figure out which animals they need to remove from the herd sooner, and that’s really where our genetic tools can come in.”

To listen to the whole conver sation on maternal function, sub scribe to The Angus Conversation on your favorite podcast platform or visit TheAngusConversation. com.

– Written by Miranda Reiman, Angus Media FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2023 HEREFORD

FEEDOUT PROGRAM ACCEPTING ENROLLMENTS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There is only one way to know how ge netics perform in the feedlot and on the rail — follow them through the finishing period and the packing house. That’s the impetus behind the American Hereford Association (AHA) Hereford Feedout Program (HFP).

“I think it’s the best, most reli able way of acquiring actual car cass data and performance of your cattle,” says Tom Heidt of K7 Her efords, Lockridge, Iowa. “It was a chance to compare my calves with others from across the country.”

Heidt enrolled cattle in the 2022

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HFP for the first time. “The data verified the points I’m emphasizing in my breeding program,” he says.

Heidt’s cattle were above pen average for average daily gain, car cass weight and marbling. There was an outlier, though, one that didn’t achieve expectations. “That data aids me in making a cow cull ing decision,” he says.

Likewise, Lee Elzemeyer, a Her eford breeder from Richmond, Ind., explains, “I enrolled cattle because I wanted to get the carcass data back and attribute how those cattle per form going back to their dam and sire. As a producer it is important for us to know which animals pro duce the highest quality meat while also looking at other traits that can add premiums to the final product.” Elzemeyer participated in the HFP for the second time last year.

“Anyone in the beef business is in the carcass business because they all end up on the rail. If you’re not paying attention to carcass data, I think the time will come that you’ll be left behind,” Heidt says.

The HFP, facilitated by HRC

Feed Yards, Scott City, Kan., en ables Hereford breeders and their commercial customers to send as few as five head to put on feed and discover how they perform. When finished, these cattle are marketed to National Beef Packing Compa ny, LLC as candidates for Certified Hereford Beef.

HRC Feed Yards also feeds cat tle for the National Junior Here ford Association (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout, which provides similar performance discovery for juniors, in addition to an educational pro gram about the cattle feeding and beef packing sectors.

Enrollments in the 2022 pro grams totaled 761 head from par ticipants in 21 states.

“From the beginning our goal has been to provide breeders and junior members the opportunity to better understand the cattle feeding industry through a real-world expe rience,” explains Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs. “The information participants re ceive on their cattle has become a foundation for the future success

of the Hereford breed as producers strive to breed cattle that will per form for commercial producers.”

To participate in the 2023 pro grams, participants are encouraged to enroll by November 1, 2022. All cattle will be delivered to HRC Feed Yards from December 10 –14, 2022. To properly prepare cattle for the feedlot, interested partici pants are encouraged to review and follow the suggested preparation protocol developed by HRC Feed Yards.

More information, the enroll ment form and the specific protocol for the Hereford Feedout Program can be found here, https://hereford. org/genetics/breed-improvement/ feedout-program/. To learn more about the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout visit https://hereford.org/youth/ njha-fed-steer-shootout/.

Contact Trey Befort, tbefort@ herefordbeef.org or Lee Mayo, Gen eral Manager at HRC Feed Yards, lee@hrcfeedyards.com with any questions about the programs.

STOCKMAN traight

About the Stockman.

Our family has a long history in agriculture. The family ag ricultural operation was established in 1892 focusing on beef cattle and crop production. The beef division started with Shorthorns and has grown into four breeds: Shorthorn, Polled Hereford, Angus, and Red Angus. Within that growth, our ge netics have expanded our horizons into Argentina and Uruguay. Our philosophy is raising production-ori ented cattle that can go to the show. We utilize advanced technologies throughout our operation. Fair Acres Stock Farms has export compliant production and international sales of elite Angus embryos. Our business markets genetics throughout the United States and Canada, as well to other parts of the world including Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Australia, Ka zakhstan, Russia, Denmark, China, South Africa, and Uganda.”

Working with down-to- earth and hardworking people, while we add technology with real world production.”

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

Golf, golf, and golf.”

What is your least favorite job on the farm?

They all need to be done, I don’t dwell on the negatives.”

What about the beef cattle industry excites you the most?

A conversation with everyday Stockmen,

Lynn Ewald Waldorf, Minn.

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

I have learned to enjoy the quality of agriculture life and the importance of taking responsibili ty for one’s actions. Also, being proud of the fact that I am part of the food supply chain needed for humanity.”

Your go-to sorting apparatus?

Panels, staff, and good neigh bors.”

LEAVE Potranca 1015 ET. She was the 2017 champion female and supreme champion in Palermo, Argentina that went on to be named champion of the world. The heifer calf at her side when she won in 2017 came out and showed as a two-year-old pair and was named 2020 champion of the world. Also, Jensen Virtual 003 FAF FCC. He was the grand champion bull at the 2021 Iowa and Minnesota State Fairs as well as supreme champion over all breeds at the Minnesota State Fair.” Most used tool on your farm and how old is it?

2021 John Deere Gator used in both the cattle and crop production.”

Describe your best day.

Each day I wake up looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. A job well done brings me satisfaction and puts a smile on my face.”

learn more www.fairacresstockfarms.com

UPCOMING SALES:

Private treaty sales, and annual fall online show heifer sale.

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