Published: November 07, 2008 09:54 am            

Minnesota Beef Expo a full learning experience

Originally published in the Oct. 31, 2008, print edition.

The Minnesota Beef Expo has shown growth every year since its inception in 1999, though that growth is slowing, according to Superintendent Mark Goodrich. This year’s show grew 5 percent, down from the 20-percent annual increase in prior years.

“Some of the issues in the cattle industry, especially with neighboring Wisconsin, perhaps held our numbers down this year,” said Goodrich, reporting on the Oct. 16-19 event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Despite that trend, there was no slow down in the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience program. In fact, the Minnesota Beef Expo bills it as the largest youth-oriented beef industry event in the Midwest.

“We have 350 to 450 youth participating in our Youth Experience part of Beef Expo. It’s a tremendous educational opportunity and I know it has been key to several young people starting in the beef industry with plans to make this their career,” Goodrich said. A real plus for the youth is the mentorship they get from experienced beef industry people, both from the farm and industry. “Spend two to three days at this event and there’s just a whole lot of learning going on, some of it directly from the young experience seminar Oct. 16,” he said.

This year’s youth seminar featured six different 90-minute sessions.

• Quality Assurance, included proper handling of vaccine and herd health protocol with Conrad Kvamme, Minnesota Beef Council consultant.

• Ryon Walker on livestock handling, fencing, transportation and safety.

• Alfredo DiCostanza, “Beef It’s What’s for Dinner” talking safe cooking methods, types of beef cuts, meat handling and general nutrition information.

• Ryan Cox and Pete Nelson, covered beef cattle genetics, breed differences, reproduction and artificial insemination program information.

• Dar Geiss, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, and Lori Schott, University of Minnesota Beef Center on Financials, how to apply for a Farm Service Agency starter loan and livestock leasing information.

• Grant Crawford, nutritional requirements for a beef herd, from weaning to the adult animal.

A highlight of the youth seminar was two past winners of MYBEP heifers talking about how the program changed their lives getting them started to developing their own cattle herd.

“We’re now up to almost 30 heifers that have been donated by various breeders to give to young people. We can be really proud here in Minnesota to have this youth program and to have breeders so generous that they donate heifers to help young people get started in the beef industry,” Goodrich said.

Now five years old, this heifer donation program was generated to get a heifer from each breed and also a commercial heifer to be donated to the Minnesota Beef Expo. Each student-applicant is interviewed.

“But it’s more than just getting the heifer. The Expo creates the mentorship with the student-winner so there is experience readily available for feeding, breeding and management. The recipients keep the heifer for a year bringing their animals to next year’s expo where the student presents his/her records on the animal and all activities for the past year. Each student and animal then competes in the show ring. It’s a total learning experience,” Goodrich said.

At this year’s expo, heifers were awarded to these youth.

• Adam Anderson from Springfield. An Angus heifer donated by Freeburg Ridge Farm, Joe Hammell, Caledonia, on behalf of the Minnesota Angus Association.

• Megan Schoenbauer, New Prague, a Charolais heifer donated by Highview Charolais Farm, Carter Feuchtenberger, Morris, on behalf of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Charolais Association.

• Evan James VanDerWal, Sanborn, a Hereford heifer donated by Frederickson Hereford Farm, Mark, Mary Kay and Sarah Frederickson, Starbuck, on behalf of the Minnesota Hereford Breeders.

• Crystal Bosek, Garfield, a Limousin heifer donated by Herman Farms, Chris Herman, Hastings, on behalf of the Minnesota Limousin Association.

• Cody Fitzgerald, West Concord, a Shorthorn heifer donated by Wildwood Farm, Tom and Joannie, Vigil and Jane Waldron, Buffalo, on behalf of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association.

• Colin Bishop, Glenville, a Simmental heifer donated by Thesing Riverside Ranch, Eric and Darla, Eric and Jennifer Thesing, Carlos, on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association.

• Casey Krieger, Kerkhoven, a South Devon heifer donated by the Northern States South Devon Association.

• Alex Voyles, Lewisville, a heifer from the Minnesota Beef Expo Sale donated by Minnesota State Cattleman’s Association.

        

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