FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2017

Contact: Virginia Mold
virginia.mold@mnstatefair.org

A perfect fall weekend was the backdrop for the 17th Annual Minnesota Beef Expo. Held every October at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, the Minnesota Beef Expo brings cattle producers and youth livestock exhibitors together to celebrate and promote the beef industry. This four-day event was Oct. 19-22 and is the largest all-breed beef show in Minnesota and includes youth contests, cattle sales, a trade show, educational seminars and a record breaking 1,000 head junior show.

Exhibitors and attendees came together from all over the Upper Midwest. In 2017, more than 750 youth exhibitors competed in the weekend’s junior events. Plus, some of region’s best seedstock producers sold cattle and embryos at the Supreme Row sale during the weekend.

The Expo kicked off Thursday, Oct. 19 with a Youth Knowledge Bowl followed by the Sullivan Supply Stock Show University Fitting Seminar. Fitting experts taught youth how to clip and prepare their show cattle to an enthusiastic crowd.

On Thursday evening, over 475 people gathered for MYBEP’s Beef Industry Ideas & Insights Symposium. Kevin Ochsner, host of RFD TV’s “Cattlemen to Cattlemen” joined fellow cattlemen Jerry Delaney, Dar Giess and Dean Summerbell on the panel, Opportunities Ahead in the U.S. Beef Industry. These guests were also given advice on starting in the industry and shared their own experiences. Later in the evening, beef industry leaders informed attendees in breakout sessions regarding Beef Quality Assurance, current sires offered through the A.I. market, the history of cattle art and illustration, cow herd and show animal nutrition, current visual cattle selection basics, improving your MYBEP application, and personal development and goal setting. After the sessions, Kevin Ochsner gave a key note, It’s Your Bid, designed to motivate people to use their time, talents and treasures to success in the beef industry. To end the evening’s events, the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association awarded one of the eleven MYBEP heifers to Gavin Rohner, Pennock, Minn.

Friday’s schedule offered even more opportunities for youth exhibitors. The day started with a judging contest where 45 teams in three age categories competed for top prizes with a total of 289 participants. Following the contest, Sullivan Supply hosted their annual fitting contest. Twenty-one teams competed for Champion fitting honors in the Sullivan Supply Fitting Contest. Friday’s youth activities ended with an exciting Junior Showmanship Contest that included 450 contestants.

The Minnesota Beef Expo Sale was held Saturday, Oct. 22. Sale day events included two shows, Supreme Row selection with a sit-down dinner served to over 1,000 people cosponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers’ Association, Minnesota Limousin Association and Northern States South Devon Association. Supreme Row Champions took home $6,750 in prize money thanks to the following sponsors: Minnesota Farm Guide, Agri-Media October 19-22, 2017 Minnesota State Fairgrounds 1265 North Snelling Ave. Phone (651) 643-6476 St. Paul, Minn. 55108-3099 Fax (651) 642-2456 Livestock Group, Purina Feed Animal Nutrition LLC, Rabo AgriFinance and Optimizer Calf Gel. 115 animals were sold in this year’s sale, along with 19 semen and embryo lots. Wulf Cattle, Morris Minn. had the high-selling lot with Wulfs Dorkia 6459D ET at $9,000, selling to Trails End Cattle, Loyal, Wisc. JT Weber Family of Lake Benton, Minn. consigned the second-high seller, WEBR Miss Bandwagon 28E to Zoey Hall, Windom, Minn. for $8,750.

The Supreme Row Champion Female and third highest seller was an Angus heifer, Chestnut Winnie 74, consigned by Chestnut Angus Farm, Pipestone, Minn. She was purchased by Taylor Ford, Lake Wilson, Minn. for $8,600. Reserve Supreme Row Champion Female honors went to JK Angus, Lisbon, N. Dak. with their Maine Anjou heifer JK Jo Jo. She was purchased by Bryce Vancura, Jackson, Minn. The Supreme Row Champion Steer was consigned by Jared Carlson, Pipestone, Minn., and was purchased by Brian Schemerhorn, New York Mills, Minn. The Reserve Supreme Row Champion Steer consigned by Braun Show Cattle, Northwood, Iowa, was purchased by Calvin Rosen, Clear Lake, Wisc.

One of the most unique aspects of the Minnesota Beef Expo is the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP). Eleven heifers were presented to lucky youth who went through an intensive application process. 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 Minnesota Beef Expo. The breeders who donated heifers will also serve as mentors to the respective winners.

The 2017 heifer recipients were:

• Kodi Bundermann, from Alexandria, Minn., will receive the Angus heifer sponsored by Sleepy Eye Creek Angus, Jay and Adam Anderson from Springfield, Minn. of the Minnesota Angus Association.
• Adrienne Lipinski, from Eden Valley, Minn. will receive the Charolais heifer sponsored by the Minnesota/Wisconsin Charolais Association and will be mentored by Katie Nelson from Rice, Minn.
• Ezra Buck, from Owatonna, Minn., will receive the Charolais heifer sponsored by RJB Cattle, Rodney and Jolene Balvitsch, Cassy and Caleb Buck, and Cole Balvitsch from Ellendale, Minn. of the Minnesota/Wisconsin Charolais Association.
• Haley Mouser, from Tenstrike, Minn., will receive the Hereford heifer sponsored by JMF Herefords and SimAngus, Jared, Makayla, Jaelyn, Tayton, and Ty Flower from Holloway, Minn. of the Minnesota Hereford Breeders.
• Julia Biscoe, from Cottage Grove, Minn., will receive the Limousin heifer sponsored by Wulf Cattle from Morris, Minn. of the Minnesota Limousin Association.
• Bryce Skiba, from North Branch, Minn., will receive the Red Angus heifer sponsored by Compeer Financial and mentored by Steve Pomerenke of Compeer Financial.
• Abby Thompson, from Grove City, Minn., will receive the Shorthorn heifer sponsored by Auburnview Farms, Dan, Trisha, Kyle, Zach, Zoe, and Jase Wanous from Glencoe, Minn. of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association.
• Grace Mortenson, from Danvers, Minn., will receive the Simmental heifer sponsored by Double E Cattle Company, Ed and Ethanie Schmidt and Family from Tracy, Minn. of the Minnesota Simmental Association.
• Grace Britton, from Janesville, Minn., will receive the Simmental heifer sponsored by Pearson Cattle, Neil and Sheila Pearson and Matt and Brianna Pearson from Grove City, Minn. of the Minnesota Simmental Association.
• Alaina Chute, from Aitkin, Minn., will receive the South Devon heifer sponsored by Valley Hill Farm, Todd Leonard and Lance Brantner, from Ellsworth, Wisc. And members of the Northern States South Devon Association.
• Gavin Rohner from Pennock, Minn. will receive the Symposium heifer sponsored by the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association.

The MYBEP recipients from 2016 competed for the MYBEP Achievement Award. A belt buckle, sponsored by the Minnesota Beef Cattle Improvement Association, was presented to Emilee White, Wadena, Minn. Ms. White was also the recipient of an embroidered chair from Sanctified Designs and a $750 scholarship sponsored by the Minnesota Farmers Union and the Minnesota Farmers Union Agency.

An impressive 1,000 head were sorted in Sunday’s Junior Show by Curt Rincker, Shelbyville, Ill. and Kirk Stierwalt of Leedey, Okla. Supreme Champion Heifer honors went to Shawn Marg, Winona, Minn., with his Foundation Simmental heifer, D68. Josie Lorentz, Woodville, Wisc., won the Reserve Supreme Champion female honors with her Angus heifer WP RT Sophia 667. Trenna Cherney, Wonewock, Wisc. and Shelby Hartwig, Albany, Minn., had the Champion and Reserve Champion Prospect Calves, respectively. Lacey Schmitz, Oakes, N. Dak., exhibited the Supreme Champion Market Beef. Alexis Ostrom, Salem, S. Dak., showed the Reserve Supreme Market Beef.

The 2018 Minnesota Beef Expo will be held October 18-21 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

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For further information on the Minnesota Beef Expo, a listing of complete results or high-resolution photos to include, please email activity coordinator at virginia.mold@mnstatefair.org; or visit www.mnbeefexpo.com.