Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Donors

The Minnesota Beef Expo gratefully acknowledges our MYBEP donors for their support in 2010.

Angus

Cannon Valley Ranch: Bruce and LeeAnn Waugh & Famly, Goodhue, MN ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Angus Association

Cannon Valley Ranch is located just west of Goodhue in the rolling hills of SE MN. It is operated by Bruce and LeeAnn Waugh along with their family Lindsay, Aaron, and Taylor. Bruce and LeeAnn started their cow herd in 1984 with 10 commercial cows purchased from LeeAnn’s family. The registered Angus breeding program started in 1999 and now consists of about 55 registered cows. CVR has an extensive Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer program and in addition will have 15-20 ET calves from a cooperator herd. CVR has recently started a SimAngus program to compliment the registered Angus program. Cattle have been sold coast to coast through sales at the National Western, Midland Bull Test, Minnesota State Sale, CVR Spring Bull Sale, Fall Female Sale, and private treaty. All of the Waugh family has been very active in the National and Minnesota Junior Angus Association with Lindsay just completing her term on the National Junior Angus Board of Directors last year. We believe in the value of junior beef programs and are proud to donate a heifer to the Minnesota Beef Experience.

Charolais

Nelson Charolais: Dwain, Barb, Katie and Rachel Nelson of Rice, MN ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Wisconsin Charolais Association

Nelson Charolais, Dwain, Barb, Katie and Rachel Nelson of Rice, Minnesota on behalf of the Minnesota Wisconsin
Charolais Association. Nelson Charolais began in 2004 when Katie, decided to switch from showing dairy to showing beef cattle at the Stearns County Fair. The Nelson’s still milk registered Holsteins, but also have Charolais cows which they take pride in. After seeing Katie’s success in the Charolais industry, the family decided to get started and expand their herd. As a family they are all members of the MN-WI Charolais Association and the American International Charolais Association. The Nelson’s have been actively involved in showing at 4-H, FFA, open and National shows. The Nelson family takes great pride in producing cattle that can excel in the pasture as well as in the show ring. They have an extensive A.I. and embryo transfer program to help them reach their goals. They are currently selling their bulls private treaty off the farm and recently began marketing select heifers at consignment sales throughout the Midwest.

Commercial

JT Weber Family Show Cattle: JT and
LuAnn Weber & Family of Lake Benton, MN

JT and LuAnn Weber of Lake Benton, MN operate a cow-calf herd in southern Minnesota. They along with their six children, Jake, Liz, Garret, Maria, Sara and Matt, live and work on the original place bought by JT’s parents. They started with 10 cows and have built their herd up to 100 head of a variety of breeds. They sell calves on their two sales, September 20th and November 22nd, along with private treaty. The sales are conducted at their home place. The calves are show ring ready and after the sale they offer buyers their talent at getting calves ready to show throughout the year. They also offer private treaty bulls and bred heifers. This is a family run operation and they welcome visitors year round.

Hereford

Kruse Polled Herefords: Steve and
Becky Kruse & Family, Harris MN ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Hereford Breeders

Kruse Polled Herefords was started in 1961, with a purchase from Kelly Land and Cattle of Marine on the St. Croix. Steve purchased a Polled Hereford cow, with heifer calf at side, and bred back. He went in the Service in 1963-1966; my folks were nice enough to care for them, while Steve was gone... After his return, he got married and expanded his operation and family. Herefords have always been their breed of choice, the white face, docile, and manageable, made it a easy one. His son Todd, daughter Christie, and Family live 5 miles away and also enjoy a love for Herefords. They have their own herd of 15 cows and several replacements. They exchange ideas, talk about investments, share bulls, and exchanging help as time permits. They have 3children, Mackenzie, Zackary and Erin. Their, 4 ½ year old daughter (Erin) always, has 40 questions, when she calls PAPA, at least, once a week. Kruse Polled Herefords herd consists of 25 registered Hereford cows, where we use Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer along with high quality clean up bulls to constantly improve the overall herd quality to meet the demands of their customers. Using Total Performance Data and Ultrasound from the yearlings, we are continuing to strive for herd improvement and good carcass traits. They have invested in several excellent bulls and buy some replacements females from top herds in the US and Canada to expand our genetics. Consignments are made to the Gopher the Purple Sale, MN. Beef Expo, Indianhead Polled Hereford Sale, and private treaty on the farm. The Kruse family has been involved in 4-H, FFA, and working with youth for over 35 years. They attend several, county fairs, Beef Expos, 4-H and FFA events, and sharing their knowledge of cattle with a lot of youth and adults. It has been fun and at times challenging, but they wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now that their grandkids are getting involved with the operation and showing the cattle, quitting isn’t option! Kruse Polled Herefords is proud to donate this year’s Hereford Heifer to the 2011 Minnesota Beef Expo.

Limousin

Wulf Limousin Farms: Jerry, Jim,
Dennis, Dave & families of Morris, MN ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Limousin Association

Wulf Limousin was started by Leonard & Violet Wulf. It is now operated by four sons and their families. The Wulf family is excited to once again offer this opportunity to a deserving youth. Wulfs have a herd of 850 registered Limousin and LimFlex cows and have been raising Limousin genetics shortly after they were introduced in the United States in the late 60’s. They sell 350 bulls and 100 females annually and host Wulfs Opportunity Sale the last Friday in March each year, with genetics selling to 25-30 states and Canada. They purchase and feed out Limousin and Limousin Cross feeder cattle, mainly from their bull customers and feed them for many branded and natural programs. The Wulf Family is active in the North American Limousin Foundation, North American Limousin Jr Association, Heartland Limousin Association, Minnesota Limousin Association, NCBA, Minnesota State Cattlemen’s, West Central Cattlemen’s Association.

Shorthorn

Faxon Creek Cattle Company: Terry and Michelle Morrison & Family of Belle Plaine, MN ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association

Faxon Creek Cattle Company is a family run beef and grain farm near Belle Plaine, MN. The farm has been in the Morrison family since the 1850’s, and they have been raising purebred Shorthorn cattle for the past 15 years. They calve about 40 Registered Shorthorn cows every year. They sell and market their cattle through many sales such as the MN State Shorthorn sale in Cannon Falls, local feeder operators, and other private treaty sales. You will find many of their heifers as 4H projects for many local youth. Faxon Creek Cattle Company is truly a multi-generational family operation. Terry and Michelle Morrison own many of the cattle, along with their children Erin, Kelly and John. Terry’s brother Bill and their father John are very involved in the operation of their successful shorthorn herd—also owning some of the cattle, along with decision making on sire selection. Terry is on the board of the MN Shorthorn Association, and Michelle currently serves as the President for the Minnesota Valley Electric Coop. All three children are active in the beef industry. They show animals locally in 4H and FFA, and also nationally in the Shorthorn Junior Association. Erin and Kelly are members of the MN Beef Spokesperson Team and are board members of the MN JR Shorthorn Association. You can expect to see the entire Morrison clan attendingshorthorn sales both locally and nationally. They are always on the
lookout for animals that will improve the genetics in their herd. Faxon Creek Cattle Company is proud to sponsor this year’s Shorthorn Heifer to the 2011 MN Beef Expo.

Simmental

Hillbrands Simmentals, Clara City, MN; AJE Cattle Company of Marshall MN and Mel Boehland Cattle Company of White Bear Lake, MNN ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association

Hilbrands Simmentals is a family run operation that purchased their first purebred Simmentals in 1987. They have 75 cows and with the help of good cooperative herds try to implant around 150 to 200 embryos each year. Their donor cows are the base of their program and are selected from highly proven cow families based on the attributes that will produce outstanding seedstock backing up their motto "Predictability Through Top Genetics." AJE Cattle Co was established in 2000 with the purchase of the first purebred Simmental show heifer from C-Mor Beef farms. Since then, the program has grown with the help of great partners, embryo transfer and 10 donor cows. The focus of the operation is to produce quality seedstock, backed by proven cow families, to help junior members establish Simmental programs of their own. Having just completed the American Junior Simmental Program, Amanda Eberspacher has firsthand experience of what great results a Simmental female can have for a young member. Mel Boehland Cattle Co. is owned by Mel and Pat Boehland of White Bear Lake, MN. A non-cattle owner but cattleman by heart, Mel’s passion for the cattle industry would often lead him to the MN Beef Expo each year. During one of those visits, he met Val and Lori Eberspacher resulting in a friendship that led to the fulfillment of Mel's dream of owning cattle. In 2002, he partnered with Eberspachers to purchase his first Purebred Simmental, JF First Glance. Since then, he's expanded the herd to several donors owned in partnership with Eberspachers and Hilbrands along with a small set of AI cows. Though their herd may be small the standards are set high and quality is excellent! Hilbrands Simmentals, AJE Cattle Co and Mel Boehland Cattle Co are proud to be the sponsor of this year’s MBE Simmental heifer. We look forward to working with the recipient and wish them the best of luck with their new project!

South Devon

Northern States South Devon Association

The Northern States South Devon Association (NSSDA) was formed 15 years ago by a small group of South Devon breeders in central-Minnesota. An active and enthusiastic group of South Devon producers from six states currently promote South Devon cattle throughout the Midwest, by participating in farm shows, 4-H and FFA activities, Junior shows and livestock events. A strong Junior association participates each year at the Minnesota Beef Expo. Members from the association have strongly supported the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP) by donating a South Devon heifer each year to a deserving junior. All of the past recipients of South Devon heifers are active members in the North American South Devon Junior Association. They have participated in the annual 'Junior Nationals' and have become an important part of the NSSDA. In 2007 a group of the members within the Northern States Association decided to combine donated funds to make available to the winner of the MYBEP, so the recipient of the South Devon heifer could purchase the animal out of the South Devon sale. This allowed the recipient the opportunity to choose from the sale offering and also gave them an educational experience by providing them with performance data and pedigree information to aid in their selection of an animal. The NSSDA will give the 2009 MYBEP recipient of the South Devon heifer the same opportunity.The NSSDA members are proud to have been a part of the Minnesota Beef Expo for the past nine years and especially honored to have been a part of the MYBEP since its inception.

Red Angus

Goodrich Place Inc.: Mark, Claudine and Joyce Goodrich of Emerald, WI ~ on behalf of the Minnesota Red Angus Association

Goodrich Place Inc. is proud to be a sponsor of the Red Angus heifer for the 2011 MN Beef Expo, Youth Beef Experience Program. The Goodrich family operates a 100 head, elite performance oriented herd of Angus, Red Angus and Quarter Horses near Emerald, WI. The herd has achieved major accomplishments at the St. Croix Valley, MBCIA and WBIA bull tests and regional Junior Shows. The Goodrich family is a strong supporter of youth beef activities and the MN Beef Expo. We feel this heifer will provide a great opportunity for a young person to further their beef experience and expand their knowledge of the beef industry.