Welcome to the Minnesota Beef Expo!

SHOWMANSHIP JUDGES

Carmen Paulsen

Carmen Paulsen resides in Preston, Iowa with her husband Jeff and their 3 boys. Carmen grew up in eastern Iowa on a diversified farm, raising and showing Simmental cattle. She graduated from Black Hawk East where she was on the livestock judging team, and later earned an animal science degree from Iowa State University. Carmen is currently a sales manager for Ralco Animal Nutrition, overseeing their retail and distributor business. She has judged several youth beef cattle shows and enjoys working with youth livestock exhibitors.

Zach Hall

Zac Hall earned his Bachelor of Science in animal science with minors in agriculture business and food safety from North Dakota State University before pursuing his Master of Science Degree in ruminant nutrition with a focus on reproductive physiology at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. 

He is active in his family’s cattle operation, Hall Stock Farm, near Berthold, ND where they raise registered Angus and Sim-Angus cattle. The Hall family will host their tenth annual bull sale the fourth Tuesday in March 2025. A lifelong cattle breeder, he and his family have successfully exhibited cattle around the region. 

Zac loves working with livestock and youth. He served as a volunteer 4-H and FFA livestock judging coach, he has guided four teams representing North Dakota in national competitions where several teams and individuals earned recognition. He enjoys watching his past judging team members utilize their communication and evaluation skills as they pursue their collegiate and professional careers

After ten years of corporate sales and marketing experience, Hall created Forté Livestock, a photography and consulting service focused on marketing and promoting cattle and assisting cattle producers with the tasks associated with maintaining records and data management. Most recently he accepted a job with Zoetis Pet Care and relocated to Golden valley, MN where he services vet clinics in Southern and Western MN.  

JUNIOR SHOW JUDGES

Josh Cribbs

Joshua Cribbs, from White, South Dakota has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas Tech University as well as a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition. He earned both while competing on a National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team and serving as an Assistant Coach to a National Champion Livestock Judging Team in 2012. He left Lubbock and moved to Brookings, South Dakota where he became a faculty member and served in a lecturer position, as well as the livestock judging coach. Joshua has always been driven to start his own seedstock operation, and with support and help from his wife Abbie, they’ve made that a reality over the last couple of years. Joshua currently serves as the Director for Commercial Development and Breed Improvement with the American Maine-Anjou Association. He and Abbie also own and operate Our Perspective, a livestock marketing venture. They have four children and are committed to raising them in animal agriculture. 

Tyler Cates

Tyler Cates is from Modoc, Indiana where he raises Shorthorn and Angus cattle with his wife Cortney and daughter Piper. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College where he was a member of the livestock judging team. He then went on to attend Purdue University where he served as a member of the judging team and as an assistant coach. He has judged multiple national breed shows and several junior national shows across the United States. 

SYMPOSIUM HEIFER

Donated by Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
Mentored by Mark Pesek

The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) is a membership-based organization that represents cattle producers and individuals who are part of the cattle community in Minnesota. The association is currently offering opportunities for junior members through the creation of the Minnesota Junior Cattlemen’s Association. The junior program will provide junior leadership development, career opportunities and junior activities at the MSCA State Convention, Summer Cattlemen’s Tour and many other events. The MSCA currently represents around 900 members from all segments of the beef community. They are proud of their partnership with over 20 local cattlemen’s associations from around the state that affiliate with the MSCA. The MSCA is primarily focused on addressing local, state and federal issues impacting the long-term viability of cattle production and ensuring Minnesota’s business climate welcomes the growth and long-term success of raising cattle in Minnesota. The MSCA also works on several promotional activities during the year, including Farmfest, the Minnesota Beef Expo, the Minnesota State Fair, Cattlemen and the Capitol events (both in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.) and many more! The MSCA has been proud to provide a heifer every year for the Thursday night Symposium since its start 10 years ago, and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association is happy to provide another heifer this year to the lucky Symposium recipient. 

SPECKLE PARK

Donated by Hay Creek Speckle Park, Brad & Lacey Sonnentag and Family of Boyd, Wis. on behalf of the American Speckle Park Association

Brad, Lacey & family are a first-generation beef farming family near Boyd, Wis.  After years of researching beef cattle, they came across the Speckle Park breed and knew that this breed was exactly what they wanted. In 2020, they purchased their first bred cows from Heavenly Acres in New York and yearling heifers from Greenwood Speckle Park in Canada. Their daughter Brynlee has also fallen in love with the breed. She has raised her own heifers and steers, which she has shown at the local fairs and on the biggest stage at Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City. 
 
The Speckle Park breed is amazing! The breed does more with less and has excellent meat quality. The Sonnentag family believes that within 10 years it could be one of the top beef breeds in the USA. 
 
Follow Hay Creek Speckle Park on Facebook or @HayCreekSpecklePark on Instagram to find out more about the Sonnentag family and their operation.  
Email: bjsonnentag@gmail.com
Cell: (715)313-3640

SOUTH DEVON

Donated by Northern States South Devon Association

The Northern States South Devon Association was formed by a  small group of South Devon breeders in central-Minnesota. An active and enthusiastic group of South Devon producers from Wisc., Minn., N. Dak., and Mont. currently promote the South Devon cattle throughout the Midwest by participating in farm shows, 4-H and FFA activities, Jr. shows and livestock events. A strong junior association participates each year at the Minnesota Beef Expo. Members from the association have strongly supported the MYBEP by donating a South Devon heifer each year to a deserving junior. Northern States South Devon Association members donate funds toward the support of the MYBEP and a heifer is selected and purchased from one of the members each year. 

SIMMENTAL

Donated by Donated by Pit-Stop Acres, Daryl & Marilee, Branstyn, Brennir and Brielle Peterson and Baleigh & Lane Miller, on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association

Pit-Stop Acres was founded by Daryl and Marilee Peterson in 2008 when it became clear they would not be taking over their respective dairy farms, yet they were determined to share their passion for agriculture with their children. After researching various junior associations, the Petersons chose the Simmental breed, confident in what that breed offered for a young family. Operating on a modest, intentional scale, they raise registered Simmental and Sim-influenced cattle on Daryl’s home farm near Gibbon, Minnesota. With a focus on producing quality, home-raised feedstock. Their calving barn provides an ideal start to their early calving season. 

For the Petersons, this is all about passing on a legacy. While their logo might suggest racing, the name is actually a nod to history. – a nickname affectionately carried over from Marilee’s childhood on “Pit-Stop Dairy” to their own operation. That same passion has clearly extended to their children, three of whom work in agriculture. Daryl and Marilee also served as co-leaders for the Minnesota Junior Simmental Association (MJSA) from 2017 to 2023. Each year, the family exhibits swine and poultry at the Sibley County Fair – a fitting setting, since that’s where Daryl and Marilee first met as kids.

Donated by Peine Cattle Company, on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association

Peine Cattle Company is now in their 4th generation of raising cattle and crops. With a passion for producing functional, productive cattle backed by sound genetics, the Peine family is committed to raising cattle that excel in both the pasture and the show ring. The operation has approximately 150 head of Simmental and SimAngus cows. Mike & Lori, Briggs & Jill (Lauren/Luke/Cole), Blake, Paige and Beau, all take part in different areas of the operation. They utilize IVF and embryo transfer extensively,raising show heifers to be sold year-round online as well as private treaty.

Their  main focus is a multi-breed online heifer sale the first week of October hosted in Iowa, typically followed by a later sale mid-December and a Genetic/Fall– born sale in the spring. Peine Cattle Company believes investing in youth is one of the best ways to strengthen the future of agriculture. Through involvement in 4-H, junior cattle shows, and industry events, the family enjoys helping young cattle producers develop their skills, confidence, and passion for the beef business.

The Peine family is honored to support the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program and looks forward to mentoring the next generation of cattlemen and cattlewomen as they begin their journey in the beef industry.

SHORTHORN

Donated by Carlson Cattle, of Lamberton, Minn.

Carlson Cattle was founded in 2018 at the Minnesota Beef Expo, when twin brothers Ethan and Jayden were both awarded MYBEP heifers. Ethan was granted the Shorthorn heifer and Jayden received the Symposium heifer. Little did Jayden know that this program would lead to what he has today.

From a very young age, Jayden knew he wanted to raise cattle back on the family farm. It’s where his grandpa raised registered Shorthorns under the name Mulberry Lane Shorthorns, and where his Aunt Cathy and Uncle Dennis have their operation today. 

Carlson Cattle is a small, multi-breed herd with a focus on providing show-quality projects for 4-H and FFA youth, and breeding stock through private treaty. Youth development has always been a focus for Ethan and Jayden. They feel there is no better way to achieve this than through the MYBEP program!

RED ANGUS

Donated by Compeer Financial
Mentored by Steve Pomerenke

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry. With $36.1 billion in assets, Compeer Financial is one of the larges cooperatives in the Farm Credit System – a nation wide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Steve Pomerenke will be the mentor for this heifer and recipient.

MAINE ANJOU

Donated by Mente Cattle Company, Dave & Stacy, Dylan, Trevor and Justin, Mente, of Adrian, Minn. 

Mente Cattle Company is operated by Dave and Stacy, along with their three sons Dylan, Trevor, and Justin. As a family, they have exhibited cattle at local, state and national shows, earning success that is evident not only in the banners collected, but in the donor females and bulls now working in the herds of many of their customers. Established in 1997 in Adrian, Minnesota, Mente Cattle Company is rooted in Dave’s early experiences growing up in eastern Iowa, where neighbors and mentors introduced him to the world of show cattle and sparked a lifelong passion for the industry. That passion took deeper hold when Stacy’s brother, Derek, selected a show heifer for his 4‑H project. Helping with that project marked the true beginning of their breeding program and set the direction for the high‑quality cattle they continue to focus on today.

Over the decades, they have marketed cattle through pasture sales, private treaty offerings, online sales and consignments, continually expanding and improving their herd. Their extensive embryo transfer and AI program reflects their commitment to producing cattle with the quality, consistency, and performance their customers expect.

A highlight in their family’s journey came in 2015, the year of the 100th MYBEP heifer awarded through the program, when Dylan received a heifer. They look forward to seeing the opportunities this same female will provide to the next motivated young cattle enthusiast who receives her.

HEREFORD

Donated by the May family of Randolph, Minn.

Mark and Ann May of Randolph, Minn., and Jason May have been involved in raising and showing cattle for many years. in 1996, they purchased their first Hereford heifer and continue to raise a small herd of Hereford cattle. Mark, Ann, their children, and grandchildren are all actively involved in the beef industry and livestock shows; including 4-H, FFA, and breed associations. Jason currently resides in Alpha, Minn. and enjoys working with and mentoring young exhibitors.

Contact Information:

  • Mark May
  • Cell: (612) 363-1081
  • Jason May
  • Cell: (507) 339-8248