Nearly 300 cattlemen, cattlewomen, & cattle industry members gathered in Bloomington, MN for the 2017 Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention. This premier policy & educational event in the Minnesota cattle industry featured speakers and an industry leading tradeshow that gives cattlemen and women the tools to connect, learn and innovate into 2018.
“This year’s convention was a great success for Cattlemen and Cattlewomen in Minnesota. We had great producer attendance and excellent educational programs on this year’s agenda”, said MSCA President Krist Wollum. “We were also happy to welcome a number of our congressional delegation from both the state and national level, as well as key agency staff who support our members. Thank-you to all who attended!”
During general sessions, attendees had the opportunity to learn about new and innovative ways to connect with the consumer, as well as cattle focused economic and political summaries for 2017. Attendees also heard from state and national cattle industry and political leaders about current efforts to grow and defend the cattle industry in Minnesota and across the country. Political leaders including MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson, Ranking Member Collin Peterson, CFTC Chairmen Giancarlo and Senator Amy Klobuchar shared their efforts to defend the agricultural industry on behalf of Minnesota farmers and ranchers in St. Paul and Washington, D.C. Members of the MSCA resolution committee set new policy on buffers, deer, and health insurance and agency programs.
Attendees of the 2017 MSCA Cattlemen’s College Educational Series had the opportunity to listen and interact with some of the most influential regional & national experts in the beef industry. Topics covered in the feeder/feedyard track included tracking cattle inputs to make sound management decisions based on data, what to do when antibiotics fail and sound research findings on backgrounding best management practices. This program, sponsored by Zoetis, was a joint effort between Performance Livestock Analytics, Purina Animal Nutrition, the U of M Beef Team and Arm and Hammer Animal Nutrition.
Attendees also had the opportunity to learn more about programs to get more from what they have in regards to grazing opportunities. Cover crop and livestock strategies for forage production, soil function, animal health, water quality and the bottom line were all topics covered during the cow/calf track of the 2017 MSCA Cattlemen’s College Educational Series. This workshop was a joint effort between the Minnesota MRCS, the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, Prairie Creek Seed and the Sustainable Farming Association.
During Friday evening’s banquet, Don Schiefelbein of Kimball, MN was recognized as the 2017 Minnesota Cattlemen of the year for his dedication and efforts to defend and grow the beef and cattle industry in Minnesota and across the U.S. The cattlemen of the year award was sponsored by Artex Manufacturing of Redwood Falls.
Carlson Wholesale, Inc. was named the 2017 Beef Industry Service Award recipient for their efforts to support and grow the livestock industry in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. Carlson Wholesale has been actively supporting MSCA for the past 26 years.
Newly elected and re-elected leadership included Grant Binford of Luverne, MN re-elected as Feeder Council Chairmen and Jim Wulf of Starbuck, MN re-elected as Cow/Calf Council Chairmen. Regional directors include Eric Mousel of Jacobson, re-elected as region 2/3 director, Chuck Hoffmann of Canby, newly elected as region 4 director, John Appel of Aitkin, newly elected as region 6 director and Steve Wesley of Waterville, as newly elected region 8 director. The MSCA executive committee for 2018-2019 will consist of Krist Wollum, Porter, as President, Mike Landuyt, Walnut Grove, as President-Elect, Grant Breitkreutz of Redwood Falls as Vice President and Kevin Hoge of Aitkin as Secretary.
Posted: December 4, 2017
