MYBEPDonors
2010 MYBEP Donors - Eagle Pass Ranch
Roger and Nancy Wagner of Hillman, Minnesota, have been in
the cattle business for 44 years.
They operate Eagle Pass Ranch in partnership with their daughter
and son-in-law, Heather and Norman Herbst.
Their cowherd consists of 600 head of Limousin, Red Angus and
Black Angus crossed cattle. They use Limousin sires purchased
from Minnesota breeders Leonard Wulf & Sons of Morris and Lyon
River Front
Farm of Foley. Sires are selected for calving ease, maternal
traits, and docility. Calving is done in January/February,
April/May, and August/September and the calves are targeted for
the veal, muscle,
and commodity markets.
Eagle Pass Ranch is a member of the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association, the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association, and
the Heartland Limousin Association. Roger is president of the
Snake River Cattlemen’s Association and vice-president of the
Minnesota Limousin Association. In 2005 Roger and Nancy received
the Commercial Producer of the Year award given by the Minnesota
and Heartland
Limousin Associations.
Roger also owns and operates Circle 6 Appraisal service along
with his daughter, Heather. Circle 6
Appraisal specializes in residential, commercial, and
agricultural properties. Roger has been an appraiser
for 28 years and Heather has been an appraiser for 16 years.
Roger and Nancy have four daughters; Kori, Shannon, Holly, and
Heather and nine grandchildren. Norman
and Heather have two daughters, Lillie and Brenna.
BarunFarms
Braun Farms named Minnesota Commercial Producer for 2009
 Burdette
and Nathan Braun of Garretson, South Dakota were selected the
2009 Commercial Producer of
the Year by the Minnesota Limousin Association.
The Brauns operate a 200 head cow herd which is Angus based but
with some Simmental and Limousin influence. They use Limousin
bulls exclusively to cross breed their herd. They operate on 200
acres of pasture, 110 acres of hay, and 1,400 acres of row crop
in addition to maintaining a livestock and grain trucking
business.
The Brauns are feeding out their 2009 crop of calves. They used
to market their calves upon weaning to
the Sioux Falls Regional Stockyards but they decided to feed
their crop and sell direct to the packer.
Buying their first Limousin bull at the Black Hills Stock Show
in 2002 from Lyon River Front Farm, the
Brauns have continued to rely on Lyon bulls to produce a carcass
which targets a high select, low choice market.
According to Nathan, “We like the Limousin performance, muscle,
and ease of calving.”
Congratulations to Braun Farms!
CrippleCreek
Cripple Creek Limousin of Dakota, Minnesota
has donated a Limousin heifer to the 2009 Minnesota Youth Beef
Experience
Ed and Cindy Bergler have been raising purebred cattle for
31 years. They operate Cripple Creek Cattle Co. with their son,
Luke. Their herd includes 110 registered cows and 30 yearlings.
They utilize leading Limousin sires through an extensive AI and
embryo transplant program. Cows are bred for docility, muscle,
and milk. They sell bulls, females, and club calves private
treaty.
The Berglers rotate their cattle on approximately 110 acres of
pasture. They utilize cornstalks in the fall and winter. An
additional 250 acres of corn, soybeans, and alfalfa complete
their farm operation.
Cripple Creek Cattle Co. is a member of the National Cattlemen’s
Beef Association and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s
Association. Ed is actively involved in the Limousin breed,
serving as president of the Heartland Limousin Association and
vice-president of the Minnesota Limousin Association. He is also
a member of the North American Limousin Foundation.
Ed and Cindy also own and operate Express-A-Button, which
specializes in advertising and promotional items. They maintain
52 full-time employees in the 22 year- old operation.
The Cripple Creek family includes Ed and Cindy Bergler along
with their four children Brian, Luke, Josh and Annie and two
grandchildren Tyler and Willa. Thanks to the Bergler family for
your generous donation!
ChampionHeifer
Champion Heifer Brings $2,500 at the Minnesota Beef Expo Sale
The Minnesota Beef Expo held its annual sale in the
arena at the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum on the Minnesota State
Fairgrounds in St. Paul. Even though there was a large crowd of
bidders who attended the sale, all breed averages were off from
previous sales due to uncertain economic conditions prevailing
at the time. Bollum Golden Oaks of Northfield, MN
consigned HBLO Skittles 5T, a 4/7/07 red, double polled daughter
of OKLF Linebacker 341L out of HUNT Rainbow 63R and bred to ROMN
Justice. She sold to Cripple Creek Limousin of Dakota, MN for
$1,450. BLMO Unleashed 803U, a 3/11/08 black, double polled
daughter of MAGS Remote out of RPLF Petunia 504R consigned by
Bachmeier Limousin of Apple Valley,
MN was purchased by GB Limousin of Carson, ND for $1,400.
Average: 8 Females = $1,256
Auctioneer: Neil Effertz | Sale Management:
Eberspacher Enterprises, Inc.
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The top-selling Limousin female was the champion
of the sale show. CHFF 804 U is a 2/5/08 black,
polled daughter of Clear Creek Ramrod 05R c
onsigned by Herman Farms of Hastings, MN. She
was purchased by Joe Grotsun of Cold Spring, MN
for $2,500. |
Joe Grotsun of Cold Spring, MN
purchased the top-selling sale heifer
from Chris Herman of Hastings, MN. |
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Ashley Lyon of Foley exhibited the
reserve champion sale heifer at the
MN Beef Expo. |
Haley Bollum of Northfield thanked Ed Bergler
of Cripple Creek Limousin, Dakota, MN for his
purchase of Haley's bred heifer at the MN Beef Expo. |
HermanFarms
Herman Farms Donates Heifer
The Minnesota Beef Expo provides a program for interested
youth to apply for a donation heifer from various breeds in
Minnesota. To receive a donation heifer, the applicant must
agree to raise the heifer and show
her at county and state level competitions. They are
required to bring the heifer back to the Minnesota
Beef Expo the following year and exhibit their project. This
year Herman Farms of Hasting donated a
Limousin heifer to the program. She was awarded to Crystal Bosek
of Garfield, MN. Crystal exhibited her donation heifer at this
year’s junior show and took first in class with CHFF 810U, a
5/2/08 daughter of
Clear Creek Ramrod. Congratulations Crystal and good luck with
your heifer.
BeefExpo
Beef Expo Attracts 15 Youth to Junior Show
The ninth annual Minnesota Beef Expo was held October 17-
19, 2008 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds
in St. Paul. The Expo focuses on juniors by providing an
educational component of seminars and clinics Friday. Saturday’s
events included the sale and a banquet for all participants. The
Expo concluded with the junior show Sunday. Judge Cody Wright of
South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD evaluated the 24
Limousin females exhibited by 15 Minnesota juniors.
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Taking the grand champion honors
was RJFL Tessa, a 4/25/07 daughter
of RPLF Ricardo exhibited by Megan
Witt of Mabel, MN. |
Ashley Lyon of Foley, MN exhibited
the reserve grand champion Limousin
female with ASRL Thyme 508T, a
9/21/07 daughter of ROMN Justice. |
AkSarBen
Ak-Sar-Ben Limousin Steer Show
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Grand Champion Limousin Steer
was exhibited by Matt Duff from MN. |
Dustin Biedenfeld of Peterson, IA won
Reserve Grand Champion Limousin Steer. CONGRATULATIONS! |
Youth Beef
Experience
Each year breed associations donate heifers for the Youth Beef
Experience as part of the Minnesota Beef Expo in October. The
purpose of this program is to aid youth and help them get a
start in the beef cattle business by awarding heifer calves to
program participants. They receive their animals based on merit,
need, future goals and ability to care for the animal.
Cody Hinman, son of Jim and Dee Hinman of Atwater, MN is the
2007 recipient of a Limousin heifer. He received a heifer
donated by Green Acres Limousin of Cottage Grove, MN.
He is a sophomore at Atwater Cosmos Grove City Junior/Senior
High School. Cody has been active in both
4-H and FFA, school sports and church. He has shown cattle at
the county fair level, taking home several purple and blue
ribbons.
Cody has attended the Wulf Limousin Farms and Potterosa sales.
His goal is to become a manager of a Limousin, Angus and
Lim-Flex herd. Good luck with your project!
2008 DONATION HEIFER
Herman Farms - Hastings, MN
We are very excited and proud to be a sponsor of
the Limousin heifer for the 2008 Expo and Beef Experience
Program. Our farm is located between Hastings and Afton
along the St. Croix river. It is family owned-and-operated
with everybody participating. Myself (Chris) and Jamie
with cattle management, Jay with crop management, Neal and
Bridget with construction and lawn care management, with
everything overseen by Mom and Dad (Becky and Steve.)
We have been active in the Limousin breed for eleven years now
and strive for quality, not quantity. We use an extensive
AI program to produce quality, functional cattle that work in
the industry for show and for the pasture. Jamie and I
have recently been appointed youth advisors for the MN Limousin
Association and very excited. We wish the best of luck to
the youth who is awarded our 2008 donation heifer.
Potter Wins
Beef Expo Junior Show
Ross Potter of Redwood Falls, MN exhibited both the grand
champion and reserve champion Limousin heifers at the Beef Expo
Junior Show in St. Paul October 20, 2007.
Taking home grand champion honors was RPLF Sweet Sixteen 6385, a
3/29/06 daughter of Pure Power. The reserve champion was RPLF
Taboo 707T, a 3/2/07 daughter of WZRK Primestar.
Wulf Limousin
Farms Honored as Cattle Ranch of the Week
Wulf Limousin Farms of Morris, Minnesota was named Cattle Ranch
of the Week in the September 14,
2007 Cattle Network publication.
The operation consists of a cow-calf feedlot and farming
operation in addition to the seedstock business. They run 900
cows and select replacement heifers by EPDs, growth, phenotype
and disposition. Wulf
Limousin Farms feeds 6,000 head annually in their feedlot near
Morris as well as 14,000 head in custom lots around the Midwest.
It is a family operation, consisting of sons and grandchildren
of Leonard and Vi Wulf. In 2007 Wulf Limousin Farms exhibited
the grand champion “Carload of Bulls” at the National Western
Stock Show in Denver. For over 30 years they have focused on
building a better beef animal, and they are excited about the
fact that consumers are realizing the value of lean,
high-yielding Limousin carcasses.
In addition to the cattle, they also farm 3,700 acres of corn,
1,500 acres of soybeans, 425 acres of wheat, and 150 acres of
hay.
Limousin Sale
Has 2nd High Average at Minnesota Beef Expo
The 8th annual Minnesota Beef Expo has gained in popularity over
the years and has built a solid reputation as a worthwhile
event. Although it occurs during the heart of the harvest
season, the Expo saw record attendance and enjoyed continued
improvement on the female and steer sale averages. The Limousin
portion of the sale had the 2nd high overall average of $1,813.
The Beef Expo has added features throughout the years as a way
to attract juniors and seedstock/commercial cattlemen. This is
the 5th year that the Expo has selected a champion for Supreme
Row. In addition, they also feature one breed each year, provide
a variety of educational experiences for youth, and the winners
of the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience program receive their
donated heifers.
Ashley Lyon of Foley, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Sale
Limousin Female and the high-selling lot
at the Expo. LRFF Special 470S is a 9/23/06 double black, polled
daughter of Wulf’s Nobel Prize 3861N
out of LRFF Molly. Rocking S Ranch of McLeod, ND was the high
bidder at $2,700.
The Grand Champion and second high-selling Limousin female was
also exhibited and consigned by Lyon River Front Farm. Ed
Younker of Bingham Lake, MN purchased LRFF Starlight 437S; a
2/22/06 black,
double polled daughter of JCL Lodestar 27L out of LRFF Novel for
$2,600.
Another popular female was RJFL Tessa, 725T; a 4/26/07 black,
polled daughter of RPLF Ricardo out of RJFL Nikki 306N consigned
by Ryan & Alissa Johnson of Ashton, IA. Witt Limousin of Mabel,
MN purchased
the heifer for $2,200.
Auctioneer: Neil Effertz
Sale Mgmt. Eberspacher Enterprises
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Allen & Ashley Lyon thanked Ed Younker of Bingham Lake,
MN for his purchase of the champion Limousin sale female
at the MN Beef Expo. |
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Strauss Veal |
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Strauss Veal Announces Plan for Meadow-Raised,
Limousin-Based Product
There is a new model of veal production on the horizon,
and the Limousin breed will be a key component
in it, according to one of the largest U.S. veal
processors.
Increased competition for dairy calves, climbing whey
prices and declining consumption led Strauss Veal
and Lamb International to identify an alternative to the
current system, explained Randy Strauss, the company’s
co-president.
“The newest thing in veal really isn’t that new,” he
said. “It is so obvious that we almost overlooked it –
Mother Nature.”
Instead of the traditional system of feeding a byproduct
of cheese-making (whey) to a byproduct of the d
airy industry (bull calves), Strauss Veal’s new model
calls for all-natural, meadow-raised, preweaned beef
animals. After researching several breeds, the company
decided the ideal calf for such a system is a 450-
to 500-pound, Limousin-influenced (at least 50 percent)
bull, heifer or steer that is traceable to its place of
birth.
“We are delighted Strauss Veal has identified the
Limousin breed as the base from which to build its new
product line,” said Kent Andersen, Ph.D., executive vice
president of the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF).
“The Limousin breed’s industry-leading retail-product
yield and efficiency, end-product palatability and
healthfulness, and respected culinary reputation around
the world match beautifully with
the program’s objectives.”
The concept of Strauss® Meadow Reserve™ veal already has
garnered positive attention from the
company’s established foodservice and retail clients.
“Every day, I see more articles and e-mails sent out,
directing people down this wholesome and healthy
path,” Strauss said. “People are demanding this type of
product. They are yearning for it. And it’s our job to
provide it for them. We need to educate them and to
share with them our idea of this tasty, nutritious and
authentic protein.”
Despite the promise of significant demand, the company
is committed to careful, monitored growth,
Strauss added.
“We already are working with several of our eager
partners on the rollout of this program,” he said. “We
will support this product launch with advertising and
consumer education.”
An exclusive supply-development plan developed with NALF
and Five Star Cattle Systems calls for Strauss Veal to
begin accepting calves in May. Following a “ramp-up”
process over the summer, limited distribution will begin
by fall.
Andersen said NALF gladly agreed to endorse and help
build a supply network for Strauss Veal.
“It is a privilege to work with such an established,
reputable and innovative company,” he stated. “The
larger we can help grow available year-round supply, the
more net return we can add for users of Limousin
genetics.”
In exchange for consistently sized, docile calves raised
mostly on their mothers’ milk, Strauss Veal will
offer Limousin producers negotiated liveweight prices.
Any carcass that falls within the desired weight
range will earn a bonus. Adding to that income potential
will be the reduced costs and labor associated
with marketing weaning calves directly to the processor.
Strauss delineated the savings: “You will not have to
castrate your bull calves. You will not have to
precondition your calves for the feedyard. You will not
have to dehorn. You will not have to implant. You
will not have to wean. And you will not have to worry
about freight and commissions.”
Andersen agreed the simplicity is one of the most
attractive aspects about supplying calves to the Strauss
Veal program.
“When cow-calf producers combine simple, natural
production using Limousin or Lim-Flex® bulls with
reduced feed and labor costs, the time savings, and the
available premiums, they have an opportunity that
warrants serious business consideration,” he said. “They
also can take pride in knowing they’re playing an
essential role in producing a new, innovative, branded
product for a growing range of sophisticated consumers.”
Andersen added that all Limousin producers will benefit
from the production and carcass data Strauss
Veal will collect and share with NALF as part of the
exclusive sourcing agreement.
A 70-year-old, third-generation, family-owned company,
Strauss Veal is one of the largest veal processors
and fabricators in the United States. While the overall
veal industry has been shrinking for the past 20
years, Strauss Veal has tripled its business since 2001.
“We are a progressive-minded company with the foresight
to market what the public is looking for,”
Strauss said. “There is nothing like Meadow Reserve veal
in the marketplace. This is innovative and
exciting, and it is an opportunity to be part of
something good for not only animal agriculture but also
the consumer.”
He added that, in bringing a new production model to the
veal industry, his company would increase the
value of calves sired by registered and properly
transferred Limousin and Lim-Flex bulls.
For more information about marketing Limousin-influenced
weaning calves to the Strauss Meadow
Reserve veal program, contact Frank Padilla, NALF
director of member and commercial relations,
at (303) 220-1693.
The North American Limousin Foundation (www.nalf.org),
headquartered in Centennial, Colo., provides programs
and services – including genetic evaluation of 5,000
active sires – to more than 4,000 members and their
commercial customers. The Limousin breed and its
Lim-Flex® hybrid lead the beef industry in muscle-growth
efficiency and ideally complement British breeds.
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