West RiverGazettApril 27, 2011

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“Freedom is not free and this is where we pay our dues,” said Harvey Gough, who started the non-profit organization Steak Team Mission, in 2002. “We take an 8-ounce USDA Choice tenderloin steak to dirty, sweater, dangerous places around the world to feed to our troops. We have been to Africa, southern Iraq and Afghanistan. We try to do one or two of these each year.”

Gough and his men will be leaving this week to head to Afghanistan to serve steaks to the troops there. Steak feeds range in numbers from 500 to 10,000 people. The meals consist of steaks with all of the fixings – cornbread, potatoes and a Klondike bar for dessert.

On a more local level is Bill Broadie, founder of the All-American Beef Battalion (AABB), a group with the same mission to say thanks to troops with a big, juicy steak. Since it’s inception in 2008, the group has served more than 80,000 men and women in the armed service.

The AABB is proud to announce its first South Dakota steak feed, which will be held on May 14, 2011 in Pierre, SD. To raise money for the cause, Kelly Landers, a cattle rancher from Mobridge, SD, is asking for support from his fellow cattlemen. On April 14, 2011 at 12 p.m. (CST), at the Mobridge Livestock Auction barn, three yearling calves will be auctioned off.

The steak feed will be held in honor of the 200th Engineering Company MRBC, which has 186 members based out of Mobridge, Fort Pierre and Chamberlain.

“The 200th will be leaving shortly after the feed in May,” said Landers. “This is our way to say thanks and good luck to the good people in our community who are making the sacrifice to protect our freedoms. Any support we can get is greatly appreciated. Casey Purman, with the Mobridge Livestock Auction barn, has been incredibly instrumental in helping to organize this auction. We are hoping to drum up $15,000 for this cause.”

Area livestock producers, community members and auction barns are encouraged to learn more about the AABB and how to get involved. For additional details, check out www.steaksfortroops.com.

Wednesday

Environmental conditions could be bredding ground for possible anthrax issues for cattlemen.

RAPID CITY JOURNAL – State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven (OH’-duh-koh-ven) is reminding South Dakota ranchers to be diligent about vaccinating livestock against anthrax.

Anthrax is a disease that effects mammals caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. According to Cattle Today most outbreaks occur in areas where animals have already died from the disease.

Although most ranchers find their infected cattle too late (dead) there are subtle signs which

appear and move quickly. The animal will go from looking healthy to having an appearance of death in only hours. Other signs include fever, difficulty in breathing, convulsions and mood swings.

Flooding across the state has created conditions that are favorable for anthrax. Bacteria spores lie dormant in the soil and can become active under conditions such as heavy rainfall, flooding or drought.

Officials say vaccination is best because unvaccinated animals often die suddenly after being exposed to the bacteria, and there isn’t an opportunity for treatment.

Think your herd is safe because you have never had an epidemic in your area? Well Oedekoven says that with the flooding conditions accross the state the bacterium could be traveling through water systems

and reaching new locations acrross the state.

“Honestly the best thing for owners to do is to v a c c i n a t e their animals in advance to avoid any issues in the future,” said Oedekoven.

Contact your local veterinarian for vaccine information and and questions you might have.

SD vet cautions ranchers about cattle anthrax

$1.00

See who’s taking control in the

CNFR standings so far this year.

Story on Page A3

Keloland.comCattle could quickly fall victim to the disease if the conditions are right.

Stormssweep across the nation hitting farms.

Story on Page A2

Beef producers support

military troops with steaks

Todd NeeleyTriState Livestock News

By Gayle SmithTriState Livestock News

By the time she was a senior in high school, one Wheatland, WY youth couldn’t imagine a life doing anything other than riding her horse through the pasture checking on her herd of cow/calf pairs.

Kellie Hinman pursued her dream. After graduating from high school, she attended the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis where she took classes in animal science, beef production, carcass evaluation and beef artificial insemination.

“I went to college for two years at NCTA and graduated with an associate’s degree in applied sciences, which is mainly livestock management,” Hinman said.

After college, Hinman started her own cattle business. “I am trying to raise my own show cattle and commercial cattle,” she says. “I showed cattle pretty much all my life, and I really enjoy it. My dad grew up doing this type of stuff. Showing cattle was a good way to get some money together in a college account.

My dad got us started in this, and I just decided to continue with it, so I kept going.”

Hinman said in the two years since she has went out on her own, she has learned a lot.

“Cattle take a lot of work and time, especially during calving season,” she says. “The hardest part of all was waiting for them to make a profit. It takes awhile.”

Hinman is developing a cow herd of Maine and Maine-Angus cows. She said there is a few in her herd with three-

way breeding, too. Her cows are artificially inseminated to popular show cattle sires like Sun Seeker, Who Made Who, Dr Who, Dirty Hairy, and Beer For My Horses.

“My goal is to raise good quality cattle, and try to raise what people are looking for in show cattle. I have selected cows with good bone... and a lot of hair,” she said, laughing. “I also want cows with all-around soundness and a calm disposition. Most of my heifers are pretty good. If you start working with the calves

early enough, they usually calm down. Once in a while, though, I will have one that doesn’t.”

Hinman said she also tries to select cattle with good muscling and marbling.

“I want to raise cattle that are still useful even if they don’t make show cattle,” she said. “I think my calves are still above average for market.”

Her commercial calves are marketed to a feedlot. “My dad has cattle, too,” she said. “His cattle are just commercial, but if he has any calves that are of show quality, he lets me trade with him.”

Most of the cows in Hinman’s herd are moderate in frame and average about 1,100 pounds. “I have a few that are bigger than that,” she said. “The calves usually finish out between 1,200 to 1,300 pounds.”

“Most of my show cattle are marketed on the internet,” she said. Hinman has her own website: lazy2klivestock.com. She also sells a few of her prospects through the Sidwell’s Club Calf Sale in Gill, CO. “I bought some of

my cows from them,” she explained, “so, they let me sell some of my prospects there.”

Two years ago, Hinman also started taking a pen of three calves to the National Western Stock Show.

“I think it is pretty good advertising,” she said. “Last year, there were a lot more people looking at the cattle. It didn’t seem like there were as many people this year, and prices were down some, but we still did pretty well.”

Hinman said she also hopes to take some calves to the open prospect calf show at the Wyoming State Fair in August. “I am hoping that by competing in this show, more people will see my cattle,” she said.

Hinman encourages young people interested in becoming ranchers to check into the Beginning Farmer and Rancher programs offered by the government. “I would encourage young people to try and buy some land to get started, or if they have a place to run some cattle, obtain a loan to buy some cattle,” she said.

Hinman dreams of running family ranch

Kellie Hinman’s involvement in the family haying operation earned her first place honors in the alfalfa hay category of the first-ever World Ag Expo Forage Challenge in Tulare, CA.

Gayle Smith

Gayle SmithHinman spends much of her time feeding to the livestock.

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NATIONAL

WASHINGTON (DTN) -- With their ability to spend handcuffed by the continu-ing dialogue over the federal deficit, key policymakers who will craft the farm bill are showing early signs of disagreement in how the con-versation needs to be shaped and how the next farm bill will play out.

Senate Agriculture Com-mittee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and House Agri-culture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas.

In speaking to agricul-tural journalists Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the overall poli-cy questions about feed, fuel and fiber need to be reconsid-ered. Lawmakers, however, focused on the problems they face with cuts not only to this year’s budget, but even steep-er cuts in 2012 that will affect the timeline needed to write a bill.

Vilsack is looking to re-shape the discussion, particu-larly on renewable energy. Getting ready for a Wednes-day hearing on the topic, Vil-sack said the policymakers in Washington are asking the wrong questions about prob-

lems with biofuels and im-pacts on food production.

“Instead of asking the question of whether imposing the biofuels industry on agri-culture, whether that creates problems for us, shouldn’t we be asking whether or not the agricultural production system can be redesigned in

such a way we can continue to meet the needs of the coun-try in terms of its food sup-ply, meet the needs in terms of feed for livestock, meet the needs in terms of capacity to produce domestic fuel that helps create jobs and improve incomes and provides energy security to our country?”

Vilsack said more work should be done to study how the land could be used more effectively to expand produc-tion through double cropping, for instance.

Lawmakers, however,

aren’t talking about new strat-egies or visions, but fewer dollars.

House Agriculture Com-mittee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said most people in his home district would prefer to just extend the current farm bill another five years. He has to grapple with a $9 billion shortfall if he just wanted to keep the current farm bill even if Congress doesn’t go further and demand even low-er spending. Lucas reminded journalists he has 23 people who have never been part of the farm bill process and 16 of his own party members on the committee are freshmen. Lucas maintains he needs 2011 to continue to educate his committee on agriculture and rural America.

“I have to have a year to get ready, get all the pieces in play, and a year with hopeful-ly better economic numbers and revenue projections from the Treasury,” Lucas said.

Still, despite not acting until 2012, Lucas thinks it’s possible to have a bill ne-gotiated between the House and Senate and to President Barack Obama by August of next year.

“I have one year to get

ready,”-Frank Lucas

Congress looks to 2012 FarmBill

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By Ken AndersonBrownfieldAgNews.comSecretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has been spending a lot time lately defending the federal government’s investment in the ethanol indus-try. His most recent grilling came last Wednes-day during a hearing of the Senate Environ-ment and Public Works Committee.

On Friday afternoon, Vilsack was in front of a much friendlier audience when he attended the grand opening of an algae biofuels facility located next to the Green Plains Energy ethanol plant in Shenandoah, Iowa.

In his remarks to those in attendance, Vil-sack said it is imperative that biofuels continue to grow. “I appreciate the fact that there are

some concerns about that,” he said, “but for me, reaching the 36 billion gallon threshold that Congress has set is an absolute imperative for this country. It’s an imperative because it is a linchpin to revitalizing the rural economy.”

Vilsack has also been getting a lot of ques-tions from member of Congress and others as to whether America’s farmers can produce enough grain to meet the world’s needs.

“I believe that our farmers are the most pro-ductive in the world. They’re going to continue to be the most productive in the world. “They can meet the food, the feed, the fiber and the fuel needs of this country—and they can also commit themselves to a robust export market, as we’re seeing.”

Brett WesslerDover’s Cattle Network

Arkansas’s farmers were assessing their fields and

buildings Friday after a line of intense storms spawned funnel clouds, high winds and hail across the state and killed seven people.

High winds caused damage to wheat fields, trees and farm structures, Extension agents with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Parts of the Arkansas Delta also received more than an inch of rain.

Lonoke County sustained plenty of damage.

“We had some wheat fields that were flattened,” Keith Perkins, Lonoke County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture said Friday. “Some looked like you had run a roller over them. This will reduce yield in those fields but we will have to wait to find out how much yield will be lost.”

“We had lots of trees and

limbs down and Highway 31 south was closed down due to trees and down power lines,” he said. “Looks like it rained green leaves last night.”

Perkins urged care when running chainsaws and to watch out for downed powerlines to avoid injuries from storm cleanup.

“There was a little bit of wind damage, limbs some wheat blown down and a few power units sheds moved,” said Brent Griffin, Prairie County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “We had 1 to 2 inches of rain across the county, but we’re getting behind on rice planting and corn.”

Eugene Terhune, Woodruff County extension agent for the U of A Division of Agriculture, said local crop consultants were not seeing any storm damage to crops Friday morning. The area received between 1 to 1.5 inches of rain.

In Lee and Phillips counties, rainfall ranged from

1.3 to more than 2 inches.“Some fields have water

standing on them, but since the drainage ditches were low it should run off soon,” said Robert Goodson, extension agent for both counties. “The only way that I foresee any damage is if the drains get stopped up.”

Goodson said Friday afternoon that the sun was shining and farmers should be able to get back into the fields by Monday.

Lawrence County Extension Staff Chair Herb Ginn said his county saw high winds and a little more than an inch of rain.

The National Weather Service’s preliminary storm report included funnel cloud sightings in Saline and Yell counties, 1.75-inch hail in Saline County, 1 inch hail in Polk, Montgomery County, and damage to chicken houses in Stone and Polk counties.

Other areas see stormsSCNOW.COMMcBEE, SC – A strong line

Storms damage farm structures and crops across nation

Vilsack says Biofuels growth is ‘imperative’

of thunderstorms that moved through the Pee Dee on Saturday evening not only dumped large amounts of rain, but in many cases large hailstones.

The hail ranged in size from that of a quarter, or one inch, to as large as a baseball, depending where it fell.

The largest hail recorded during the storm in the Pee Dee was the size of a baseball and fell just after 8 p.m. near Lake Robinson on the Darlington/ Chesterfield County line.

On Monday morning, insurance agents in that area reported receiving hundreds of calls from affected home

and vehicle owners claiming property damage.

According State Farm, weekend assessments by the insurance company indicated more than 2,100 home and auto claims connected to the hail storm. That number was on top of the more than 600 claims connected to the storm.

Brett WesslerHail damaged crops bring thoughts and fears of low a low income year for farmers at market sales.

Champion?Who will be crowned as

Find out at the CNFR in

Casper, WYJune 11 -18th

For more information go to: www.cnfr.com

A2April 27, 2011

COMPETITION

• 7,500MonthlyCirrculation• 15,000AnnualBreeder’sEdition• Subscribersin43statesandCanada

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Hello! March was a fun-filled month with some great opportunities to represent rodeo. The SDRA and NRCA held a member-ship rodeo in Rapid City at the Event Center March 25-26. I had the pleasure of represent-ing rodeo with the beautiful Perkins County Queen, Jes-sica Johnson. It was a fun and relaxed rodeo that showcased the many talents of cowboys and cowgirls in this area. What

a great opportunity to see the continuing love and support of families. Thank you to Lonny Harrowa for organizing the ro-deo and to those who brought horses for Jessica and I to ride.

At the end of March, I was honored to represent South Da-kota at the Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo (DNCFR). I was able to be a part of history as the DNCFR was hosted in Oklahoma City for the first time since moving its former Po-catello, ID location. It was an exciting atmosphere that truly felt like a mini-NFR; every rodeo performance had a theme, fireworks, a great presentation, and PRCA announcer of the year, Wayne Brooks. The contestants and visiting state queens were kept busy with a clay pigeon shooting competition at the Oklahoma Corral and were awarded a customized bronc halter for the best ten out of ten shooter. I had a fantastic time and wish I could have that opportunity more often.

. This fabulous experience was made possible by the hard work of Kathy Shumway, Melissa Heaton, Bronc Rumford, and all of the chaperones.

I hope to see you all at a future rodeo, please come by to say hello!

God bless,Vanessa Ternes - Miss Rodeo South Dakota

Vanessa Ternes, Miss Rodeo SD

Monthly Newsletter fromMiss Rodeo South Dakota

1. South Dakota St Univ. (SDSU) 5,778.002. Dickinson State Univ. (DICKSN) 4,922.503. Black Hills St Univ (BLKHIL) 3,598.504. Iowa Central Com. Coll (IACCC) 2,890.005. North Dakota St Univ (NDSU) 1,548.00

1. Black Hills St Univ (BLKHIL) 3,518.002. Dickinson State Univ. (DICKSN) 3,116.503. South Dakota St Univ. (SDSU) 2,218.504. North Dakota St Univ (NDSU) 1,282.005. Iowa Central Com. Coll (IACCC) 716.50

Men’s Teams

Women’s Teams

Great Plains RegionTeam Standings

Top 5

College rodeo season wraps upBy Jackie FitzgeraldStaff Reporter

Being college athletes is an honor to an elete few but the group that competes in the rodeo arena live an unique experience.

Through altering weather conditions and full course loads at school these college athletes take on a lot to compete at school. But according to Ron Skovly the head coach at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD its a challenge the students take on and over come.

“They go to class all day, then practice in the arena, run out to do chores before dark, then head back to do homework,” said Skovly.

Teams from the Great Plains region are wrapping

up their normal season and gearing up for the College National Finals Rodeo this summer.

While the season comes to a close two South Dakota schools a r e towards the top of the list. Both S D S U a n d B l a c k H i l l s State University are seated in the top of the list. (See the chart to the right.)

Even though many teams are too far behind to catch up to thea leaders for this years national rodeo, young men and women still continue

to ride. Passion drives them forward to prepare for what comes nexxt.

“Even though the season is over its important to always look forward to next

year,” said B r a n d e e Wa r d e l l , sophomore member of the SDSU R o d e o Team.

T h e CNFR is

set for Casper, WY, starting on June 11th and runs through the 18th. Only the top two teams from each region compete at the national level.

“Our men’s team have a solid standing for moving to Casper,” said Skovly.

“We also have a handful of individuals who should move forward in competition.”

Last year the SDSU Jackrabbit women’s team proved their worth on the national level. This year their coach believes the lower seating in the region will inspire the women to work harder in the future.

Rodeo in South Dakota is not a school sanctioned sport, meaning the school does not fund the team. Travel and lodging comes from the student athletes and through fundraisers.

The last chance points come in Dickinson, ND April 29th and 30th. Teams will be traveling up north for their final chances at points for their schools and themselves.

EDGEMONT, S.D. (TRISTATE LIVESTOCKNEWS.COM) - This summer brings another round of the Cheyenne River Roundup Ranch Rodeo in Edgemount, S.D. The event takes place on June 4th and 5th.

The action is fast-paced, with good cowboys and good horses showing their expertise doing what they do for a living. Horsemanship and being a “good hand” are very important to participants, partly due to their pride in the work, but also because Top Hand and Top Horse awards are given.

The event is a Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) sanctioned ranch rodeo and ranch horse competition featuring the area’s best

working cowboys. Since the competition is sanctioned by the WRCA winners of the event qualify for the WRCA Finals in Amarillo, Texas in Novemeber.

Though competition is serious, the camaraderie of the contestants and the blending of the families and friends that travel with them make it a unique contest. It’s a family thing, with several generations of families on the teams.

Trailers bringing horses for the ranch rodeo also carry horses of the little kids that are there to families. They camp at the grounds and catch up on visiting with the other teams and their families, so it’s a social event as well. Contact the Edgemount Chamber of Commerce for more information at 605-484-9714.

Taryn Sippel, from South Dakota State University, and Ty Krantz, from Black Hills State University, work together in the team roping competition at the Cyclone Stampede Rodeo on Friday, Oct. 1 in Iowa.South Dakota State University

Upcoming Ranch Horse Competition

markhausman.comRider works horse through gate, in Texas.

A3April 27, 2011

“its important to always look

forward ....”-Brandee Wardell