Sandhills Cattle Association

   The Sandhills Cattle Association will hold its 73rd Annual Convention on Thursday, May 24 at the Thomas County Fairgrounds near Thedford, Ne. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. (CDT) and the convention is open to all interested cattle producers whether or not they are members of the Association.
    Leading off the program at 10:00 a.m., will be Bethany Johnston and Jay Jenkins. These two UNL Extension Educators will demonstrate the “Chuck Roll Beef Value Cuts.” Participants will watch as Johnston and Jenkins take a Chuck Roll and fabricate it into the various cuts. Traditionally the chuck roll is ground into hamburger or cut into roasts. However, the chuck roll can be fabricated into a number of delicious and tender steaks and roasts, including the Denver steak, Sierra cut, boneless country ribs, the American roast, and the Delmonico steak. Convention participants will have the opportunity to sample the Denver steak later in the day. The Nebraska Beef Council sponsors the meat for this demonstration. 
     As an Extension educator, Johnston delivers beef and 4-H programs across the Central Sandhills area covering 5 counties. She grew up on a registered Angus ranch east of Rose, Ne., and has a degree in Meat Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she studied under Chris Calkins, who was a major player on influencing the research and development of the beef value cuts, the most famous of which is the flat iron steak. Jenkins has been a UNL Extension Educator in Cherry County since 2005, with previous experience in Washington and Wyoming. He has a bachelor’s degree in General Agriculture and a Masters in Animal Science. Jenkins works to provide information and education that helps ranchers make decisions and achieve their goals through the use of a variety of tools including risk management and estate planning projects.
     At 11:00 a.m., Ty E. Lawrence, an Associate Professor of Animal Science at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas, will present “Beef Production Beyond the Ranch and Feedlot.” Dr. Lawrence was raised on a cow-calf operation near Dalhart, Texas before pursuing formal education at West Texas A&M University (B.S., M.S.) and Kansas State University (Ph.D.). He spent 2 years with Smithfield Foods. Dr. Lawrence is the Director of the WTAMU – Beef Carcass Research Center, which annually evaluates approximately 50,000 cattle for various research projects. He also serves as the Director of the WTAMU – Meat Laboratory. His research activities focus on improving the yield and quality of red meat products. Dr. Lawrence’s appearance is made possible, in part, by Merck Animal Health.
     Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Association’s annual business meeting. Members will elect officers and for the 2012-13 year and five directors to serve on the Board of Directors. The presentation of scholarships will follow.
     Leading off the afternoon presentations at 2 p.m. will be Roy Schnell, DVM. He will demonstrate acupuncture and chiropractic techniques that can be used on horses and cattle. Dr. Schnell is a graduate of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University Veterinary College and is currently a veterinary field officer for the State of Nebraska. He will demonstrate skills learned at the Options for Animals Chiropractic School in 2006.
     Mike Kesselring wraps up the day’s presentations on a light note asking “Can You Work with Your Wife and Still Sleep with Her?” He is a co-owner of the family business, High Plains Homestead, home of the Drifter Cookshack and Bunkhouse, northwest of Crawford, Ne. The Kesselrings began building the cowtown, bunk and board in 1997. Mike is currently co-chair of the Nebraska Tourism Advisory Board and chair of the Western Nebraska Tourism Coalition. The Kesselring family was awarded the Nebraska Tourism Henry Fonda Award in 2009. In addition, Mike and his wife, Linda, were recently awarded the 2012 West Nebraska Region Connecting Nebraska Award.
     Following the speakers, convention activities will move into the trade show pavilion where attendees can visit with over 40 exhibitors featuring industry products and services. The Annual Benefit Auction to raise funds for SCA Scholarships and educational and promotional programs will be held at 6:00 p.m., followed by the evening food booths.
     Registration fees for convention are $30 for SCA members and $45 for non-members. Rates increase after May 15. Convention is made possible with the help of these sponsors: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Merck Animal Health, Sandhills State Bank, Thomas County Visitors Committee, Ag West Feeds, Great Western Bank, Hoffman Ranch, Nebraska Beef Council, Pfizer Animal Health, Purdum State Bank, Security First Bank, Vitalix Inc., Arrow Seed, Consolidated Companies, Inc., Farm Credit Services of America, Farmers Ranchers Co-op, Nebraska Cattlemen, NebraskaLand National Bank, Sandhills Premium Feed and Supplement, Superior Livestock Auction, Weber & Company Real Estate, American Mortgage Co. & Farmers State Bank, Burwell Livestock Market Inc., Hodges Conoco, North Platte Feed Center, Roadside Inn, Stockman's Vet and Vinton Feed.
     The day before convention, Wednesday, May 23, the 15th Annual Sandhills Cattle Association Golf Classic will be held at the Thedford Golf Course, Thedford, Nebraska. The fun, 4-person scramble will tee off at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) with a shotgun start. The tournament is open to everyone regardless of golf experience. The entry fee of $60 includes 18 holes of golf, cart, lunch, and prizes. The Sandhills Cattle Association’s Golf Classic is a fund raising event for the Association. Monies raised will be used for Sandhills Cattle Association’s promotional and educational programs. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica will serve a complimentary smoked beef brisket after the golf tournament.
     A detailed schedule is available by clicking the link below or by contacting the Sandhills Cattle Association office at 402-376-2310 or 800-658-0551.

Convention Schedule and Registration

     The 15th Annual Sandhills Cattle Association Golf Classic will be held on Wednesday, May 23 at the Thedford Golf Course, Thedford, Nebraska. The fun, 4-person scramble will tee off at 11:00 a.m. (CDT) with a shotgun start. The tournament is open to all interested persons regardless of golf experience. 
     The entry fees are $60 per person and include 18 holes of golf, golf cart, lunch, and prizes. Please call the SCA office at 800-658-0551 for entry information.
     The Sandhills Cattle Association’s Golf Classic is a fund raising event for the Association. Monies raised will be used for Sandhills Cattle Association’s promotional and educational programs. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica will serve complimentary smoked beef brisket after the golf tournament.
     Thank you to these Golf Classic Hole Sponsors: Agri Affiliates Inc., North Platte;  Ag Valley Co-op, North Platte;  Bills Volume Sales/Roto-Mix, Central City;  Call's Garage, Thedford;  Cow Country Animal Clinic, Thedford;  Hodges Conoco, Thedford;  Johnston Well Repair, Stapleton;  Neal Lumber, Thedford;  Pfizer Animal Health;  Sandhill Oil Co., Thedford

     The bitter temperatures broke and the day dawned clear for the 22nd Annual Ranch Tour held on Saturday, January 21. Just over 170 people toured the four diverse family ranches and one Thedford business. The first tour host was the Dailey Angus Ranch, where tour participants assembled in the garage before learning about the Dailey’s operation and inspecting their facilities.

     Officers and directors for the Sandhills Cattle Association were elected during the annual business meeting at the 72nd Annual Convention held May 26 in Valentine.
     The directors elected for a 3 year term were: Jody Dexter, Valentine; Tim Evans, Whitman; Adam Fischer, Valentine; Neil Jorgenson, Callaway; and Shane Kime, Nenzel.
     The officers for the 2011-12 term are: President- Lemoyne Dailey, Thedford (pictured at right); Vice President- Jody Dexter, Valentine (pictured in middle); and Treasurer- Dave Nichols, Chambers (pictured at left).

The 21st Annual Ranch Tour was held Saturday, January 22 south of Hyannis, Ne. Tour stops included SandPoint Cattle Company-Arthur Division, Y Six Livestock, the Dan & Linda Crouse ranch, Hebbert Charolais and Wellas Cattle Company. Close to forty vehicles joined the caravan through the Sandhills to see some great country, impressive cattle and learn about five very different ranching operations. Thank you to everyone who attended and to our hosts and sponsors for the enjoyable day.

     This year marks the 20th year the Sandhills Cattle Association has presented scholarships to children of Association members. During those 20 years, 365 applications were recieved, averaging 18 per year. To date, 73 students have received scholarships, nine of whom have earned an SCA scholarship twice. The number and amounts of the scholarships have changed throughout the life of the program. For the first four years two scholarships were offered annually in the amounts of $500 and $1000. For 7 years after that three $500 scholarships were awarded and in 2003 the number was increased to four. In 2004 the number of scholarships presented was upped to five per year and since 2007, there has been five $1000 scholarships awarded each year. The annual benefit auction and memorial money have been instrumental in establishing and sustaining the SCA scholarship fund. We are grateful to those who have contributed funds and donated, bid on or purchased items in the auction over the years. Since 1992, a total of $51,250 has been paid out in Sandhills Cattle Association scholarships.
     Once again this year $1,000 Sandhills Cattle Association scholarships were awarded to five outstanding young people to help them continue their educations. There were 18 qualified applicants making the decision difficult. Sandhills Cattle Association Scholarships were awarded to: (from left) Sydney Gehl, daughter of Greg & Susan Gehl, Ericson; Amanda Keys, daughter of Kerry & Anita Keys, Elsmere; Brittney Andersen, daughter of Clint & Jean Andersen, Lakeside; Kip Littau, son of LeRoy & Dawn Littau, Carter, SD; Justin Nollette, son of Tim & Terri Nollette, Nenzel.
     Braden Storer (second from left), son of Eric & Tanya Storer, Whitman, was presented the Howard Wright Memorial Scholarship. The $500 scholarship is administered by the SCA and awarded by the Wright family in memory of Mullen area rancher, Howard Wright.
     Committee members were: Aleta Ambler, Anselmo; Dennis Bammerlin, Millboro, SD; Eric Connot, Clearfield, SD; Mart Hollenbeck, Bassett; Cherryl Lovejoy, Valentine; and Sherrill Shadbolt, Brownlee.