MAPLE PLAIN, Minn. — Nearly 500 cattlemen, cattlewomen, & cattle industry members gathered in Alexandria, MN for the 2018 Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention. This premier networking, 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 thrive into 2019.
“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’s newly appointed President Mike Landuyt. “We were excited to welcome a number of first time attendees as well as well-established industry leaders to this year’s event!”
Opening this year’s event, attendees heard about the importance of export markets and celebrated the historical levels of beef exports enjoyed in 2018 in a presentation from the U.S. Meat Export Federation. During the 2018 Cattlemen’s College Educational Series, attendees learned how to protect their family farming legacy through right to farm legal protections. The highlight of the educational series was a millennial consumer panel moderated by Representative Tim Miller focusing on consumer perception of farming and ranching. The education series ended with U of M research focusing on livestock integration and manure application on cover crops to meet the nutritional needs of diverse cover crop plantings. The Cattlemen’s College Educational Series was sponsored in part by the National Corn Growers Association, Prairie Creek Seed, Gisialson and Hunter, LLP, the University of Minnesota and Where Food Comes From, Inc.
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. House Agriculture Committee Member Collin Peterson and Senator Tina Smith shared a Farm Bill update, as well as efforts to ensure farmers have the tools they need to thrive into 2019 through policy reform. Members of the MSCA resolution committee set new policy on laboratory cultured protein, wildlife population management, and agency programs.
First time attendee Patrick Hackley of Grygla, MN stated “Of the many agriculture focused meetings I’ve attended over the past few years, this event had the best mix of education, networking and policy. The members and leaders of this association work hard to represent cattlemen from all sectors of the beef industry in Minnesota.”
During Friday evening’s Best of Beef Banquet, the MSCA Farm Fest Committee (consisting of Krist and Kari Wollum, Mark Malacek, Dick and Judy Pesek and Grant and Dawn Breitkreutz) was recognized as the 2018 Minnesota Cattlemen of the year for their dedication and efforts to organizing and executing MSCA’s Beef Barn activities at Farm Fest. MDA Commissioner Dave Frederickson was named the 2018 Beef Industry Service Award recipient for his efforts to support and grow the livestock industry in Minnesota.
The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association leadership team includes many new members this year. Newly elected leadership includes: Joe Wagner of Brandon, MN as Feeder Council Chairmen and Jake Thompson of Barnsville, MN as Cow/Calf Council Chairmen. Regional directors include Patrick Hackley of Grygla, MN as Region 1 Director, Darv Keehr of Little Falls, MN as Region 5 Director, Angie Ford of Lake Wilson, MN as Region 7 Director and Ted Brenny of Mazeppa, MN as Region 9 Director. The MSCA executive committee for 2019-2020 will consist of Mike Landuyt, Walnut Grove, as President, Grant Breitkreutz of Redwood Falls as President-Elect, Mark Pankonin of Lamberton as Vice President and Kevin Hoge of Aitkin as Secretary.
For more information about the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association’s or the 2018 annual convention, contact Ashley Kohls, MSCA Executive Director at 612-618-6619 or ashley@mnsca.org.
— Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
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