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Red Angus Juniors ‘Branded ‘Em Red in South Dakota’

RAAA photoRed Angus juniors from across the nation and Canada "Branded 'Em Red in South Dakota" during the annual Round-Up.

Junior Red Angus Association of America (JRA) members from 16 states and Canada attended the “Branding ‘Em Red in South Dakota” Junior Round-Up June 23-28. This year marked the 17th Annual Round-Up, an event designed to build public speaking and leadership skills, breed and industry knowledge and camaraderie with other Red Angus juniors across the nation.

Over 50 juniors and chaperones attended the five-day event that began in Sioux Falls, SD, and traveled through the eastern and central parts of the state touring ranches, processing plants, a university, bull collection facility, cattle market and feedlot. The Red Angus juniors also competed in national contests and participated in their annual business and committee meetings and officer elections.

“The JRA Board and many South Dakota Red Angus breeders were instrumental in planning and organizing this year’s Round-Up,” said Dawn Bernhard, Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) junior programs coordinator. “The hospitality and generosity of the Red Angus breeders and host ranches were outstanding.”



Host ranches welcomed the junior entourage to view their cattle and learn more about Red Angus and the beef cattle industry.

• JD Red Angus at Mina transported attendees through their pastures to view cattle.



• Bieber Red Angus at Leola lead a discussion of genetic defects and hosted a calf branding.

• Bruce and Lynette Durheim of Ellendale, ND, five-time GridMaster winners, visited with the group about ranch management and sound business decisions.

• Gill Red Angus of Timberlake hosted pasture tours and Barnyard Olympics.

• Broken Heart Ranch at Firesteel provided pasture tours and a judging contest, as well as a cattle handling demonstration.

• Weidenbach Ranch of Highmore displayed cattle and facilitated contests.

The tour also stopped to visit area attractions and have fun.

• Professors and staff at South Dakota State University in Brookings educated attendees on cattle feeding, anatomy and selection, range science, EPDs, carcass evaluations and wholesale beef cuts.

• Dance and karaoke at Double Barrel Lodge at Lake Mina.

• Catwalk tour and cattle marketing discussion at historic Ft. Pierre Stockyards in Ft. Pierre.

• Production tour of Jack Links beef jerky plant in Alpena.

• Commercial feed mill tour in Alpena.

• Bull collection demonstration and facility tour at Genex Dakota Beef in Mitchell.

• Sightseeing at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

• Tour of Redstone Feeders confinement cattle feeding operation near DeSmet.

• Fun at the Ramada Inn water park in Sioux Falls.

Throughout the tour, juniors competed in contests, including Stockman’s Quiz and Equipment Identification, Team Sales, Team Speech, Print Advertising, Beef Quiz Bowl, Barnyard Olympics Cattle Evaluation, Scrapbook and Poster Design.

“These contests allow junior members to learn in an interesting way while testing their knowledge of the beef industry and Red Angus breed,” said Bernhard.

The Round-Up is an annual event that rotates each year to a new area. In 2010, JRA members will tour ranches and attractions in Oregon.

For information about JRA programs, visit the website at redangus.org or contact Dawn Bernhard, junior programs coordinator, RAAA, 2003 190th St., Algona, Iowa 50511, (515) 679-4006, dawn@redangus.org.