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Bee Empire Days industry events
Published 5/31/2011 in Beef Empire Days
By The Telegram
In order for cattle to go from pasture to plate, a number of people are involved every step of the way.
Beef Empire Days provides a number of events to demonstrate this process. From cowboy competitions to beef judging, the public can see what the beef is all about.
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Brad Nading/Telegram Tom Carr, Irbana, Ill., left, and others in the crowd keep an eye on cattle as the animals make their way through pens during the 2010 Beef Empire Days Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Live Show at the Finney County Fairgrounds. Carr judged for the carcass portion of the show.
Here are several annual events that give participants and observers a chance to see what the beef industry in southwest Kansas is made of.
* Awards Banquet: The Beef Empire Days awards banquet, presented by Farm Credit of Southwest Kansas and Pfizer Animal Health, is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday with the Cargill Animal Nutrition Social Hour at the Clarion Inn Ballroom. The awards banquet will follow. Guests will be served western Kansas beef. Awards for the Live and Carcass shows will be presented, as well as awards for the Cattle Working Contest, Ranch Rodeo and the Mary M. Hopkins Award for Volunteer Service. The Beef Empire Days academic scholarship recipients will be recognized, along with the Southwest Kansas Cattlewomen academic scholarship winner. After the awards, guests are invited to view the carcasses and participate in the Carcass Evaluation Contest at Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., scheduled to begin at 9 that night. The 10 carcasses from the live judging contest will be available for judging in men's, women's and youth divisions. Prizes will be awarded to each class. For more information, call 275-6807.
* Ranch Rodeo: This event will be held 7 p.m. Thursday at the Finney County Fairgrounds Grandstand Arena and will feature events in which traditional working cowboys demonstrate skills used every day in cattle ranching operations. These include combinations of roping, horsemanship and groundwork skills to create a more genuine representation of real-life ranch work. It is considered a team event, not an individual competition. Events are calf branding, team doctoring, double mugging, trailer loading and team penning. The event will feature up to 15 teams. For more information, call 275-6807
* BED Steer Trial Auction: Happy hour for this event will being at 6 p.m. at the Clarion Inn Hotel Grand Ballroom on Friday. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by a photographic auction at 7:30 p.m. After the auction, there will be entertainment. Thirty-five steers make up the field for this year's Beef Empire Steer Trial Auction. For more information, contact Derek Martin, 397-5341.
* Live Show: The Animal Health Live Show is scheduled to begin at noon Wednesday, and will be the final judging of the top steers and heifers.
This year's judge will be Dr. Randy Harp, associate professor of animal science at Tarleton State University.
The public will be able to judge from the grandstands as participants can inspect cattle throughout the morning at the east end of the grandstand. Judging will be based on estimating the yield and quality grades of the cattle. For more information, contact Steve Dinkel, (620) 384-7431
* Cattle Working Contest: Held at noon Friday at the Finney County Fairgrounds, this event is open to all area processing crews and provides an excellent opportunity to learn all the newest trends and the latest equipment in cattle handling. All participants will receive lunch, have a short educational program and then the contest will begin. Entry forms are available by contacting the Beef Empire Days office, 275-6807. For more information, contact Lucas Regula, (419) 236-2584.
* Carcass Show: Carcasses will be judged Friday night at Tyson Fresh Meats. The carcasses are judged based on the Beef Empire Days Index. The index involves a variety of factors, including the monetary value of the carcass to the industry, along with the quality grade and yield grade. The yield grade is the amount of muscle cutability. The quality grade indicates the eating satisfaction of the meat. It is set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and helps assess a market value. For more information, call Ron Hale, (405) 255-1065
* Grandstand Judging: This contest will be held around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. Divisions for men, women and youth will be available for the live judging of steers and heifers. The cattle will be available for inspection throughout the morning at the east end of the grandstand. Participants will judge estimating the yield and quality grades. For more information, contact Clint Alexander, 276-9527.
* Feedlot and Sponsors Roping and Riding: Area feedyard employees that enjoy barrel racing and team roping can participate in this event, which is held at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Finney County Fairgrounds Arena. Concessions will be available. For more information, contact Monte Roblyer, (620) 253-7175.
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