2023 Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention
Save the date! December 15-16, Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center, Alexandria, MN.
"Creating a Dynasty, Leaving a Legacy"
Sponsor Information
Check out opportunities to promote your business and support the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association at the 2023 Annual Convention.
Plan Your Stay
Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center
2100 Arrowwood Lane NW
Alexandria, MN 56308
320.762.1124
Hotel block available until Nov. 17, 2023. Call the number above and mention the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association to reserve your room.
Hotel pricing: Standard Room $139, Upgraded Room $169, Suite $199
Agenda details to be released soon.
Auction Items Needed
Silent and live auction items needed! If you are able and willing to contribute, please bring your item(s) to the registration desk at convention check-in. Any items donated are greatly appreciated!
Resolutions Committee Meeting
Resolutions Committee Meeting is 2-6 p.m. Dec. 14 in the Minnewaska Room at the Arrowwood Resort.
Educational Sessions
Michaela Clowser
Michaela Clowser serves as the director of producer education at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA). She leads the development and implementation of NCBA's educational programs, including the Cattlemen's Colleges – held in conjunction with the annual convention, the Stockmanship & Stewardship program, the National Beef Quality Assurance program and the National Beef Quality Audit.
Michaela earned her B.S. from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in agricultural economics and her M.S. from Oklahoma State University in agricultural economics and international agriculture. A native Nebraskan, Michaela grew up on her family's registered Angus and Simmental operation.
Michaela will present during the Cow/calf Meeting on Friday.
Kali Flower
Farm Marketing Consultant, Hurley & Associates
"Marketing Cattle With a Business Mindset"
Founded in 1988, Hurley & Associates operates under the mission "to help our clients realize economic stability while maintaining the dignity and value of the farm family." They do this by partnering with ag producers across the country to help them understand what profitability looks like for their farm. They believe it is vital to understand a farm's break-evens, debt schedules and future goals for the operation.
Kali Flower has been with Hurley & Associates for six years. She has seen first-hand the positive impact the Hurley program has on farm families. Kali and her husband Seth own and operate Cottonwood Cattle, a herd of registered Simmentals focused on providing quality genetics to commercial cattlemen. Kali works as a farm marketing consultant for Hurley & Associates out of Glenwood, MN.
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Kali and Aaron will speak during the Feeder Council Meeting on Friday.
Aaron Erickson
Keynote Address
NCBA President Todd Wilkinson
Todd Wilkinson is a co-owner and operator of a commercial cow/calf operation with his son, Nick, in De Smet, South Dakota. He is also a co-owner of Reedstone Feeders, a family-owned cattle feeding and finishing operation.
In addition, Wilkinson has practiced law for more than 40 years, specializing in estate planning and agricultural law. He is a graduate of Augusta College and USD School of Law. His firm, Wilkinson & Schumacher, is sought after by landowners (cow/calf, stocker and feeder segments) across the state when they are facing legal challenges.
Over the years, Wilkinson has been heavily involved in local, state and national leadership roles. During his time on the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association board, he had many roles including presidential in 2015-2016.
Wilkinson has also served on numerous NCBA committees as well as the Environmental Working Group, Traceability Working Group and Cattle Marketing Working Group.
Wilkinson served as NCBA Region VII policy vice president for two years. Wilkinson is a founding member and current vice president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation.
Todd will present during lunch on Friday.
USMEF Senior VP, Industry Relations, John Hinners
John J. Hinners, Jr. joined the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) in 2001. As the senior vice president, industry relations, Hinners is responsible for the financial aspect of USMEF's export marketing programs, new business development, membership and industry relations.
In addition, Hinners leads many USMEF member delegations and grassroots trade groups to international markets where they can witness firsthand the efforts of their financial investments in building U.S. red meat demand.
Along with his USMEF colleagues, Hinners also hosts numerous teams of red meat buyers with U.S. suppliers.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the USMEF has over 100 staff members stationed in 18 offices around the world and carries out red meat market development activities in more than 100 countries.
Prior to his employment at USMEF, John worked 13 years for state and national livestock trade associations. He was raised on a diversified cattle, hog, corn and soybean farm near Carroll, Iowa, and has a bachelor's degree in animal science from Iowa State University.
John will present during lunch on Friday.
American National CattleWomen President Pam Griffin
Pamela was born in Anaheim, California, surrounded by strawberry fields and orange groves. In 1974, the family moved to Glendale, Arizona, then settling in Carefree. Both parents left agricultural roots. Her father's family ran a farming and meat operation, and her mother's side ran the family's grain operation.
Pamela grew up on what she considers a hobby farm with an array of livestock. As an adult, she worked in the legal field as well as commercial and residential real estate development. John and Pam live on his family's third-generation 110-year-old cow/calf operation in Globe, Gila County, Arizona.
Over a decade ago, they began their own cow/calf business, X4 Cattle Company, LLC. They are also actively pursuing the custom beef industry.
She has served in numerous capacities, including president-elect, vice president of ANCW, past Region VI director, chairman of the Membership Committee, previous service on the Nominating Committee, sat on a sub-committee of Ways and Means, served as Arizona State Cowbelles president, Gila County, Cowbelles president and various committee member of board seats in the Cattle industry within Arizona.
She was appointed and served under past Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue as chairman of the Arizona Farm Service Agency.
Pam is a graduate of Project CENTRAL for Arizona Rural Leadership Class XXIII. In 2019, she was the inaugural recipient of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Arizona Woman Rancher.
Pamela currently serves as ANCW president, a Bylaws/Policies and Procedures Committee Member, Board of Trustees member for Arizona Cattle Industry Research and Education Foundation, president of Gila County Cowbelles, County Planning and Zoning commissioner and a member of the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation.
Pam will speak during lunch on Friday.
Legislative Update
MSCA Legislative consultant Bruce Kleven
Bruce has extensive skills and experience as a lobbyist, attorney and mediator, political strategist, speaker and parliamentarian. His areas of focus include agriculture, the environment, energy and transportation.
He works with clients ranging from individuals to multinational corporations. Bruce is a native of west-central Minnesota where his family of fifth-generation farmers emigrated from Norway in the 1870s. He grew up working on the family farm, which produces sugar.
Bruce will speak during the afternoon on Friday.
Breakfast Briefing
Colin geppert
A cover crop and soil health enthusiast, Colin Geppert's passion is to educate others about regenerative agriculture, assisting with their goals along the way.
Colin grew up on a cow/calf operation in south central South Dakota. There, his family grew corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, rye and cover crops. The lessons learned on his family's farm about no-till, crop rotation and holistic grazing management have helped Colin become the sixth generation in his family to own and operate ground in his home area.
Colin now works for Renovo Seed, previously Millborn Seeds, as a direct sales lead in Brookings, SD. There, he leads a team that works with farmers and ranchers on a forage, cover crop, native grasses and turf grass selection.
A 2018 graduate of South Dakota State University, Colin holds a B.S. Degree in agricultural sciences. He and his family live in Estelle, SD, where they are active in the community and church.
In Colin's free time, he likes spending time with his family, exercising and being outdoors.
Colin will provide a short presentation Saturday morning and participate on the panel afterwards.
Breakfast Panel
Grant Breitkreutz
Panelist, Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association
Grant Breitkreutz and his wife Dawn are the third generation of farmers on their operation, which is located on the bluff of the Minnesota River northwest of Redwood Falls. They work tirelessly through the implementation of numerous conservation practices to ensure the natural resources entrusted to them are well cared for and will remain productive for many years to come.
Efforts made in conjunction with NRCS and the DNR have helped them demonstrate to their community and peers that producers can sustainably increase production on their land with the implementation of strategic practices which will result in improved soil health.
Over the past 20 years, they have converted a conventional crop and cow/calf operation into a multi-enterprise regenerative family business. Their crops have changed from a corn and soybean rotation to at least a three-crop rotation, with cover crops incorporated whenever and wherever possible in their 100 percent no-till cropping system.
The Breitkreutzs have received numerous awards in the past years for their conservation efforts, including the Region Three Environmental Stewardship Award Program winners in 2016. They received their MN Ag Water Quality Certification in 2016.
Grant currently serves as the Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association past president.
Ben Dwire
Panelist, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition
Ben Dwire serves as the MN Soil Health Coalition chairman. Ben and his family farm in both Lincoln and Lyon counties, near Arco, MN. His wife Kari is a pharmacist, and Ben farms full time.
Kristi and Ben are both graduates of South Dakota State University. They have two daughters, Sara and Madison, who are both in elementary school.
The Wires farm cropland and hay and pasture land. The crops are 100 percent no-till and non GMO. They raise soybeans, oats, wheat, corn and various annual forage crops. The Dwires usually try to have at least two or three of their acres or more receive cover crops each year.
Their farm was enrolled in the Minnesota Clean Water Certification program in the fall of 2016. On their pasture, they practice management intensive grazing, where animals are moved either daily or at three-day intervals, depending on time of year and management objectives. They raise beef, pork and chicken, all on pasture.
Eric Mousel
Panelist, University of Minnesota
Eric Mousel is a beef systems management specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension.
He organizes several statewide educational programs including Cow/Calf Days, the Minnesota Grazing School and the Fall Beef Roundup.
Eric is a native of Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Eric and his wife Alaina raise Red Angus seedstock on their farm near Jacobson, MN.
Colin Geppert
Panelist, Renovo Seed
View bio above.
2022 Cattleman of the year
Mike Landuyt was selected as the 2022 Cattleman of the Year at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention held in Willmar, Minnesota.
Nominate your 2023 Cattleman of the Year
The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association (MSCA) through the Minnesota Cattleman of the Year award annually recognizes an individual cattleman that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and personal dedication to Minnesota's cattle community. MSCA accepts nominations for the honor and presents the nominations to a selection committee consisting of individuals that are past recipients of the award. The announcement of the selection is made public at the annual Best of Beef Banquet during the MSCA convention in December.
Have someone in mind who you think is deserving of this award? To view the nomination form and make a submission, click HERE.
Deadline for nominations is November 17, 2023.
2022 industry service award winner
MinnWest Bank was recognized as the 2022 Industry Service Award winner.
2023 Industry Service Award
This award is designed to recognize an individual, business, or organization that has demonstrated support to grow the Minnesota cattle industry or community.
The beef industry in Minnesota depends on the support of agricultural businesses and organizations for the advancement of our industry. The Minnesota Beef Industry Service Award serves as an avenue for MSCA to recognize and thank these groups for their efforts in our state. Nominations are submitted to the Executive Committee, which then selects the award recipient. The announcement of the selection will be made public at the annual Best of Beef Banquet during the MSCA convention in December. Nominees must have demonstrated leadership and support to the cattle industry that have made a positive and lasting contribution to Minnesota's cattle community.
Deadline for nominations is November 17, 2023
To view the nomination form and make a submission click HERE.
Friday, December 15
C. Willi Myles
