SAVE THE DATE
2026 Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention
December 11-12 – Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, Mankato, MN
Parking & Convention Center Layout
Click here to view the parking map.
Awards Ceremony
Entertainment
Trade Show & Networking
Educational Speakers
2025 Educational Sessions
Kory Lauridsen
Performance Livestock Analytics
"Utilizing Technology in Beef Production"
Kory Lauridsen from Manilla, Iowa, has been a part of the Performance Livestock Analytics team since 2018. He started as an area growth manager covering western Iowa and Minnesota. As the company continues to grow, his current role as director of strategic sale has him traveling the country working with cattle producers and channel partners. He takes great pride in his role to bring cattle producers, and the people/companies they choose to do business with, valuable data to make profitable decisions at the click of a button.Kory will present during the Cow/calf Meeting Friday morning
Minnesota Beef Checkoff Referendum Hearing
MN Dept of Ag & MN Beef Council
The Minnesota Beef Council is proposing to increase the amount of the current state checkoff by an additional 50 cents per head on all bovine animals marketed within Minnesota by each producer or feeder. The additional 50 cents per head would be refundable and subject to the Minnesota Beef Research and Promotion Order. Dairy cows purchased by a dairy producer specifically for milk production are not subject to the checkoff. Dairy cows and veal calves sold by a dairy producer for the purpose of slaughter are subject to the checkoff. For more information, visitIf you have any questions about the Minnesota Beef Checkoff, please contact the Minnesota Beef Council at 763-479-1011 or [email protected].
This public hearing from 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, is open to the public and does not require a convention registration fee to be paid to attend.
Scott Dethlefsen
Hurley & Associates
"Finding Stability in Volatile Times: Marketing Tools That Work"
Scott grew up on a diversified livestock/grain farm in southeast North Dakota. He attended North Dakota State University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree. After graduation, he started his career with USDA, APHIS in Denver, Colorado. A desire to get back to his roots in North Dakota found him accepting a position with Bell Farms of Wahpeton, North Dakota. While working fulltime, he also farmed and raised cattle by expanding his parent’s operation near Oakes, North Dakota. An opportunity to exit production ag and enter finance/insurance found Scott accepting a loan officer position with AgCountry Farm Credit Services in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and he eventually became Branch Manager.
Today, Scott’s career path has brought him to Hurley & Associates, finding solutions for producers’ farm marketing needs. A solid background and understanding of finance, insurance, production agriculture and regulations will promote successful partnerships with farmer clients.
Scott and his wife currently reside in Starbuck, Minnesota. They have two grown sons and a passion for international travel and sailing.
Scott will present during the Feeder Council Meeting Friday afternoon.
Keynote Address
John hinners
Senior Vice President, Industry Relations, U.S. Meat Export Federation
John J. Hinners Jr. joined the U.S. Meat Export Federation 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 grass roots 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 visiting the United States and is instrumental in organizing events matching those buyers with U.S. suppliers.
Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the U.S. Meat Export Federation 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 speak during lunch on Friday.
Keynote Address
Gene Copenhaver
NCBA President-Elect
Gene Copenhaver is a fifth-generation cattleman whose family dates to the 1850s in Washington County, Virginia. Copenhaver currently manages his family’s stocker operation in southwest Virginia with his son, Will.Copenhaver was an agriculture loan officer for 38 years and served his clients who were primarily cattle producers in five East Coast states. Copenhaver served as National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) vice president, chair and vice chair of the Policy Division, chair and vice chair of NCBA’s Tax & Credit Committee and chair and vice chair of NCBA’s International Trade Committee.
He is a past president of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association and past chairman of the Virginia Cattle Foundation. He and his family have long been active members and supporters of NCBA, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Smyth-Washington Cattlemen’s Association and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation. Copenhaver graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in animal science.
He has been married to his wife, Jodi, for more than 35 years, and they have three grown children, Brad, Will and Jaymee, and one granddaughter.
Gene will speak during the noon 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
Debbie Chute
Vice President, American National CattleWomen
Debbie Chute has been active in the Minnesota and National CattleWomen’s Associations since the mid-1990’s. She has served as membership chair, secretary, vice president, president-elect, president, past president, and nominating chair for Minnesota CattleWomen. She served a four-year term as Region 3 Director for American National CattleWomen and is currently serving as ANCW Vice President, a position she was elected to in February 2025. She is active in her local cattlemen’s association.
Debbie and her husband John live in north central Minnesota near the town of Aitkin, within a few miles of where they both grew up. Debbie and John own a commercial Red Angus cow/calf farm with sixty mama cows. They raise their beef from pasture to plate direct marketing beef to customers, some who have been returning for over 30 years. They are in their 44th year of selling farm fresh beef. In addition to working on their farm, Debbie has a full-time job at their local rural electric cooperative. Debbie and John have three grown children and eight grandchildren living in three different states.
Debbie is a graduate of the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program (MARL) a leadership program for agriculture and rural leaders. She has served on the MARL Alumni Committee. Debbie is involved with her county farm bureau serving as their secretary and treasurer. She has served on Minnesota Farm Bureau’s Political Action Committee.
In her spare time, Debbie enjoys cooking, baking, spending time with family, and traveling, especially seeing her grandchildren. When she has time to relax, you will find her with a book and a cup of coffee. She is looking forward to meeting and spending time with fellow cattle producers and being more active in ANCW!
Debbie will speak Saturday morning during breakfast.
Lee Hanson
Attorney, Hanson Law Office
"Farm Succession planning"
Lee has extensive experience with succession planning and implementation. Lee concentrates his practice in business law, including sales, estate planning, family business and agricultural succession planning, commercial real estate, and tax planning. Lee's practice areas are: Business Law Transactions; Business Tax; Entrepreneurial Services; Trust, Estate & Charitable Planning Agribusiness and Food.
Lee will present Saturday morning during breakfast.
Friday, December 05, 2025
Survey Says Game Night
It's time for Survey Says! Come to just watch the show or volunteer to be on one of two "families" who will go head-to-head. Think you can guess the "top answers on the board"? Then come on down to play with Sassy Lassy Events and your fellow Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention-goers.For more information about Sassy Lass Events, visit https://www.sassylassyevents.com.
