Cattle demonstrations at Husker Harvest Days offer attendees a good chance to see side-by-side comparisons of cattle chutes in action, as well as being entertained along the way.

“Dr. Joe” Jeffrey is back for another year as emcee of the cattle demonstrations, moderating the action as handlers run cattle through the various chutes that will be put to the test.

Jeffrey, a veterinarian from Lexington, Neb., is ready to entertain and educate during the cattle handling demos. It promises to be just as informative as in years past with side-by-side chute comparisons, and just as entertaining with his running commentary.

“We tell a few stories and have some fun, too,” says Jeffrey, who uses humor to engage and inform the audiences. “It has been a lot of fun.”

He says he learned early on from attendees about what they want: “Teach me a little, but I also want to be entertained.”

Long veterinary career

Jeffrey says his lengthy veterinary career has provided him plenty of fodder for stories. “I worked for seven veterinarians, and they would send me on the calls that they didn’t want to go on,” he says.

He has traveled across the country taking his cattle knowledge and home-spun humor to demonstrations similar to what Husker Harvest Days attendees will experience.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS: The voice of HHD Cattle Handling Demos, Dr. Joe Jeffrey, entertains the audience during the live cattle demos. But he says the real stars of the demos are the guys handling the cattle and working the chutes.

Jeffrey enjoys teasing some of the chute operators, but he is quick to admit that the real stars of the show are the chute workers who make the demonstrations successful year after year — and the equipment itself.

“It is much more successful than I would have anticipated. The chutes have really improved over the years,” he says. “The greatest changes have been how strong the chutes are built today, and that they are much safer for the livestock and the handlers.”

Audience favorite

Since live cattle handling demonstrations and side-by-side chute comparisons began with the 1988 show, they have become a favorite by audiences as they look forward to seeing the latest chutes and technology demonstrated. It also helps that they are entertained by Jeffrey’s banter.

ROYAL TREATMENT: The 2022 Nebraska Rodeo Queen got in on placing ear tags in cattle as part of the animal handling and chute demonstrations at Husker Harvest Days.

All ranchers know that things don’t always go as planned when working with cattle, and the same holds true at the HHD demos, as calves have been known to sneak through a chute before getting caught in the headgate.

That’s just par for the course, according to Jeffrey. Bringing the equipment and cattle together at HHD is a good way for producers to compare chute features, while seeing them in action.

Where to find the action

The demonstrations, located on Lot 860 in the Livestock Industry Building at the corner of Eighth Street and West Avenue, will take place each day at Husker Harvest Days at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The demos are sponsored this year by Arrowquip and Ramsey Ranch Supply in Bartlett. They are situated in a prime spot amid livestock exhibits, breed association displays, and beef- and livestock-related equipment and machinery.