Dakota Farmer

Six South Dakota farm and ranch youth win stock through Herd Builder program.

October 31, 2022

4 Min Read
South Dakota Farmers Union Herd Builder program recipients
HERD HELP: South Dakota Farmers Union Herd Builder program gave awards at the Western Junior Livestock Show in Rapid City. Holding signs are recipients Carissa Scheel (left), Madison Hofer and Keeleigh Reis-Elwood, with SDFU’s membership coordinator, Rocky Forma, and its executive director, Karla Hofhenke. The three recipients received breeding ewes to build their flocks. Courtesy of the South Dakota Farmers Union

South Dakota State University pre-veterinary student Madison Hofer says she’s excited to apply the skills she’s learning in class to the breeding ewe she won from South Dakota Farmers Union.

“This is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to raise my own sheep,” says Hofer, who grew up on her family’s crop farm near Freeman. “I am eager to take care of her medical needs. But what I am most excited about is when she lambs.”

Hofer is among six youth to receive breeding stock — three ewes and three heifers — through South Dakota Farmers Union Herd Builder program. The other youth are Jacob Jung, Mina; Rope Reis, Reliance; Austin Rose, Chamberlain; Keeleigh Reis-Elwood, Oacoma; and Carissa Scheel, Alpena.

Youth are selected based on an application process, and they were awarded breeding livestock during the 2022 Western Junior Livestock Show held in Rapid City.

Getting youth started

Helping youth get a start in the livestock industry is the reason SDFU launched the Herd Builder program in 2019, Executive Director Karla Hofhenke says. “It is so challenging for young people to get a start in agriculture. Farmers Union thought a good way to support the next generation was to give a quality breeding heifer and ewe to youth who plan to remain involved in South Dakota’s livestock industry.”

Purchased from South Dakota cattle and sheep producers, Farmers Union staff selected the breeding stock based on their maternal genetic traits. “They are selected for breeding purposes,” Hofhenke  says. “We anticipate the youth will also show them because they look pretty good in the show ring. But these are not club calves and lambs; they are quality breeding stock.”

Until winning this Herd Builder award, Hofer only raised show sheep. This ewe will start Hofer’s commercial flock, which she plans to continue to expand. “I’ll use the money I earn from the offspring to help pay for vet school,” she says.

Building their herds

Each Herd Builder recipient has a different story, but they all agree that receiving a quality breeding animal at no cost will support their long-term goal of raising livestock.

“It is a free investment to help me expand my flock of sheep,” says Reis-Elwood, a senior at Chamberlain High.

After high school, Reis-Elwood plans to attend Mitchell Tech and pursue a degree in animal science to become a livestock nutritionist.

“I want to help livestock producers develop their feed rations,” she says. “And I 100% plan to continue building my own herds.”

Reis-Elwood is already in the process of getting her ewe bred. And fellow recipient Scheel offered to let her utilize a ram at her family’s Alpena sheep farm.

Scheel, a third-generation farmer, says she’s excited about expanding her own breeding flock from six to seven, as well as the new genetics this ewe introduces.

“She will be a good change,” Scheel says. “Raising this flock of my own has given me many skills, including financial skills because I took out a loan to pay for the first six.”

Once her loan is paid off, Scheel will use the income her flock generates to help pay for college. This is also Rose’s plan. The 13-year-old owns 10 cows, so he understands the cost-savings of winning a breeding heifer.

“She will make a great cow and winning her saved me a good $2,000,” Rose says.

A sixth-generation Chamberlain rancher, Rose also works on his family’s cow-calf and feedlot operation. He helps with feeding, cleaning feedlot pens, working cattle and does some fencing. Of all the chores he does, Rose most enjoys helping with calving. “I get to go out in our pasture, find the good-quality cattle and think which one will be my next show cattle?”  

For fun, Rose likes to show cattle. “I like going to cattle shows because I get to be with my friends who also show cattle,” he says.

Although college is a few years down the road for the eighth-grader, Rose says his career plans will probably include continuing his family’s ranch.

Eighth-grader Jung also plans to continue his family’s farming tradition. “I want to stay in the cattle business. It is what my parents do, so it is what I have done my entire life, and I find it interesting.”

At 14, Jung is well on his way. He has already built up his commercial cow-calf herd to 20.

‘Great opportunity’

Like Jung and most of the other Herd Builder recipients, Reis has built up a small herd of cattle. Because of this, he understands the value of the heifer he won. “This is a great opportunity,” says the fourth-generation Oacoma rancher. 

In addition to raising cattle, Reis also trains horses. He uses most of the money he earns from these endeavors to reinvest in herd expansion, so that he can continue his family’s tradition.

“This Herd Builder program is a good idea,” Reis says. “Because it helps us younger kids continue raising livestock.”

To learn more about how South Dakota Farmers Union supports family farmers and ranchers, visit sdfu.org.  

Source: South Dakota Farmers Union

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