History
Written by Amanda Radke especially for the SD Beef Breeds Council
With a goal of “improving cattlemen’s confidence in the predictability and consistency of South Dakota registered breeding stock,” the South Dakota Beef Breeds Council (SDBBC) was formed on Feb. 25, 1993.
The SDBBC was founded to represent all breeds with a state breed association. This included: Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Simmental, Chianina, Shorthorn, Salers, Red Angus, Maine Anjou, Amerifax, and Tarentaise. The organization was developed--and continues to operate--with no political affiliation or agenda.
“Since the beginning, everybody has pulled together to make South Dakota cattle come to the forefront of the U.S. beef industry,” said Roger Gerdes. “We knew the state had some of the best cattle in the nation, but it took an organization to come together and spread the word about South Dakota’s seedstock producers.”
In 1993, by-laws were adopted and leadership was selected. The first officers included: Cal Sandmeier, president; Vern Rausch, vice president; and Roger Gerdes, secretary-treasurer. Under the by-laws, leaders serve two-year terms.
Export opportunities for South Dakota cattlemen
“All presidents of the respective breed associations were called to the first meeting with the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture,” said Gerdes. “At the time, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) was looking to the state’s ranchers to make connections with Mexico to explore export opportunities there. This was the original intent of the organization.”
The group started from scratch, creating an organization that would promote the state’s premier cattlemen and expand opportunities beyond U.S. borders.
“Developing export opportunities has always been a big goal of the SDBBC,” said Cal Sandmeier. “Over the years, members have participated in several trade missions.”
One of the first events the SDBBC participated in was the Export to Mexico Conference, held in Acapulco, Mexico, in May 1993. Working with the SD Division of Ag Development, SDBBC participated in the conference, which had only opened up to the United States two years prior. The organization used this opportunity to connect Mexican cattlemen to South Dakota breeders. SDBBC had a booth, which included promotional videos and brochures for each breed.
Earning a seat on the SDBIC board of directors
The SDBBC is structured so each breed has one representative on the SDBBC board of directors. If the breed has over 100 members, that breed gets a second voting representative on the board.
In March of 1996, the SDBBC became a voting organization with seats on the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) board of directors, replacing the South Dakota Beef Improvement Federation (SDBIF) after that organization dissolved. Although the SDBBC has been a voting member of the SDBIC for nearly 20 years, the organization has never requested a single checkoff dollar to use for any project.
“The biggest reason the SDBBC still exists is to serve on the SDBIC,” said Gerdes. “The SDBBC Executive Secretary Tonya Ness [currently Tammy Mikkelson] was instrumental in helping us go through the induction process and being accepted into the organization. Through the years, the SDBBC has often been the deciding vote on many SDBIC projects because we aren’t politically-motivated one way or another. We have never asked for checkoff dollars; however, we are still interested in promoting beef. Our members still have a vested interest as Beef Checkoff Program stakeholders.”
Early years
Over the years, the SDBBC has been innovative in exploring new and exciting opportunities to promote the state’s beef producers.
A big project of the SDBBC in its formative years was creating the SDBBC Bull Sale Qualifications Program in 1995, which encouraged the responsible production and marketing of South Dakota bulls. To qualify, the breeder had to be a member of the SDBBC and participate in their respective National Breed Performance Program. The following information was required on bulls: birth weight, weaning weight, adjusted 205 day weight, yearling weight, EPDs, scrotal measurements, and a breeding guarantee.
“We hope producers use this program as minimum guidelines for their production and marketing methods,” said Gerdes in a 1995 newsletter sent out to members. “This is only a minimum set of guidelines to go by. Most of our South Dakota breeders set more stringent and specific requirements for their own sales than the ones we have mapped out.”
The program never really took off, and Gerdes said it was because the state’s seedstock producers were already so advanced in their programs it was hard to develop something that could possibly top what the individual operations were already doing at home.
“Our state’s cattlemen are so respected in every breed in the nation and around the world, so it was hard to come up with something that was more cutting edge than what they were doing individually,” said Gerdes.
Three years after forming, the SDBBC hosted the first of many, Beef Breeds Rendezvous, on May 18, 1996. The event included a full day of exciting happenings including: golf, luncheon, humorous speaker, beef cook-off, beef quiz bowl, minnow races, benefit auction, and dance. From the event, 75% of the proceeds were donated to improve the South Dakota State Fair livestock facilities.
“This was a project during my three years as president,” said Gerdes. “The sole purpose of the event was to raise funds to insulate the beef barn at the South Dakota State Fair. The estimated cost to insulate the barn was $250,000; however, we didn’t think it would be that costly. We proceeded to raise money with two events in Pierre, one in Huron and one in Mitchell. We raised $50,000, and South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow saw we were trying, so he offered prisoner labor and got the project done for about half the original estimate. We also reversed the fans, so the air flow was better. Once we got the beef barn insulated, that was the end of the Rendezvous. We got the job done.”
Current projects
Today, the SDBBC is still active in the state’s cattle industry. Throughout its history, the SDBBC has hosted shows, sales, and all-breed farm/ranch tours. Members have been active in the beef shows at the South Dakota State Fair, Summer Spotlight Show, and the Black Hills Stock Show. The SDBBC also hosts a Beef Breeds tent at DakotaFest, where members can exhibit cattle for display during the event.
“Originally, the SDBBC manned a concession stand at DakotaFest, but the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association had more man power to handle the project,” said Sandmeier. “Today, the SDBBC still hosts a Beef Breeds tent at DakotaFest where any breeder can display their cattle for the event. This is also the location of our annual meeting, held the last day of DakotaFest each year.”
The SDBBC was also the brainchild behind the South Dakota Summer Spotlight Show. The organization developed the show and passed on the reigns to the South Dakota State University Extension to run. In 2012, the SDBBC again took the lead with the SD Summer Spotlight Show. Today, SDBBC and SDSU Extension have developed a working partnership with today's youth and the livestock industry in mind.
“This is a good example of how things work,” said Gerdes. “The breeders were the dreamers, and Extension took on the project. It’s a win-win project for all. Many times, the SDBBC has seen a need and addressed it. The first was insulating the roof at the State Fair. From there, we implemented the Supreme Show at the State Fair, which has been an instant success and makes for a very popular conclusion to the fair.”
To learn more about South Dakota Beef Breeds Council projects, contact a council member!
With a goal of “improving cattlemen’s confidence in the predictability and consistency of South Dakota registered breeding stock,” the South Dakota Beef Breeds Council (SDBBC) was formed on Feb. 25, 1993.
The SDBBC was founded to represent all breeds with a state breed association. This included: Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Limousin, Gelbvieh, Simmental, Chianina, Shorthorn, Salers, Red Angus, Maine Anjou, Amerifax, and Tarentaise. The organization was developed--and continues to operate--with no political affiliation or agenda.
“Since the beginning, everybody has pulled together to make South Dakota cattle come to the forefront of the U.S. beef industry,” said Roger Gerdes. “We knew the state had some of the best cattle in the nation, but it took an organization to come together and spread the word about South Dakota’s seedstock producers.”
In 1993, by-laws were adopted and leadership was selected. The first officers included: Cal Sandmeier, president; Vern Rausch, vice president; and Roger Gerdes, secretary-treasurer. Under the by-laws, leaders serve two-year terms.
Export opportunities for South Dakota cattlemen
“All presidents of the respective breed associations were called to the first meeting with the South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture,” said Gerdes. “At the time, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) was looking to the state’s ranchers to make connections with Mexico to explore export opportunities there. This was the original intent of the organization.”
The group started from scratch, creating an organization that would promote the state’s premier cattlemen and expand opportunities beyond U.S. borders.
“Developing export opportunities has always been a big goal of the SDBBC,” said Cal Sandmeier. “Over the years, members have participated in several trade missions.”
One of the first events the SDBBC participated in was the Export to Mexico Conference, held in Acapulco, Mexico, in May 1993. Working with the SD Division of Ag Development, SDBBC participated in the conference, which had only opened up to the United States two years prior. The organization used this opportunity to connect Mexican cattlemen to South Dakota breeders. SDBBC had a booth, which included promotional videos and brochures for each breed.
Earning a seat on the SDBIC board of directors
The SDBBC is structured so each breed has one representative on the SDBBC board of directors. If the breed has over 100 members, that breed gets a second voting representative on the board.
In March of 1996, the SDBBC became a voting organization with seats on the South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) board of directors, replacing the South Dakota Beef Improvement Federation (SDBIF) after that organization dissolved. Although the SDBBC has been a voting member of the SDBIC for nearly 20 years, the organization has never requested a single checkoff dollar to use for any project.
“The biggest reason the SDBBC still exists is to serve on the SDBIC,” said Gerdes. “The SDBBC Executive Secretary Tonya Ness [currently Tammy Mikkelson] was instrumental in helping us go through the induction process and being accepted into the organization. Through the years, the SDBBC has often been the deciding vote on many SDBIC projects because we aren’t politically-motivated one way or another. We have never asked for checkoff dollars; however, we are still interested in promoting beef. Our members still have a vested interest as Beef Checkoff Program stakeholders.”
Early years
Over the years, the SDBBC has been innovative in exploring new and exciting opportunities to promote the state’s beef producers.
A big project of the SDBBC in its formative years was creating the SDBBC Bull Sale Qualifications Program in 1995, which encouraged the responsible production and marketing of South Dakota bulls. To qualify, the breeder had to be a member of the SDBBC and participate in their respective National Breed Performance Program. The following information was required on bulls: birth weight, weaning weight, adjusted 205 day weight, yearling weight, EPDs, scrotal measurements, and a breeding guarantee.
“We hope producers use this program as minimum guidelines for their production and marketing methods,” said Gerdes in a 1995 newsletter sent out to members. “This is only a minimum set of guidelines to go by. Most of our South Dakota breeders set more stringent and specific requirements for their own sales than the ones we have mapped out.”
The program never really took off, and Gerdes said it was because the state’s seedstock producers were already so advanced in their programs it was hard to develop something that could possibly top what the individual operations were already doing at home.
“Our state’s cattlemen are so respected in every breed in the nation and around the world, so it was hard to come up with something that was more cutting edge than what they were doing individually,” said Gerdes.
Three years after forming, the SDBBC hosted the first of many, Beef Breeds Rendezvous, on May 18, 1996. The event included a full day of exciting happenings including: golf, luncheon, humorous speaker, beef cook-off, beef quiz bowl, minnow races, benefit auction, and dance. From the event, 75% of the proceeds were donated to improve the South Dakota State Fair livestock facilities.
“This was a project during my three years as president,” said Gerdes. “The sole purpose of the event was to raise funds to insulate the beef barn at the South Dakota State Fair. The estimated cost to insulate the barn was $250,000; however, we didn’t think it would be that costly. We proceeded to raise money with two events in Pierre, one in Huron and one in Mitchell. We raised $50,000, and South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow saw we were trying, so he offered prisoner labor and got the project done for about half the original estimate. We also reversed the fans, so the air flow was better. Once we got the beef barn insulated, that was the end of the Rendezvous. We got the job done.”
Current projects
Today, the SDBBC is still active in the state’s cattle industry. Throughout its history, the SDBBC has hosted shows, sales, and all-breed farm/ranch tours. Members have been active in the beef shows at the South Dakota State Fair, Summer Spotlight Show, and the Black Hills Stock Show. The SDBBC also hosts a Beef Breeds tent at DakotaFest, where members can exhibit cattle for display during the event.
“Originally, the SDBBC manned a concession stand at DakotaFest, but the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association had more man power to handle the project,” said Sandmeier. “Today, the SDBBC still hosts a Beef Breeds tent at DakotaFest where any breeder can display their cattle for the event. This is also the location of our annual meeting, held the last day of DakotaFest each year.”
The SDBBC was also the brainchild behind the South Dakota Summer Spotlight Show. The organization developed the show and passed on the reigns to the South Dakota State University Extension to run. In 2012, the SDBBC again took the lead with the SD Summer Spotlight Show. Today, SDBBC and SDSU Extension have developed a working partnership with today's youth and the livestock industry in mind.
“This is a good example of how things work,” said Gerdes. “The breeders were the dreamers, and Extension took on the project. It’s a win-win project for all. Many times, the SDBBC has seen a need and addressed it. The first was insulating the roof at the State Fair. From there, we implemented the Supreme Show at the State Fair, which has been an instant success and makes for a very popular conclusion to the fair.”
To learn more about South Dakota Beef Breeds Council projects, contact a council member!