Welcome to the Minnesota Beef Expo!

SHOWMANSHIP JUDGES

Carmen Paulsen

Carmen Paulsen resides in Preston, Iowa with her husband Jeff and their 3 boys. Carmen grew up in eastern Iowa on a diversified farm, raising and showing Simmental cattle. She graduated from Black Hawk East where she was on the livestock judging team, and later earned an animal science degree from Iowa State University. Carmen is currently a sales manager for Ralco Animal Nutrition, overseeing their retail and distributor business. She has judged several youth beef cattle shows and enjoys working with youth livestock exhibitors.

Zach Hall

Zac Hall earned his Bachelor of Science in animal science with minors in agriculture business and food safety from North Dakota State University before pursuing his Master of Science Degree in ruminant nutrition with a focus on reproductive physiology at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. 

He is active in his family’s cattle operation, Hall Stock Farm, near Berthold, ND where they raise registered Angus and Sim-Angus cattle. The Hall family will host their tenth annual bull sale the fourth Tuesday in March 2025. A lifelong cattle breeder, he and his family have successfully exhibited cattle around the region. 

Zac loves working with livestock and youth. He served as a volunteer 4-H and FFA livestock judging coach, he has guided four teams representing North Dakota in national competitions where several teams and individuals earned recognition. He enjoys watching his past judging team members utilize their communication and evaluation skills as they pursue their collegiate and professional careers

After ten years of corporate sales and marketing experience, Hall created Forté Livestock, a photography and consulting service focused on marketing and promoting cattle and assisting cattle producers with the tasks associated with maintaining records and data management. Most recently he accepted a job with Zoetis Pet Care and relocated to Golden valley, MN where he services vet clinics in Southern and Western MN.  

JUNIOR SHOW JUDGES

Josh Cribbs

Joshua Cribbs, from White, South Dakota has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas Tech University as well as a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition. He earned both while competing on a National Champion Meat Animal Evaluation Team and serving as an Assistant Coach to a National Champion Livestock Judging Team in 2012. He left Lubbock and moved to Brookings, South Dakota where he became a faculty member and served in a lecturer position, as well as the livestock judging coach. Joshua has always been driven to start his own seedstock operation, and with support and help from his wife Abbie, they’ve made that a reality over the last couple of years. Joshua currently serves as the Director for Commercial Development and Breed Improvement with the American Maine-Anjou Association. He and Abbie also own and operate Our Perspective, a livestock marketing venture. They have four children and are committed to raising them in animal agriculture. 

Tyler Cates

Tyler Cates is from Modoc, Indiana where he raises Shorthorn and Angus cattle with his wife Cortney and daughter Piper. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College where he was a member of the livestock judging team. He then went on to attend Purdue University where he served as a member of the judging team and as an assistant coach. He has judged multiple national breed shows and several junior national shows across the United States. 

SYMPOSIUM HEIFER

Donated by Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association
Mentored by Mark Pesek

The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) is a membership-based organization that represents cattle producers and individuals who are part of the cattle community in Minnesota. The association is currently offering opportunities for junior members through the creation of the Minnesota Junior Cattlemen’s Association. The junior program will provide junior leadership development, career opportunities and junior activities at the MSCA State Convention, Summer Cattlemen’s Tour and many other events. The MSCA currently represents around 900 members from all segments of the beef community. They are proud of their partnership with over 20 local cattlemen’s associations from around the state that affiliate with the MSCA. The MSCA is primarily focused on addressing local, state and federal issues impacting the long-term viability of cattle production and ensuring Minnesota’s business climate welcomes the growth and long-term success of raising cattle in Minnesota. The MSCA also works on several promotional activities during the year, including Farmfest, the Minnesota Beef Expo, the Minnesota State Fair, Cattlemen and the Capitol events (both in St. Paul and Washington, D.C.) and many more! The MSCA has been proud to provide a heifer every year for the Thursday night Symposium since its start 10 years ago, and the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association is happy to provide another heifer this year to the lucky Symposium recipient. 

SPECKLE PARK

Donated by Hay Creek Speckle Park, Brad & Lacey Sonnentag and Family of Boyd, Wis. on behalf of the American Speckle Park Association

Brad, Lacey & family are a first-generation beef farming family near Boyd, Wis.  After years of researching beef cattle, they came across the Speckle Park breed and knew that this breed was exactly what they wanted. In 2020, they purchased their first bred cows from Heavenly Acres in New York and yearling heifers from Greenwood Speckle Park in Canada. Their daughter Brynlee has also fallen in love with the breed. She has raised her own heifers and steers, which she has shown at the local fairs and on the biggest stage at Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City. 
 
The Speckle Park breed is amazing! The breed does more with less and has excellent meat quality. The Sonnentag family believes that within 10 years it could be one of the top beef breeds in the USA. 
 
Follow Hay Creek Speckle Park on Facebook or @HayCreekSpecklePark on Instagram to find out more about the Sonnentag family and their operation.  
Email: bjsonnentag@gmail.com
Cell: (715)313-3640

SOUTH DEVON

Donated by K&M Cattle, Matt & Kindra Wayrynen of McGregor, Minn., on behalf of the Northern States South Devon Association

K&M Cattle of McGregor, Minn. is owned and operated by Matt & Kindra Wayrynen and family. While both Matt and Kindra had their own cattle and ranching backgrounds, they purchased Matt’s family farm in 2010 and began operating together. Matt and Kindra established a cow/calf herd of some registered and some commercial SimAngus cattle. They introduced South Devon in 2022 and have significantly transitioned to mostly registered South Devon cattle. Currently, they have about 100 head of cattle, calving both spring and fall, and raising seedstock. Kindra grew up showing beef cattle in 4-H and continues as a club leader and beef project mentor. Matt has since begun showing and mentoring alongside Kindra. Their children are beginning to learn through Cloverbuds and Open Class shows. The family’s passion for educating youth and providing a connection to the beef industry has them very excited to be donating this year’s South Devon heifer.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

  • Kindra Cell: 218-839-0396 (primary contact)
  • Matt Cell: 218-839-7503
  • Email: wayrynenk@gmail.com
  • Address: 31936 State Hwy 65, McGregor, MN 55760

SIMMENTAL

Donated by Oak Meadow Farms, Dr. Lynn, Barb, Matt, Jessica, Hunter and Garrett Aggen of Harmony, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association

Oak Meadow Farms is located in beautiful southeast, Minnesota and is owned and operated by the Aggen family. Family members involved are Dr. Lynn, Barb, Matt, Jessica and their sons Hunter and Garrett. Performance with quality is the motto at Oak Meadow. The cow herd consists of 150 Simmental and Simmangus females. Bulls and bred females are marketed through an annual sale held each February. The Aggen family is proud to say this is their 3rd time sponsoring a heifer for the MYBEP.

Donated by St. Germain Simmentals, Adam and Theresa St. Germain of Winnebago, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association

Adam, initially an Illinois native, didn’t start with Simmentals but first with Angus and then Herefords, of all breeds. But he found the light and has chased it ever since. Adam and Theresa St. Germain met while she was at school at South Dakota State University when they were both working at Bushy Park Farms in Mitchell, SD back in 2011! They since have bought a farm outside of Winnebago, MN and utilize Embryo Transfer and Artificial Insemination extensively. Adam and Theresa help manage her dad Roger’s herd of approximately 50 cows. Cattle from Roger Claeys Family Simmentals and St. Germain Simmentals are marketed on an annual show heifer sale in October, many consignment sales between Minnesota and South Dakota, the Royal Classic sale in Ames the first week of January, and, of course, always private treaty. Outside of the cows, they both have full-time jobs. Adam is an Agronomist with Country Farm Supply and Theresa is an Associate Specialist with Merck. In their free time, Adam is on the Winnebago Fire Department and Theresa fills up her time as an MSA Board Member, Executive Committee member of the Minnesota Youth Livestock Expo (MYLE), and assists with Down 4 The Cause in Cedar Rapids, IA. In the summer you can find them at a cattle show, or on the ranger with their 3 dogs checking pastures and, in the winter, calving cows.

SHORTHORN

Donated by Mulberry Lane Shorthorns, Cathy & Dennis Hoffbeck of Morgan, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association

Mulberry Lane Shorthorns might sound like a more recent herd name, but Cathy Hoffbeck is actually the 3rd generation of Mulberry Lane Shorthorns. Cathy’s Grandfather Dale Tetrick started a herd of purebred shorthorns, under the Mulberry Lane Shorthorn name, over 70 years ago, with her father Robert “Bob” Tetrick taking over the herd in the 1950’s. The herd dissolved years later until Cathy & Dennis started it back up in 2015 when they married.  

Mulberry Lane Shorthorns is a small purebred herd with a focus on providing show quality projects for 4-H and FFA youth and breeding stock through private treaty. Youth development has always been a focus and goal for Cathy and what better way than through a shorthorn! Skills that a youth can obtain through a beef project can benefit them for many years into adulthood. 

The MYBEP program of the MN Beef Expo is a program dear to their hearts as Cathy’s twin nephews were both awarded heifers in 2018.  The experience they learned from this program and the mentors they had were very influential to their beef showing careers.  These cows are still a staple in their herd and produce awesome calves each year. 

Mulberry Lane Shorthorns and the MN Shorthorn Association are incredibly proud to donate the 2024 Shorthorn MYBEP heifer. May this heifer jump-start a youth’s beef project, be a building point for their own herd and build a lifelong relationship.  

CONTACT INFORMATION:

  • Mulberry Lane Shorthorns
  • Dennis & Cathy Hoffbeck
  • Address: 28159 County Rd 11, Morgan, MN 56266
  • Phone: 507-829-4580
  • Email: tetrickc@gmail.com

RED ANGUS

Donated by Compeer Financial
Mentored by Steve Pomerenke

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $30 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry. Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Steve Pomerenke will be the mentor for this heifer and recipient.

MAINE ANJOU

Donated by D-K Hawkins Cattle, Dan, Kimberly, Connor, Emma, Andrew and Caleb Hawkins of Garfield, Minn.

D-K Hawkins Cattle is honored to be donating the Maine-Anjou heifer for the 2024 MYBEP program. So many people in this industry along with family have generously helped D-K Hawkins Cattle over the years, and they feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to give back to the industry by supporting a young cattle enthusiast through this program!

The Hawkins family’s love for raising and showing cattle started with their parents, Jeff and Diane, 9 children, and a small herd of cattle back in the 1980’s. The Hawkins family has always been active in 4-H and made many connections and lifelong friendships over the years throughout the cattle community and beyond.

D-K Hawkins Cattle was started back in 2014 by Dan and Kimberly Hawkins, along with their 4 children, Connor, Emma, Andrew and Caleb in Garfield, Minn. They started with 3 cows purchased from Uncle Pat and have grown it into a small commercial herd comprised of Maine-Anjou influenced cattle. Their 4 children are active in showing their calves throughout the year and participate in county and state fairs, MN Beef Expo, along with many open shows throughout the upper Midwest. Each fall D-K Hawkins Cattle sells show-ready calves through private treaty with a focus on helping youth get started in the industry and supporting them in their journey. They are grateful for the opportunity to give back by sponsoring the 2024 MYBEP recipient!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

  • Dan Hawkins
  • Cell: 320-760-5170
  • Email: hawkinsdanielj@yahoo.com
  • Address: 5833 39th Ave NW, Garfield, MN 56332

HEREFORD

Donated by Pressnall Family Farms of Randolph, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Hereford Breeders

Pressnall Family Farms was started in 2014 by Bryce, Kristi, Bella and Madison Pressnall. Their Hereford herd started with three head of commercial bred Herefords on the home farm in Randolph, Minn. that has been in Bryce’s family for 150 years.  

In 2015, they attended the MN Beef Expo Supreme Row sale where they purchased a registered Hereford heifer named Susie who would kick off Bella’s show career and a passion for the breed amongst the family. All three children – Bella, Madison and Case are now showing Herefords. It has become an enjoyable family pastime. Some of the family’s closest friendships have been made through meeting and networking with the other wonderful Hereford breeders who have become their mentors.

Pressnall Family Farms runs a cow/calf operation of around 30 head of registered Herefords. They strive to show quality genetics and quality replacement heifers. 

They are honored to give back to the program that started their love of showing as well as igniting a passion for raising the Hereford breed. 

Contact Information:

  • Bryce and Kristi Pressnall
  • Cell: (952) 412-5507
  • Email: kristinerezac@yahoo.com

Heifer Information:

  • PF 1069 Daquiri 5D
  • Sire: ECR 238 Fortify 1069
  • Dam: SPH 20C Vicki 38F