MN Beef EXPO 2023 Youth Beef Experience Program

Murray County was fortunate to have two recipients, Tyler Reith and Levi Kopperud, be selected to receive a Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP) heifer at the 2023 Minnesota Beef Expo.

Each year at the Minnesota Beef Expo, experienced cattle producers across the region generously donate heifers, typically one from each of the following breeds: Black Angus, Red Angus, Shorthorn, Her-eford, Simmental, Charolais, Maine Anjou, and South Devon. The goal is to encourage young cattle enthusiasts to get involved in the beef business.

From a pool of 60 applications, each recipient was selected based on their passion for agriculture, commitment to raising a heifer, financial need, and willingness to learn.

Donors of the heifers serve as mentors to MYBEP recipients to help guide them through their first year as cattle owners.

Along with receiving a heifer, the recipients are given two straws of semen from Select Sires, an Andis clipper, and 100 pounds of Purina Show Chow feed.

Recipients are responsible for raising, breeding, and maintaining records on the care of the animal, while providing monthly progress reports to their mentor, breed representative, and Minnesota Beef Expo staff. They must also commit to participating at the Expo the following year. To date, the MYBEP program has awarded 185 heifers.

Tyler Reith of Avoca, Minn., received an Angus heifer donated by Weber Bros Cattle Co., Jake and Garret, of Lake Benton, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Angus Association.

Levi Kopperud of Slayton, Minn., received a Shorthorn heifer donated by Knutson Shorthorns, Zach Knutson, Brooke Calaway and family of Zumbrota, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association.

In order to apply for a MYBEP heifer, youth must be 12-16 years of age, as of application deadline date, must participate as a 4-H, FFA, or junior breed association member, must reside in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin, and lastly, previous MY-Legal BEP winners are not eligible.

Youth will fill out their application and have letters of recommendation sent into the committee for scoring to determine if they are selected.

Tyler Reith