Next Generation Of Livestock Leaders Gain Hands-On Skills At Youth Conference

Jan 31, 2023

By Brenda Heimann

The next generation of livestock leaders gained hands-on experience in the livestock field at this year’s Illinois 4-H Junior Livestock Conference held Jan. 21-22 at the Decatur Hotel & Conference Center.

Attendees included 100 youth from 50 counties across Illinois, with youth members of the 4-H Livestock Ambassador Team helping to plan and execute this learning experience aimed at 7th, 8th, and 9th graders. This year’s conference theme was “Livestock in Paradise.”

Cody Noller, Stockton, and Brogan Keltner, Pearl City, attended.

“It was such a fun experience creating new friends and learning new skills of the livestock industry,” says Brogan Keltner.

Teen leaders were excited to share their knowledge and skills with the youth who will follow in their footsteps as they shape their paths in the livestock industry.

“It’s fun to watch the next generation pick up and enjoy the livestock area,” says Livestock Ambassador Team member Makenna Green of Douglas County. “I had a lot of people do that for me when I was younger and it’s fun to give back. We’re developing skills as teachers at the same time they’re developing hands-on skills.”

Attendees participated in “Glove-Up Sessions” throughout the conference, which allowed them to work hands-on in various skills, such as giving injections, wound suturing, product quality, marketing, and more.

“During the sessions, I learned how to suture, artificially inseminate, vet tech skills, and public speaking. My favorite session was artificial insemination, stated Cody Noller.

The event focused on education and created great opportunities to build camaraderie and a sense of teamwork around a shared passion for the livestock industry.

“I think if you want to gain knowledge in the livestock field, meet new people, and have a fun weekend, the Jr. Livestock Conference is for you,” said Noller.

Source : illinois.edu

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.