Young cattle producers hone skills at Beef Expo

Apr 17, 2025

The Saskatchewan Beef Expo provides meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities that prepare young producers for success in the beef industry

The event equipped 78 participants with proven techniques and tips on selection, showmanship, and safe handling practices for livestock provided by returning clinician, Kirk Stierwalt. Through a series of demonstrations, the producers learned about the basics and equipment, clipping, and grooming.

Also, a special educational session was provided by Shelby Robinson, a Master’s student at the University of Saskatchewan who is studying Ruminant Nutrition. She led an ultrasound demonstration, teaching participants how to measure rib and rump fat which is a valuable tool for assessing cattle body condition.

The hands-on clinics were an opportunity for participants to take what they learned from the demonstrations and put it into practice with his guidance.

Saturday concluded with a showmanship demonstration and show. The last day of the Expo consisted of the Heifer and Steer shows, providing participants the opportunity to showcase their 4-H and junior show projects.

Prairieland Agriculture Manager Leigh Ann Hurlburt said more than 90 head of yearling heifers and steers were showcased.

“We were excited to welcome Kirk Stierwalt back to the Saskatchewan Beef Expo for our 11th year. His expertise and passion for the industry continue to make a lasting impact,” she said. “This year’s event gave participants another incredible opportunity to gain hands-on experience and learn directly from one of the best in the business.”

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.