Minnesota Beef Expo Welcomed Cattle Producers and Youth Livestock Exhibitors
Minnesota Beef Expo Welcomed
Cattle Producers and Youth Livestock Exhibitors to St. Paul
And Awarded Heifers to 10 Youth
Oct. 29, 2026
St. Paul, Minn. – The Minnesota Beef Expo welcomed more than 5,000 cattle producers and 500 youth livestock exhibitors to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Oct. 15-18, 2026. This four-day event, celebrating and promoting the beef industry, is the largest all-breed beef show in Minnesota. The 2026 Expo included youth contests, cattle sales, a trade show, educational seminars and a junior show in which nearly 1,100 head of cattle were registered.
The Minnesota Beef Expo awarded 10 heifers to deserving youth through the Minnesota Youth Beef Experience Program (MYBEP) on Saturday, Oct. 17. From a pool of 54 applications, each recipient was selected based on their passion for agriculture, commitment to raising a heifer, financial need and willingness to learn. Recipients are responsible for raising, breeding and maintaining records on the care of the animal, while providing progress reports to their mentor, breed representative and Minnesota Beef Expo staff. Donors of the heifers will serve as mentors to MYBEP recipients. Since the start of the program 22 years ago, MYBEP has awarded a total of 196 heifers. The 2026 MYBEP heifer recipients are:
- Hannah Honnette of Dunnell, Minn., received an Angus heifer donated by Jake Reed Cattle and Bar J Ranch, Jake and Dawnte' Reed and family — Tori, Matt, Jamison, Ellie and Hudson of Brooten, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Angus Association.
- Braxton Bleck of Stewart, Minn., received a Charolais heifer donated by Zehnder Waage Partnership of Stanchfield, Minn., and Greenbush, Minn., on behalf of the MN/WI Charolais Association.
- Hannah Hansen of Richmond, Minn., received a Hereford heifer donated by the May family of Randolph, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Hereford Breeders.
- Brayden VanDyke of Ruthton, Minn., received a Maine Anjou heifer donated by Mente Cattle Company, Dave & Stacy, Dylan, Trevor and Justin Mente of Adrian, Minn.
- Lexi Kurth of Whitehall, Wis., received a Red Angus heifer donated by Compeer Financial. She will be mentored by Steve Pomerenke.
- Olivia Rauschendorfer of Oak Park, Minn., received a Shorthorn heifer donated by Carlson Cattle, Ethan and Jayden Carlson, of Lamberton, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Shorthorn Association.
- Leah Lensing of Belgrade, Minn., received a Simmental heifer donated by Peine Cattle Company of Hastings, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association.
- Brailey Opelt of Neillsville, Wis., received a Simmental heifer donated by Pit-Stop Acres, Daryl & Marilee, Branstyn, Brennir and Brielle Peterson and Baleigh & Lane Miller of Gibbon, Minn., on behalf of the Minnesota Simmental Association.
- Justin Klejeski of Sturgeon Lake, Minn., received a South Devon heifer donated by RP Farms & Popken South Devon of Swanville, Minn., on behalf of the Northern States South Devon Association.
- Anna Cuper of Clayton, Wis., received a Shorthorn heifer donated by Don & Kathy Heise in memory of Leighton Hugoson and Chad Schmit. She will be mentored by Liza Chamberlain.
The Expo kicked off Thursday, Oct. 15, with a youth knowledge bowl testing participants’ beef industry understanding. In the senior division, Mitchell Olson, Landin Rose, Lydia Rose, Abby Willegal and Kelly Willegal took home first. Eli Doeling, Charlie Klehr, Mason Olson, Ashley Schaeffer and Carson Wendinger received first in the intermediate division. Champions in junior division A were Hazel Kuhl, Walker Kuhl, Brennan Ruskanen and Noah Wilson, and in division B were Adilyn Kamps, Aaliyah Lindemann, Gemma Mueller, Kathryn Rose and Aubrey Wendinger.
Thursday also brought the Sullivan Supply Stock Show University Fitting Seminar where experts taught youth how to clip and prepare their cattle for the show ring. Following the seminar, 16 teams competed for champion fitting honors in the annual Sullivan Supply fitting contest. The champion team consisted of Aubrey DeFrang, Layden Larsen, Scotty Swanek and Cody Vancura.
That evening, youth exhibitors and cattle producers gathered for the Ideas & Insights Symposium where attendees learned from industry professionals and a celebrity keynote speaker. This year’s keynote speaker was network television host and cowgirl Courtenay DeHoff. Her speech empowered participants to have the courage to embrace their agriculture background as it will take them to new heights.
Friday’s schedule offered a judging contest where participants competed in four age categories for top prizes. In the junior division, Ellie Adams was the top individual, and Red, White, and Roan, which included Ellie Adams, Eddie Rypka, Georgie Rypka and Scarlett Schwab, was the champion team. In the intermediate division, the champion individual was Veronica Rypka. The top intermediate team was 1st National; the team members included, Briela Bryce, Tenley Dorn, Kolt Grinager and Payson Grinager. Avery Stark took home top individual honors in the senior division. The champion senior team was Haley Betcher, Reid Finnesgard and Avery Stark of Goodhue County. The champion individual in the adult division was Tyler Pomerenke.
Friday’s youth activities ended with a junior showmanship contest judged by Jacob Klaudt of North Dakota and Lane Giess of Colorado. Kinslee Hilbrands, Eliza Aggen, Jorja Holm, Cora Mayer, Jaxon Hilbrands and Nate Crouch were champions in their respective age divisions.
The Supreme Row Show and Sale were held Saturday, Oct. 17. Supreme Row Champions took home prize money thanks to sponsors Lee Agri-Media, Show-Rite & Hubbard Feeds, Purina Animal Nutrition, Rabo AgriFinance, Lanesboro Sale Commission and Optimizer Calf Gel.
The Supreme Row Champion Female was SWNK Poppy 6206, consigned by Scott Swanek of Minnesota, and bought by Tristen Latzke of Minnesota. The Reserve Supreme Champion Female was Bullerman Blackcap 6072, consigned by Bullerman Angus of Minnesota, and bought by Ella Barthel of Minnesota. The Supreme Champion Steer was Lorentz Steer, consigned by Lorentz Show Cattle of Wisconsin, and bought by Herman Farms of Minnesota. The Reserve Supreme Champion Steer was THF Buckskin 616, consigned by Brenna Thorson of Wisconsin, and bought by Whitney Casper of Wisconsin.
During Saturday and Sunday’s highly competitive junior shows, 904 cattle were sorted by Lydell Meier of Tennessee and Jake Scott of Nebraska, and awarded more than $23,000 in premium money. Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer honors went to the Champion Maine Anjou exhibited by Jorja Holm of Chandler, Minn. Reserve Supreme Champion Breeding Heifer went to the Champion Foundation Simmental, exhibited by Taylor Larsen of Armstrong, Iowa. Colton Herman of Hastings, Minn., and Jace Taylor of Blue Earth, Minn., had the Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion Prospect Calves, respectively. Braleigh Cleveringa of Alton, Iowa, exhibited the Supreme Champion Market Beef, and Tyce Holm of Chandler, Minn., showed the Reserve Supreme Champion Market Beef.