Students prepare for annual bull sale

Dixie Crowe
March 25, 2015

Ryan Vargas, CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team member, clips the hair from a bull in the chute so it can be photographed for the sale catalog. Photo by Dixie Crowe.
Ryan Vargas, CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team member and junior animal science major, clips the hair from a bull in the chute at ARDEC so it can be photographed for the sale catalog. Photo credit: Dixie Crowe.

This Saturday is Colorado State’s 39th annual bull sale. It’s a long-standing tradition and for more than a decade, it has provided a hands-on learning experience for members the CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team, which is the only team of its kind in the U.S.

According to the sale catalog, the team has had an impact on over 100 students including past team members, many who are now leaders in the beef industry.

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Current team member Jessica Spear, a junior double majoring in animal science and agricultural business, said she transferred to CSU because of the Seedstock Team.

Students take an introductory class in seedstock merchandising in the fall term and then interview to be selected for the team. This year’s team of eight students spent the last six months selecting and developing a set of yearling bulls and heifers produced from the registered Angus and Hereford seedstock herd at CSU’s Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center north of town.

Three yearling Hereford heifers on a break from the show ring at the CSU Seedstock Team's booth at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Photo by Dixie Crowe.
Three yearling Hereford heifers on a break from the show ring at the CSU Seedstock Team’s booth at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Photo credit: Dixie Crowe.

They halter-broke and showed a pen of Herford bulls and heifers at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, which included clipping and grooming them. The attended the Colorado Cattlemen’s Midwinter conference and went on a road trip to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Working with Dr. Ahola, animal science associate professor in beef production systems, the students served as committee chairs to gather the genetic and pedigree data for each animal, write promotional material, groom the bulls for a photo shoot, and prepare the sale catalog. Each student furthered their leadership skills in their area of interest while working as a team to produce this year’s sale.

The 2014-2015 CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team in the CSU booth at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association conference in San Antonio, Texas. Pictured from left to right: Janna Smith, Becca MacQueen, Melanie Shumaker, Ryan Vargas, Brady Rink, Jessica Spear, Gina Phillips, Austin Piombo, and Dr. Jason Ahola. Photo by Dixie Crowe.
The 2014-2015 CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team in the CSU booth at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association conference in San Antonio, Texas. Pictured from left to right: Janna Smith, Becca MacQueen, Melanie Shumaker, Ryan Vargas, Brady Rink, Jessica Spear, Gina Phillips, Austin Piombo, and Dr. Jason Ahola. Photo credit: Dixie Crowe.

There are 30 yearling Angus and Hereford bulls as well as 20 yearling commercial heifers that will be sold on Saturday. Buyers and spectators can preview the bulls and heifers at the ARDEC facility on East County Road 56 at 9:00 a.m. and the private treaty sale starts at 11:00 a.m.

Watch videos of the CSU Seedstock Team bulls here. 

Read coverage from last year’s sale here.

Dixie can be reached at blogs@collegian.com and on Twitter @LivestockLounge

 

 

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Update:

CSU Men’s Varsity Polo team advances to nationals 

The men’s team defeated Texas A&M to win the regional tournament. They are headed to national championship tournament April 6 through 12. However, as a student club they are fundraising to try to fund the travel expense. You can see great photos and follow the CSU Polo team on Facebook.