MSF Announces Winners in Cattle Drive Contest

Montana Stockgrowers Foundation’s (MSF) Cattle Drive Program continues to grow and is quickly becoming the premier feed out contest in the state of Montana. The Cattle Drive Program allows producers and supporters to donate a steer, or the value of a steer, and watch that donation grow. Donors also receive data on the growth and performance of that steer.

MSF is proud to announce that the 2023 Cattle Drive program raised over $220,000. The funds raised will be invested in educational programs, scholarships, leadership development and conservation programs.

Donated steers were placed on contest on February 20, 2024. In order to ensure the highest quality beef to program purchasers, each steer was harvested when they were at their optimum weight. Average daily gain was calculated based on the number of days between those dates.

The winners for the 2023 Cattle Drive Program are as follows:

Top three steers in the average daily gain category

First Place: Merck Cattle Animal Health (steer purchased from Veseth Cattle Co.)

Second Place: David Schuett, Schuett Farms, Dillon

Third Place: Dale and Janet Veseth, Veseth Cattle Co., Malta

Following harvest of the steer, each carcass was graded and using the Steer of Merit program evaluation process, a carcass value was determined for each steer.

Top three steers in the carcass value category

First Place: Jim Steinbeisser, VS Inc., Sidney

Second Place: Kerry Erickson, Ismay

Third Place: Katelynn Larson and Alexis Dynneson, Dynneson Ranch, Sidney

New this year, an overall champion steer was awarded. This steer placed highest in both contest categories.

Overall Champion Steer: Kerry Erickson, Ismay