Apr 14, 2025
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” — Benjamin Franklin.
Over the past three days, agriculture students from Central Decatur, Lamoni, Mormon Trail, Murray, Mount Ayr, and Clarke Community Schools had the chance to dive into the beef industry through the Beef A.I. Certification at Lamoni Livestock Auction. Students attending from Central Decatur Community School included Cord Hamilton, Mason Allen, Gus Oesch, Riley Benda, and Krey Hunt.
We are lucky to have so many local people and organizations willing to give their time and resources to help students learn. Special thanks to Jason Allen and Jared Miller of Lamoni Livestock Auction, Ty Hunt, Jon Rockhold, Daryn Yoder, Nate Pierschbacher, Devin Head, the Decatur County Cattlemen’s, Clarke County Cattlemen’s, Ringgold County Cattlemen’s, Lucas County Cattlemen’s, Community Meat Processors, Hilltop Veterinary Clinic, LLC, and Genex Beef Genetics for providing the facilities, expertise, meals, and materials for this event.
A big thank you also goes out to our door prize sponsors—Hilltop Veterinary Clinic, Linhart Limousin, High Point Genetics, Ruby Cattle Company, Boyer’s Harvest Barn, and Oswald Farms. The prizes added a fun element to the event and kept students motivated throughout the program.
The first part of the event involved classroom training with agriculture instructors Lacey Whitaker, Brandi Boyd, Cassie Moore, Amy Ewing, Rosa Sondag, and Morgan Quick. After that, students got to work with experienced technicians to learn about cattle handling and insemination techniques. Ty Hunt, Jon Rockhold, Daryn Yoder, Nate Pierschbacher, and Devin Head led students through hands-on activities with cattle provided by Lamoni Livestock Auction.
Students also planned their own Estrus Synchronization Protocol, selected sires using EPDs (Expected Progeny Differences), and demonstrated insemination techniques. The combination of classroom learning and hands-on practice gave students a solid understanding of these important skills in the beef industry.
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support from everyone involved, but a special thanks goes to Ty Hunt and Jason Allen. Their vision five years ago helped make this opportunity a reality for students today.
We are fortunate to have such a supportive community that helps students get involved and learn valuable skills that will shape their future in agriculture.