Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association to Host Summer Production Tour

Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association to Host Summer Production Tour 

VERONA, WI: The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association will host its annual Summer Tour at four different stops in southwest Wisconsin on Saturday, June 24.   

The goal of the tour aligns with WCA’s mission to promote networking and education among beef producers. The first stop on the tour will be Nobleland Beef Farms near Lancaster. Nobleland is a commercial cattle feeding operation where livestock are housed in both open lots and deep-pack bedded barns. Tour attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about different cattle feeding methods based on the different facilities at this stop.   

After Nobleland, the tour will visit the Lancaster Agricultural Research Station. The station facilitates research and educational programs to enhance profitable and environmentally sound agricultural and natural resource systems and practices appropriate for producers on the non-glacial soils of the upper Midwest. The tour will explain relevant research on the following topics; efficient beef cattle production, crop management, manure management and water quality, economic evaluation of production systems, and intensive rotational grazing.   

The third stop will be Paramount Calves, a calf-raising facility near Darlington. The operation raises both dairy heifers and beef-on-dairy cross animals. Calves arrive at the facility at less than one week of age and are raised on milk until weaning. Post-weaning, calves are commingled and housed in a group setting. At this stop, attendees will learn more about the beef-on-dairy cross-sector of the industry and how it relates to traditional beef production. 

The final stop will be at Gaffney Family Cattle near Barneveld. Gaffney Family Cattle was founded in 1976 after Jerry and Nancy Gaffney moved to Wisconsin from the Adams Brothers & Company Hereford Ranch in Kilgore, Neb. They brought with them 40 Horned Hereford cows and their three children Sara, Scott, and Erin. The farm was set up for dairy cattle and a variety of small livestock. The farm has since changed to accommodate a growing 180-cow beef herd. In the '80s Jerry and Scott also started a small herd of commercial cows to diversify the operation. The commercial cow herd met the growing needs for recipient cows as more embryo transfer was used. The Gaffneys later got into Angus genetics, and now travel all over the country showing Angus and Herefords, as well as serving as an on-farm collection facility for Vytelle. 

The tour will also have special guest speakers, including 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Policy Division Chair Gene Copenhaver. The 2023 Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association award recipients will be honored at the final stop as well as this year’s scholarship recipients. Both lunch and dinner are provided on the tour. Attendees will be responsible for their own transportation throughout the day. Registration for this one-day program and meals will be $50 for WCA members and $100 for non-members. Registration is also available online at https://www.wisconsincattlemen.com/events/summer-tour. Please contact WCA with questions at 608-228-1457 or [email protected].   

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The Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association is a trusted leader in the Wisconsin beef industry and gives a voice to Wisconsin’s beef producers on a local, regional and national level. Cattlemen and women can count on the WCA to protect their backs when it comes to legislation impacting beef farms. The association works closely with many industry partners to maintain a positive business environment for cattlemen through leadership and education. Become a member to ensure a viable Wisconsin beef industry now and in the future.