WILLISTON, N.D. - The Williston State College Agriculture Department, together with local 4-H groups, will host a recognition supper on June 23 to thank the businesses & individuals involved in the 4-H Market Animal Sale and also the producers who donated steers to the first annual WSC Carcass Challenge.
"The college ag department is wrapping up our first Carcass Challenge and is very appreciative to the producers who provided us with 17 donated steers," said Kim Murphy, Agriculture Instructor at WSC.
Producers who donated a steer include Aaron Jacobson of Noonan; Lynn Grabow, Stanley; Debbie Weyer, Wibaux, Mont.; Kevin Harstad, Stanley; Garrett Lalim, Tioga; Mark Ellis, Williston; Chet Hill of Williston, who ranches near Lambert, Mont.; David and Gena Rolfsrud, Keene; Curt and Nancy Syverson, Cartwright; Wayne Johnson and Bill Whitmore of Palermo and Stanley; Kelly Hanson, Stanley; Lynn and Nathan Hovde of the Hovde Ranch, Arnegard; Bruce Johnson, Williston; Dan Kalil, Williston; Gary Martens, Ross; Kurt Hovet, Watford City; and Beau and Amber Anderson, Williston.
"This is our way of recognizing those producers who donated steers to this program and thanking them for their support," said Murphy.
The 4-H Market Animal Sale will begin at about 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 23. It will be preceded at 4:30 p.m. by a brief recognition of the producers who participated in the Carcass Challenge; they will also be presented jackets in appreciation of their support of the program. After the sale concludes, the supper will be held.
"The 4-H members sponsor an appreciation steak supper every year for their buyers and we felt this was a great chance to collaborate for recognition of these individuals who donated steers to our Community College as well," Murphy said. "It's always helpful when we can work together for a good cause."
The WSC steers will be processed at Prairie Packing in Williston and will be sold by full, half and quarters of beef. These calves have been fed at the Hovde Feedlot near Alexander, growing on a ration with peas (which is a pulse crop) in it.
"NDSU has been working on studies with pea fed beef and have found the meat to be very tender and have high quality factors, that they feel is due to the pea ration," Murphy said.
Also working with the college as a sponsor of the Carcass Challenge was Northern Pulse Growers Association.
Anyone interested in buying beef from this program or who would like information about participating in the next Carcass Challenge, may contact Murphy at the college, 701-774-6226.