Steer auction to benefit R-CALF
Beatrice 77 Livestock Auctions is hoping one market steer will make a lot of difference. A family-owned local feeding operation has donated a market animal to the sale barn to be auctioned off for the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, or R-CALF.
The operation that donated the animal wishes to remain anonymous.
"We picked R-CALF for this benefit because they have supplied a lot of information locally to producers," said sale barn manager Dennis Henrichs. "But it's certainly not the only organization out there looking out for the best interests of cattle producers."
Beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, the animal will be auctioned with all proceeds going to the Montana-based organization.
However, the winning bidder will not receive the animal, which will be auctioned off several more times over the next year.
Each time an auction is held, the winning bid will be donated to the organization no matter the amount.
"This is the first time we have done a fund-raiser like this locally, but it has been done in several other states to support organizations," Henrichs said.
Shae Dodson, R-CALF communications coordinator, said the organization was honored to be receiving support from local producers.
"We have the utmost respect and admiration for these local producers for stepping up and donating," Dodson said.
The R-CALF organization began in Montana in 1998 when three cattle producers started a foundation to represent and file trade cases on behalf of U.S. cattle producers. It became a member organization in 1999 and continues to focus on domestic and foreign trade issues and domestic marketing issues of U.S. cattle.
On March 2, R-CALF successfully sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent the opening of the Canadian border to cattle less than 30 months of age.
R-CALF 1,600 members in Nebraska and 8,700 members in 48 states.
Henrichs said the organization provides legal and trade information as well as support to local producers, which allows it to better conduct business.
"Cattle producers have to make decisions and need information that R-CALF continues to provide," he said. "It's important to have organizations with the contacts that they do."
In addition to hosting the fund-raiser, Henrichs said the sale barn also will bid on the animal.
"We have had a good response with livestock supporting businesses and interest from independent cattle growers," Henrichs said. "On this first auction if we raise $5,000 I would be tickled."
The operation that donated the animal wishes to remain anonymous.
"We picked R-CALF for this benefit because they have supplied a lot of information locally to producers," said sale barn manager Dennis Henrichs. "But it's certainly not the only organization out there looking out for the best interests of cattle producers."
Beginning at 1 p.m. Monday, the animal will be auctioned with all proceeds going to the Montana-based organization.
However, the winning bidder will not receive the animal, which will be auctioned off several more times over the next year.
Each time an auction is held, the winning bid will be donated to the organization no matter the amount.
"This is the first time we have done a fund-raiser like this locally, but it has been done in several other states to support organizations," Henrichs said.
Shae Dodson, R-CALF communications coordinator, said the organization was honored to be receiving support from local producers.
"We have the utmost respect and admiration for these local producers for stepping up and donating," Dodson said.
The R-CALF organization began in Montana in 1998 when three cattle producers started a foundation to represent and file trade cases on behalf of U.S. cattle producers. It became a member organization in 1999 and continues to focus on domestic and foreign trade issues and domestic marketing issues of U.S. cattle.
On March 2, R-CALF successfully sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prevent the opening of the Canadian border to cattle less than 30 months of age.
R-CALF 1,600 members in Nebraska and 8,700 members in 48 states.
Henrichs said the organization provides legal and trade information as well as support to local producers, which allows it to better conduct business.
"Cattle producers have to make decisions and need information that R-CALF continues to provide," he said. "It's important to have organizations with the contacts that they do."
In addition to hosting the fund-raiser, Henrichs said the sale barn also will bid on the animal.
"We have had a good response with livestock supporting businesses and interest from independent cattle growers," Henrichs said. "On this first auction if we raise $5,000 I would be tickled."
Copyright © 2002-2008 Lincoln Journal Star. All rights reserved.