Growing his herd: Struckmeyer gets experience in breeding beef SAE

There’s always uncertainty about the future, but these days that seems especially true. One thing is for sure though: Livestock still need care regardless of whether events are canceled, businesses are closed or gatherings are restricted.

That’s no secret in the agricultural communities of northeastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska, and local kids learn that fact from a young age.

Holyoke High School sophomore Baylor Struckmeyer started his own herd of cattle when he was 13 years old. Now 16, he has two cows, two first-calf heifers and one breeding heifer, and he’s in the thick of a breeding beef supervised agricultural experience for FFA.

Struckmeyer grew up on his grandpa Lee Struckmeyer’s 2,100-head-capacity feedlot, where his experience in the industry began. He started showing bottle calves at the Phillips County Fair when he was young and moved on to steers as soon as he was old enough for 4-H. In his second year of 4-H, he showed pigs as well. Part of the 4-H process, of course, was keeping a record book.

Last year as a freshman in high school, Struckmeyer joined the Holyoke FFA chapter. He continued showing in FFA and started his SAE, building on his previous 4-H experience. Recording keeping continues to be an important responsibility as he tracks such things as money going in and out and rates of gain.

Read the full story and many others FREE in the 2020 Salute to Beef special section.