MARCH 6, 2026
devin@illinoisbeef.com
I LLI NOI S B E E F
#48
CAT TLE CONCEPTS
SPECIAL EDITION
E- N E W S L E T T E R
| ILLINOIS BEEF ASSOCIATION | SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS | WWW.ILLINOISBEEF.COM |
Show Results
Sales Report Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale Springfield, IL | Feb. 19 Head: 37 Average: $7,284 High Selling Lot: Lot 32 - $15,000 Consignor: Evans Angus Breed: Angus
Top 5 Market Animals - Ring A Judge: Krisha Geffert Grand: McKlay Gensini (AOB) Reserve: Charlee Jones (XBred) 3rd: Hunter Heckman (Res. XBred) 4th: McKlay Gensini (3rd XBred) 5th: Cole Caldwell (Chianina)
Multi Breed Female Sale Springfield, IL | Feb. 19 Head: 31 Average: $6,617 High Selling Lot: Lot 1 - $16,00 Consignor: Tree Lane Farms Lot Type: Simmental Heifer
Top 5 Market Animals - Ring B Judge: Jerrod Arthur Grand: Hunter Heckman (XBred) Reserve: Charlee Jones (Res. XBred) 3rd: Aliana Hankes (Maine) 4th: McKlay Gensini (3rd XBred) 5th: John Nightingale (Chianina)
The Collection - Genetics Sale Springfield, IL | Feb. 20 Lots: 179 Embryo Average: $1,281 Semen Average: $652 High Selling Lot: $17,000
Top 5 Breeding Heifers - Ring A Judge: Jerrod Arthur Grand: Breckyn Bloomberg (%Simm) Reserve: McKlay Gensini (Maintn.) 3rd: Avery Seys (Maine-Angus) 4th: Mabrey Schick (Angus) 5th: Brecke Barnard (Charolais) Top 5 Breeding Heifers - Ring B Judge: Krisha Geffert Grand: Breckyn Bloomberg (%Simm) Reserve: Brenna Wilkins (Chianina) 3rd: McKlay Gensini (Maintainer) 4th: Tucker Bayer (Angus) 5th: Avery Seys (Maine-Angus)
Consignor: The Curtin Family; Travis, Tanner & Brooklyn Lot Type: IVF Flush Cycle
2026 ILLINOIS BEEF EXPO by Devin Bollman
I am still reveling in the magical glow and Collection Genetics sale also hit announced the 2025 IJBA Top Ten and light-dusty haze of the Coliseum notable marks topping the averages Points Program Winners, 2026 from that weekend in February. The from year’s past, while featuring Foundation Scholarship Recipients, move North from the Livestock Center quality females and genetics that and IJBA Photography Contest results, to the Coliseum has been a dream improve year after year. along with shared updates and savewe have craved and whispered about Friday was personally my favorite the-dates for this summer’s upcoming since I began here at the Association day – junior events day. The morning junior programs. four years ago. Of course, with change kicked off with yet another recordcomes challenge and the worry of breaking event, the Livestock Judging And finally, the highlight of it all – the new logistics, acceptance, and overall Contest coordinated by Black Hawk junior show. I could go on and on about thoughts of “will this work,” but my College East-Campus Livestock the many successes, achievements, sentiments are the same of those Judging Team hosted nearly 600 and champions from that weekend, echoing around the barns and the 4-H and FFA juniors from across the but you’ll read more about that in stock-talk here in weeks after the state. The Skillathon hosted another the Illinois Beef Expo section here in expo – amazement and success. plethora of juniors, testing their beef the magazine, so I won’t waste ink The photographic eye in me wants cattle knowledge and gunning for duplicating those results. What I want to say it was the best beef expo ever a top ten spot. Friday evening was to share however, is a reiteration of simply because of the luminescence where it all came together for me. With something one of our judges, Jerrod and beautiful photos I was able to 28 juniors, 7 chutes, 4 judges, and Arthur (Okla.) said in his champion capture that weekend, but aside one outstanding comeback, the junior drive monologue – he mentioned that from that, it truly felt like it topped fitting contest returned to the Illinois the most important part of all of this, is the charts of Illinois Beef Expos for Beef Expo. With the help of Sullivan’s the time you spend, the hours you put more than just myself, and on every Supply as the contest sponsor, Riley it, and the memories you make with level - the ring flow, that temperature Lorenz, and I were able to reinvigorate your family and friends at events like balance, the space, the proximity to excitement amongst juniors and bring these. As the IJBA coordinator, that is the tradeshow and central location this contest back to life. As the thirty- what I genuinely care about. Not every for every scheduled event here on the minute timer began and the sound of one of these juniors get to go home grounds is undeniably what hit the ball spray cans, clippers, and teammate with a buckle or banner, or even an out of the park on this huge change whispers filled the Coliseum, I turned envelope of payouts – but every single of moving the junior events and show to Riley and went in for a terribly one will leave with their family, with down to the Coliseum. chaotic high-five as I fumbled the new memories, and new friends. The The weekend kicked off with the microphone, phone timer, and camera ringside smiles, the exit gate hugs and Illinois Performance Tested Bull in my hands, because we had done it. pats on the back, the rush of young Sale that offered bulls of the highest We had brought yet another engaging kids down the barn walkways, the performance genetics from a variety and educational piece to beef expo, conversations and the “thank yous” of breeds. In its 58th year, the sale and these juniors loved it. The stands and “good jobs” are what hold the continues its success, reaching an around the coliseum were filled with most power and meaning from events all-time high average of $7,284 on 37 parents, siblings, friends, onlookers, like this. lots. Travis Meteer, IPT sale manager and more to what the excitement and So I will wrap it all up with this – thank and University of Illinois Beef Extension teamwork flow around these fitting you and good job – to the juniors, the commercial education and beef cattle chutes. I was truly honored to be parents, the breeders, the crews, the specialist, along with his regular team part of the resurrection and success IBA staff, the IBE Board of Directors, of sale staff and volunteers, never of the newly improved fitting contest the volunteers, the coordinators, Cori fails to prioritize consignors and their and cannot wait to see how it grows Malone and Riley Lorenz, the sale high-caliber bulls, making this sale and flourishes in the future, along with managers, the consignors, the bidders not only a showcase opportunity and the many other junior opportunities to and buyers, the tradeshow exhibitors, annual check for those consigners, come. the sponsors, the attendees, everyone but a industry highlight event amongst The annual IJBA Winter Meeting was who stepped foot on the fairgrounds commercial producers across the also a widely attended junior event February 19-22 – thank you and good state. The Multi-Breed Female sale on Friday. The IJBA Board of Directors job.
Illinois Beef Foundation Scholarship Recipients Junior Scholarship Recipients
Junior Scholarship Recipients Aidan Knobloch, Buckingham Macie Carroll, Mount Carroll Ella Eathington, Avon Lane Perry, Paris
IJBA Photography Contest Results Click here to see Results!
Cimeron Frost Memorial Cimeron Frost Memorial Grand Champion Heifer Breckyn Bloomberg, Secor
Senior Scholarship Recipients Conley Schick, Clinton Grace Lemenager, Fairbury Kendall Boatman, Rockford Ellie Drach, Pontiac
Top Ten Exhibitors IJBA Points Show Program 2025 Top Ten Exhibitors - Steer Division Lane Mollett, Sorento Kinley Stolte, Nokomis Skylar Stewart, Nokomis Myah Little, Murrayville Brayden Richardson, Jacksonville Connor Suits, Rantoul Cruz Hill, Neoga Lilly Gillespie, Toulon Braxton Williamson, Shelbyville Blake Hanke, Carlyle 2025 Top Ten Exhibitors - Heifer Division Reese Holst, Augusta Addison Bartlow, Monitcello Jocelyn Ruppert, Witt Cole Riemann, Raymond Nash Lowderman, Macomb Jemma Dorsey, Moro Ella Eathington, Avon Cole Glick, LaPrairie Case Isringhausen, Jerseyville Claire Dorsey, Moro