JANUARY 21, 2026
devin@illinoisbeef.com
I LLI NOI S B E E F
#46
CAT TLE CONCEPTS
MONTHLY N E WS
E- N E W S L E T T E R
| ILLINOIS BEEF ASSOCIATION | SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS | WWW.ILLINOISBEEF.COM |
Seedstock Report
Market Report
Upcoming Sales
Greenville Livestock Auction January 17, 2026 Total: 830 Feeder: 830(100.0%) Notes: Feeder special
Horsley Brothers Angus Bulls & Breds Sale Toulon | 2.7.26 York Farms 13th Annual Production Sale Palestine | 2.14.26
Fairview Sale Barn January 15, 2026 Total: 1,555 Feeder: 1,555 (100.0%) Trade: Good demand on active trade
Rhodes Angus Open House and Bid-Off Bull & Female Sale Carlinville | 2.14.26
United Producers January 13, 2026 Total: 190 Feeder: 50(26.3%) Slaughter: 140(73.7%) Breeding: 0 (0.0%) Notes: Sale Report Sourced from UPI
Illinois Beef Expo Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale Springfield | 2.19.26 Illinois Beef Expo The Collection Genetics Sale Springfield | 2.19.26 Illinois Beef Expo Multi-Breed Female Sale Springfield | 2.20.26
Illinois Weekly Summary January 20, 2026 Total: 3,150 Feeder: 2,385 (75.7%) Slaughter: 765 (24.3%) Replacement: 0 (0.0%)
Tree Lane Farms Online Bull Sale SC Online | 3.2.26
JUNIOR PROGR AMS E XPANDING FOR 2026 ILLINOIS BEEF E XPO
SALES REPORTS SOURCED FROM USDA AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICES
SEND SALES REPORTS AND UPCOMING SALE INFORMATION TO DEVIN@ILLINOISBEEF.COM
by Devin Bollman The Illinois Beef Expo is right around the corner, and as the junior show, expo sales, and tradeshow continue to grow each and every year, so does the number of juniors on the grounds during those four days in February. Engaging with the youth beyond the showring continues to provide value, opportunity, and new avenues for junior membership in the up and coming generations of beef enthusiasts. In 2025, the Illinois Junior Beef Association offered juniors a new skill enhancing opportunity with the Photography Contest, sponsored by Illinois Beef magazine. This contest brought in entries from many juniors across the state of all different ages, even bringing in new junior members and participants that aren’t involved in the showring aspects of beef expo. As junior coordinator, I sat down the the junior board of directors and asked, “how do we continue to grow, offer new programs, and bring in more juniors from all beef backgrounds?” Along with the help of the Beef Expo staff and board, we are able to grow the junior outreach and engagement beyond the showring, adding so much more to the 2026 Illinois Beef Expo. The IJBA Photography contest is back again for another year, and entries are now being accepted through February 13. Any IJBA member can enter the contest online for free. More information about rules, entries, and how to enter can be found online at the link here. All entries will be judged prior to the Illinois Beef Expo so winners can be announced during the IJBA Winter Meeting and all photo entries can be on display at the Illinois Beef Association booth in the tradeshow throughout the weekend. While of course the fairgrounds will host many producers starting Thursday the 19th for the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale and The Collection Genetics Sale, Friday the 20th will be host to many junior driven activities and contests. Returning to the schedule is the Livestock Judging Contest, hosted by Black Hawk College Livestock Judging Team. The contest is open to both 4-H and FFA teams, consisting of no more than four members. Black Hawk’s judging team and coach are putting together yet another fantastic contest, and
any questions can be direct to coach Blake Bloomberg. Friday’s junior events will continue with the skillathon, hosted in the Coliseum for juniors of all ages to participate in. With three age divisions (Juniors age 10 and under; Intermediate ages 10 to 14; and Seniors ages 15 and over), participants will undergo a variety of cattle related ID and knowledge questions, aiming to score high enough to be named one of the top ten within their respective age division. Annually, the Illinois Junior Beef Association welcomes all juniors for the IJBA Winter Meeting to include junior programs updates, announcements of the Illinois Beef Foundation Scholarship recipients, IJBA Photography contest results and winners, as well as the recognition of the 2025 Top Ten Points Program winners. All junior meeting attendees will be entered in to win prizes to be given away throughout the weekend, so we encourage all juniors, whether they are participating in the show or not to attend this meeting on Friday, February 20, at 2 p.m. in the Coliseum stands. Following the IJBA Winter Meeting, juniors will team up for the return of the Illinois Beef Expo Fitting Contest sponsored by Sullivan Supply. Junior teams will be comprised of four members to show off their teamwork skills and clipper skills as they prepare a calf with top-notch ring presence. Grand Champion and Reserve Champion teams will be named, along with third overall through fifth overall. Pre-registration for teams or individuals will be open soon, so watch the Illinois Beef Expo Facebook page for more on that! With all the new and exciting additions, we can’t forget the changes being made to the ever-growing junior shows. Shifting east a touch, you’ll see the showring take shape in a new location, the Coliseum. Moving into the Coliseum allows for a better flow of traffic between rings and makeready areas, giving way for expo to slide back into the twoday show format. The Market Show will kick off at 8 a.m. on Saturday the 21st, followed by the Breeding Heifer Show that will rollover into Sunday.
The last bit I want to mention is the service project brought on by the Illinois Junior Beef Association directors. While we provide so many activities for juniors and producers during that weekend in February, the junior board wanted to give back to the community by hosting a canned food drive for the Central Illinois Foodbank. The junior board will be collecting donations all weekend long, so if you are making your way to Springfield February 18-22, whether for one of the cattle sales, to visit the tradeshow, show, or just simply attend, be sure to bring a donation for their service project!
LOOKING FORWARD
Illinois Beef Association Membership It’s time to renew! Don’t forget to renew your IBA membership for 2026. Renew early for elite access to membership gifts and benefits!
Renew or become a member online at https://www.illinoisbeef.com/membership Membership Award Nominations Your nominations for the Illinois Beef Association member awards are critical to recognize those individuals who “give their all” to make our industry the best it can be. Nominations can be made for your operation or on behalf of another producer. The winners will be recognized at the IBA Annual Meeting. We are very proud of the contributions made by the producers in our industry. This is an opportunity to recognize them both personally and professionally. Nominations close Friday, March 27, 2026 https://www.illinoisbeef.com/membership/awards
Producer Events Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association Annual Banquet When: February 7, 2026 Where: Roseville Illinois Angus Association 3rd Annual Banquet & Conference When: February 20, 2026 Where: Illinois Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield Illinois Simmental Association Banquet & Annual Meeting When: February 20, 2026 Where: Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield Illinois Shorthorn Association Banquet & Annual Meeting When: February 20, 2026 Where: Building 30, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield Illinois Hereford Association Annual Meeting & Banquet When: February 21, 2026 Where: Springfield