Beef Industry Comes Together to Support the MSU Beef Education and Endowment Fund
6/15/09
Contact: Sara Long
517-432-1555, ext. 170
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Thanks to the generosity of Michigan State University (MSU) beef program supporters Jim and Melissa Reichenbach, of Sterling-Hunter Farms, Bath, the MSU Beef Education and Endowment Fund received a gift designed to continue to return dividends to the university’s program for years to come.
The Reichenbachs donated SH Ever Intense 8141, a purebred Angus heifer, to be sold at auction during the 2009 Michigan Beef Expo, held at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education in April. The heifer was purchased by a syndicate made up of beef breeders and program supporters from across the country for $8,210. The money generated from the sale was deposited directly into the endowment fund, which supports MSU beef teaching, research and Extension programming.
“Our herdsman, Troy Wilson, graduated from the MSU program and worked at the purebred beef farm as a student, and he encouraged us to consider supporting the endowment,” Jim Reichenbach said. “Having strong educational programs such as the one at MSU benefits the entire industry. It only makes sense for the industry to invest in young people and their education to help build a strong future.”
The Angus heifer was delivered to the MSU Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Center several weeks before the sale, where she was cared for by Cody Sankey, manager of the center, and the center’s undergraduate student employees. Students were charged with halter-breaking and preparing the heifer for the sale.
"The students are a very important and integral part of the operations of the Purebred Beef Cattle Center, and their effort and commitment are greatly appreciated,” he said. “We are blessed at MSU to have many outstanding students employed at the unit. It is very gratifying to have them step forward and want to be a part of supporting the future of the unit and the beef program here at MSU."
The 11 undergraduate student employees joined forces and pooled their money to become an official syndicate member. The student effort was spearheaded by Jason Scramlin, who graduated this spring with a degree in animal science.
“Working at the MSU beef farm is like being part of a family; we all work hard toward achieving a common goal,” he said. “Cody is an excellent farm manager, and we wanted to give back to the program in appreciation for all that he does for us students.”
Scramlin, who pursued his undergraduate degree after spending eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, said it’s important not to forget the most important aspect of college – the students.
“We really wanted to show Cody how much we appreciate his leadership and his looking out for us,” he said. “I wanted our involvement in the syndicate to be a surprise to Cody, so I went around behind his back to invite the others to be a part of it, and all the students were instantly on board. Our only regret was that we didn’t have more money to contribute because we know this endowment helps out a lot of people and does a lot of good.”
MSU Purebred Beef Cattle Center student employees who participated in the syndicate were: Matt Asmus, animal science major, from Cassopolis; Charlie Cramer, crop and soil science sophomore, Stanwood; Scott Hartsell, agribusiness management junior, Cassopolis; Jed Kruger, animal science major, Ionia; Justin Mezo, animal science junior, Galesburg; Michelle Roth, animal science junior,Grand Ledge; Lance Schoenbine, animal science junior, Auburn; Scramlin, Holly; Lynnae Slavik, animal science senior, Ashley; Nicole Starr, animal science junior, Manawa, Wis.; and Julie Thelen, agribusiness management graduate enrolled in the teacher certification program, from Saline.
The syndicate’s contributions are far from finished. Once the winning bid was struck off, the syndicate donated the heifer back to the MSU Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Center under the condition that all future net proceeds from the sale of 8141’s progeny be directed back into the endowment fund.
The MSU Beef Education Endowment Fund was established in 2006 by the Michigan Cattlemen’s Association to support MSU beef cattle educational programming and beef research and teaching facilities, including the Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Teaching and Research Center and the Beef Cattle Teaching and Research Center. Investment income generated through the fund is applied toward sustaining these programs and facilities.
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Members of the MSU Beef Education Endowment Fund syndicate by state are:
Colorado
Bill Angell
Bridgette Grobbel
Georgia
Charles & Andrew McPeake
Illinois
Dave Broer
Gary & Roberta Minish
Justin Ransom
Steve & Sandy Spivey
Dee Woody
Indiana
Jeremy Baldwin
Eastview Angus Farms
Iowa
Dwayne Faidley
Kansas
Ron & Lynn Hinrichsen
Sankey’s 6N Ranch
Louisiana
Jason & Cara Rowntree
Michigan
Bordner Angus Farm
W.L. Bryson
George Buckham Family
Gary Campbell Family
Chapman Livestock & Horse
Mark & Deb Chapman
Cotton and Associates
John Culp
Fitzner Farms
Gale Acres Show Cattle
Pat & Dena Goheen
Brandon Hill
Luke Jarouche
Lakeside Shorthorns
Ron & Jill MacNaughton
Michigan Hereford Association
MSU Purebred Beef Cow-Calf Center student employees
Doug Moyer
David Parks
Chuck Preston
Dan & Robin Riker
Schoenbine Limousin
Craig Schrader Family
Duane Schroeder
Ian & Lorin Stewart
Doug Stork Family
Tim & Nicole Trattles
Dan & Sharon Vaassen
Lorren Van Order Family
Missouri
Tom Burke
Glen & Linda Klippenstein
Neil Orth
Aaron & Sara Moyer Snider
Ohio
Geof Bednar
The Herman Family
Mark & Jerry McCully
Terry Muir
Oklahoma
Katie Cook
Pennsylvania
Rains Angus Farm
South Dakota
Kelly Bruns
Texas
Brett Barber
Joel Cowley
Virginia
Dan Eversole
Wisconsin
Joe & Amy Starr
Alberta, Canada
Aaron Grant
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Steve Fitzner, Citizens Feed, Charlotte, donated the feed for the animal during the time leading up to the sale.