OCA Roundup & Tour
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association in cooperation with a local
cattlemen’s association or group annual hosts a Roundup. This event moves to a
different part of the state each year and is a good opportunity for producers
to learn about the latest in the beef industry, visit with cattlemen from
across the state and tour some of Ohio's featured beef operations. This event
is also annually sponsored by Farm Credit Services of Mid-America.
The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA’s) Roundup will take place on Friday, August 20 and Saturday, August 21, 2010. The event, hosted by the Carroll County Cattleman’s Association and sponsored by Farm Credit Services, is a chance to learn about the latest news in the beef industry. The program includes a weekend with an informational session with speakers from the cattle industry and a day tour of selected beef operations in Carroll County. OCA extends a warm invitation to all who have an interest in Ohio’s cattle industry to attend.
2010 OCA Roundup registration form (291 KB)
The Roundup officially begins at 5 p.m. with the welcome by the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association at the Days Inn in Carrollton. At 5:30 p.m. Jerry Yates, West Virginia University Reymann Memorial Farms manager, will address the attendees. Yates is going to discuss Ohio’s beef industry and the obstacles and opportunities that producers have. A dinner sponsored by United Producers will follow Yates.
Fernando Silveira, Ohio State University Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine instructor, will be the evening’s final speaker. Silvera is a native of Brazil and has traveled the world studying ruminant production systems and health. His presentation will focus on pastures around the world and what Ohio producers can learn from them. Burgett Angus Farm in Carrollton will host a social event that evening at their farm.
Saturday’s events kick off at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast at the Days Inn sponsored by PNC Bank. Attendees will then depart on buses for farm tours. This year’s tours feature five Carroll County beef operations.
Lunch will take place during the stop at Summitcrest Farms in between the morning and afternoon tours. After the meal a NCBA PAC fundraiser will be held and the crowd will hear from OCA President Dave Felumlee as he gives an update on OCA events and activities.
Registration deadline for this event is Aug. 6, 2010, and the cost is $35 for OCA members and $45 for non-OCA members. All registrations at the door will be $45. For more information about the Roundup or to register call the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association at (614) 873-6736 or visit the website at www.ohiocattle.org.
Shamrock Vale Farms
Cattle, water and grass. Those are three key ingredients to the operation of Earl and Nedra McKarns and their son, Dan. The McKarns raise a registered Black Angus herd comprised of 175 cows and their calves on 400 acres. They calve in the spring starting in January and running through March, and have used 100 percent artificial insemination breeding for the past 15 years.
They use a rotational grazing system year-round and stockpile grass for the winter months. The farm has developed water systems in all of the paddocks on the property and have implemented hard use pads. A one wire electric fence is used in each paddock. The cattle are moved daily, sometimes two times a day to different paddocks. The marketing program consists of selling the 3- to 5-year-olds each year. In addition, the farm will be holding a herd dispersal sale Labor Day weekend. The heifer calves are put back into the breeding program. The herd is tested for Johne’s disease and leukosis and is a closed herd. The farm has been in operation at the same location for 50 years and the third generation is running it.
Summitcrest Farms
The location in Summitville is one of four ranches in the United States. Together, the locations in Fremont, Iowa; Broken Bow, Neb.; and Loup River, Neb.; make up a total of 3,300 acres.
At the Summitville farm, there are more than 500 registered Angus cattle and 130 replacement heifers. The Ohio farm was started by the late Fred Johnson and today, Sam Johnson, is in charge of operations at the Summitville farm. The farms raise their own hay, corn and oats, which are used to feed their own cattle. Summitcrest has created a unique situation within the feedstock industry by doing so. Summitcrest has identified the most Pathfinder cows since the Pathfinder program’s conception, and carcass quality has long been a focus of the breeding program at Summitcrest. In addition, the farm does research dealing with DNA for the drug company, Pfizer.
John McKarns
John McKarns is a one-man operation raising 200 brood cows. The animals are Angus-based and are being crossbred with Gelbvieh. The operation is a cow/calf operation and is a commercial herd. The farm operates on a 65-day breeding season and uses artificial insemination. They do raise their own clean-up bulls. In addition, the herd is enrolled in a yearly vaccination program.
The McKarns farm is comprised of 450 acres and utilizes an intensive grazing system. The farm is divided into multiple paddocks where the cattle are divided and kept. McKarns has built several projects on the acreage with EQIP funds including watering system developments.
McKarns won the 2009 Carroll County Cooperator of the Year Award from the Carroll Soil and Water Conservation District.
Green Haven Farm
An Ohio Century Farm is the backdrop for the Rusty and Lisa Grubbs commercial cattle operation. The operation is family owned and the sixth generation is already getting involved in it. The operation includes 70 Angus brood cows that calve in the spring. The farm is mostly in hay and pasture land, with 120 acres being used as two intensive grazing systems. Each system has its own pressurized water system. The calves are marketed as feeders and some are kept to fatten out, mostly on grass, as freezer beef.
Burgett Angus Farm
The Burgett Angus Farm is operated by Dr. Keith Burgett and his sons, Phillip and Bryan. The trio have a made a name for themselves in the cattle industry for their superior breeding. They raise 250 cows in their cow and calf operation. They raise both Red and Black Angus.
The farm consists of 300 acres in Carroll County and they lease another 1,000 acres. The farm is a mostly grass-fed operation with some forage feed. They use 80 percent artificial insemination using estrus synchronization and natural cover for the remaining part. The Burgetts are known for the maternal type traits in their cattle with good feet, legs and udders. They also strive for a quality carcass and growth. They are now known as one of Ohio’s premier Angus breeders.
