Future Cattle Producers Looks Toward Future
The Wyoming Livestock Genetics Association is pleased to announce that they are currently taking applications for the 2017-2019 class of Future Cattle Producers of Wyoming. Applications are open to any high school student that has a passion to continue or become involved in the livestock industry. Application deadline is July 15, 2017.
Applications can be found on the Wyoming Livestock Genetics Association website and going to the Future Cattle Producers tab. The website can be found at wylga.com. Applications can be mailed to Future Cattle Producers of Wyoming, PO Box 1688 Gillette Wyoming 82717 or emailed to JW Rankin at wyo2v@msn.com or Scott Keith at wyocattle8@gmail.com.
Applicants apply for the chance to win a heifer donated by Wyoming seedstock producer. Donors are chosen after the selections for the class has been made to tailor fit each successful young producer to their donor. This allows for the young producer to not only receive a top breed choice but to also be paired with a mentor who will help them develop their skills and deepen their passion for the cattle industry.
Prior to selection, they will be asked to fill out an application along with a short essay expressing their interest in the cattle industry. After the applications are received, the selection committee along with the class mentors will review these and select the applicants that will continue on to the interview process.
In their first year, they go through a program of growing, breeding and keeping records on the heifer. They work closely with their donors to keep their focus on the long-term productivity of the cow. At the end of their first year, the class will meet at the Wyoming Stock Growers Winter Convention in Casper for the year end judging and awards. They will receive awards for their placing in record books, interview and animal knowledge.
Year two is a continuation of the record book completion. They will be responsible for bringing a video or virtual presentation of their cow-calf pair to the Wyoming Stock Growers Winter Convention. They will again be judged on the completeness of the record book, their presentation of the heifer to the three-producer panel. The graduating class will also select one of their peers to give their presentation to the Wyoming Stock Growers delegation.
Successful applicants are also eligible for the L.E.A.P. (Livestock Educational Assistance Program). This is a financial assistance program only available to current and past members of the Future Cattle Producer of Wyoming program. This program was developed to help Young Producers cover some or potentially all of their costs of continuing education in livestock production such as an AI School, Range Management class or any other short course that can be tied to beef production.
Throughout the time as a program participant, and as alumni of the program, all the participants and their donors are encouraged to join in on monthly conference calls, seminars and webinars that are focused on production topics relative to the seasonality of their project. These are educational discussions by active professionals in the industry. Nutritionists, AI technicians, veterinarians, marketing specialists, lenders, grazing specialists, geneticists and many other industry experts offer their experience and insight in a casual but informative setting to assist the participant with growth of knowledge.
WyLGA is currently selecting its fifth class. In the previous classes, there have been some outstanding young producers receive heifers from some of the best producers in the state and graduate from this program with a step above what any other program can offer. We are very excited to see the next group develop into the Future Cattle Producers of Wyoming.
If anyone has any questions about applying for the Future Cattle Producer of Wyoming or becoming a sponsor, please feel free to contact JW Rankin at 307-277-7498 or Scott Keith at 307-257-1171.
