HERD Show Cattle Clinic Series

04/08/2026

We invite you to join us for the 17th Annual UF IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center Youth Field Day!

WHEN:
Thursday, June 11, 2026
- check-in opens at 7:30 a.m.
- learning expo will be open, 8 – 10 a.m.
- students in their predetermined groups will rotate through 5, 25-minute classes and a lunch break, 10:10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.
- closing assemble to announce the 2027 t-shirt design contest winner and our blackout bingo prize drawing, 1:30 -2:00 p.m.

WHERE:
3401 Experiment Station, Ona, FL 33865

Our goal is to excite students about agriculture and science, reveal future opportunities in those fields, and foster a love of learning which will promote agriculture and good stewardship in this and future generations.

Who can attend? Students ages 8 - 18 with their parent, guardian, or youth leader.

Benefit: Students who visit all of the learning expo booths and complete all our field day classes will receive a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certificate. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a program that provides information to U.S. beef producers on how good husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management conditions.

Curious what this event is like? Watch this video overview of our 2025 event: https://youtu.be/cgv0LIX7cq4?si=nkHumzDB_3ix4BGi

For all the event details and how to register, visit: https://forms.gle/tY2zK5QzQd58f4WU6

See our additional posts to learn how to purchase an event T-Shirt and how to enter the T-Shirt design contest!

04/05/2026

Happy Easter

Faith isn’t just always something you learn on Sundays…
it’s something you live out in the quiet of the barn, day in and day out.

in the early mornings when no one else is watching…
when you’re tired, worn down, and still show up anyway.

It’s in the quiet prayers whispered over a gate,
hands resting on an animal,
asking for strength, peace, and just a little bit of favor.

It’s in the waiting…
the long days, the uncertain outcomes,
the moments where you’ve done everything you can;
and all that’s left is to trust Him with the rest.

Because stock show life will humble you real quick.

You can put in the work,
do everything “right,”
and still not get the results you hoped for.

And that’s where faith has to step in.

Faith that there’s purpose in the process.
Faith that even in the disappointment… He’s still working.

Easter is the reminder of all of that.

Of sacrifice.
Of surrender.
Of trusting God even when the outcome doesn’t look the way you hoped.

And most of all… resurrection.

Because just like that empty tomb…
this life teaches you that setbacks aren’t the end.

There’s always another morning.
Another chance.
Another reason to keep going.

So whether you’re dressed up for church
or standing in a barn aisle today…

Just know, He meets you right where you are.

Even in the shavings.
Even in the chaos.
Even in the waiting.

He is risen…
and in this life, so is your faith every single time you choose to keep showing up. 🤍

Happy Easter, sweet friends. 🐣🌷🐰✝️

03/27/2026

03/26/2026

🚨 𝗠𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗥 𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗧 𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 🚨
It’s one of the most common (and frustrating) calls we get.

Before you panic, run through this simple checklist:
💧 Water — is it clean, fresh, and available?
🌡 Health — are they showing signs of sickness?
🌽 Feed — did something change too fast?
⏰ Consistency — are you feeding at the same time every day?

Sometimes the issue is simple. Sometimes it’s not.

Either way, having a plan matters.

👉 Read the full breakdown here: https://truenorthfeed.com/my-steer-quit-eating/

03/26/2026

03/25/2026

03/06/2026

Every stock show kid eventually gets that animal.

The one that refuses to cooperate.
The one that forgets everything the second you walk into the ring.
The one that makes you question every hour you've spent in the barn.

The pig that won’t drive.
The lamb that acts like it has no idea what bracing is.
The calf that decides today is the day it doesn’t know what a halter is.

And in those moments, it’s easy to think you’re failing.

But here’s the truth most experienced showmen know…

Sometimes the stubborn ones are the most important teachers.

They teach patience when you’d rather quit.
They teach persistence when progress feels invisible.
They teach humility when things don’t go the way you planned.

They remind you that showing livestock was never just about the wins.

It’s about learning how to be a problem solver.
How to stay calm when things aren’t perfect.
How to work through frustration instead of walking away.

And one day, long after the shows are over…

you’ll realize the animal that tested you the most
was the one that built the most character.

03/04/2026