Wix Cattle, LLC

10/09/2026

I can finally share some exciting news! 🐃❤️

I’m incredibly honored and grateful to be selected as one of 13 individuals from across the state of Illinois for the 2026–2027 Illinois Beef Association Beef Leadership Academy!

As a mom and cattlewoman, the beef industry is more than a job — it’s a way of life and a passion I’m proud to be part of. I’m excited for the opportunity to learn, grow as a leader, build connections, and continue advocating for an industry that means so much to me and my family.

I believe there is always room to learn, grow, and find ways to make a difference in an industry we all care so much about. I’m excited to step outside my comfort zone, build new connections, and make the most of this incredible opportunity!

Thank you to the Illinois Beef Association for this opportunity and for investing in the next generation of beef industry leaders. I’m truly grateful to be part of this class and can’t wait to see what the next year brings! 🖤🐂🐃

Switching gears this to introduce the 2026-2027 Beef Leadership Academy Class! We are thrilled to have these thirteen individuals join us for the next year as they develop into the next generation of leaders within the Illinois cattle industry.
Be sure to follow along on their journey as they participate in industry tours, educational sessions, and team building.

09/30/2026

A cow’s nose isn’t just for sniffing hay.

Wet nose: That damp surface helps trap scent particles, making their sense of smell incredibly sharp, perfect for finding fresh grass or detecting changes in their environment.
Smell sensitivity: Cows can detect scents from over six miles away, which helps them find food and stay alert to danger.

Source : Rainwater Ranch

09/24/2026

🌽🌽CORN, CATTLE & COMMUNITY — Let the good times Grow at the Grundy County Corn Festival 🌽

As a cattle farmer and beef producer here in Grundy County, the Corn Festival means a little something extra to me.

For generations, corn has been a huge part of the agricultural heritage of our community. And as someone who raises cattle, I understand just how important that corn harvest is to the livestock side of agriculture, too.

The work of the corn farmer doesn't end when the combine pulls out of the field. That harvest becomes an important part of feeding livestock and helping produce the beef that eventually makes its way to family dinner tables.

That's why I appreciate the history behind the Grundy County Corn Festival so much. It's not simply a festival celebrating a crop—it's a celebration of the farmers, families and agricultural community that have helped build Grundy County into what it is today.

And just like farming, the festival doesn't happen without a lot of hard work. Thousands of people come together to enjoy it, but behind the scenes are countless volunteers giving their time, energy and talents to make it all possible.

As a cattle woman, a beef producer and a member of this agricultural community, I'm proud to see our county continue to celebrate where we came from while supporting the people who keep agriculture moving forward.

🌽 From the corn in the field…
🐃 to the cattle in the pasture…
🥩 to the beef on the dinner table…
❤️ it all starts with agriculture and the people who work hard to keep it going.

That's something worth celebrating—especially during Corn Festival.

🌽 Agriculture started the story.
🤝 Community carried it forward.
❤️ Volunteers keep it growing.

📣📣As you are walking the downtown streets enjoying all there is, remember to stop and thank a volunteer! 🌽🌽

08/31/2026

📣📣📣🥩🥩🥩📣📣📣

Beef imports are not the quick fix some people think they are. 🐃🇺🇸

I understand that high beef prices at the grocery store are frustrating. Families are feeling it, and nobody likes paying more for something they’ve always been able to afford. But there’s something important that needs to be understood from the rancher’s side of the fence:

We don’t set the price of beef at the grocery store.

And importing more beef into the country doesn’t fix the underlying problem — our cattle numbers are historically tight.

If we want to rebuild the American cattle herd, American farmers and ranchers need to have the confidence and financial ability to retain heifers and rebuild their cow herds.

But here’s the part that often gets overlooked: you can't rebuild a cow herd overnight.

A rancher retains a heifer instead of selling her. Then you have to:

- Grow her to breeding age.
- Put the time and money into getting her bred.
- Hope she settles.
- Carry her through pregnancy.
- Wait for her to calve.
- Get that first calf raised.
- And then, hopefully, keep her in the herd for years to come.

That is years of investment before that decision starts producing more beef.

And every step comes with risk. Feed prices, drought, weather, disease, labor, interest rates, pasture costs, reproductive problems and the price of cattle can all change before that heifer ever becomes a productive cow.

So when cattle numbers are low, the answer isn't as simple as “just raise more cattle.”

Ranchers have to make a decision today based on whether they believe the market will allow them to afford keeping those heifers tomorrow.

If we want to see more American beef in the future, we need to create an environment where the people actually raising the cattle have the confidence to invest in the future of their herds.

Imports may fill a short-term gap, but they don't rebuild the American cow herd.

That takes American ranchers raising American cattle — and it takes time.

And while we're talking about prices, remember this: the rancher isn't standing at the grocery store checkout deciding what that steak costs. There are a lot of steps between the ranch gate and the meat counter.

We aren't asking for sympathy. We're asking for people to understand the reality of what it takes to produce the beef on their family's table.

Support American agriculture. Support the people willing to take the risk, invest for the future, and keep raising the beef that feeds this country. 🇺🇸🐃

Because rebuilding the herd isn't a light switch.

It’s a long-term investment in American agriculture.

08/21/2026

Trump Announces Beef Import Deal on heels of Tyson Closures; IBA leaders working to address volatility and uncertainty

IBA Update from Josh St. Peters, Executive Vice President

On Friday morning, President Trump announced via a social media post that a deal had been reached to remove the import tariff quota on ground beef for three months in an effort he said comes with "a commitment that this beef will be sold at 25 percent below current market prices."



The lifting of the tariff quota means that packers will be able to import up to 300,000 metric tons of foreign ground beef over the next 90 days without penalty. Details of which markets qualify for the import program are not yet clear, but Trump's social media post stated that these efforts were part of his work to "rebuild this herd and help our ranchers."



The news follows action by JBS on Thursday to suspend some dairy cattle buying in the countryside, which likely coincides with today's announcement. Meanwhile, last week's sudden closure of the Joslin, Ill., beef packing plant owned by Tyson Foods left 15,000 fat cattle across the Illinois and Iowa countryside without a market. These cattle had been committed to Tyson but could not be delivered due to the abrupt shutdown of the plant. Producers have been working with cattle buyers across the industry to find hooks for these finished cattle, but cash markets have softened steadily on this volatility throughout the week.



Illinois Beef Association leaders are working together, along with members and state and federal policy leaders, to understand the implications of the Tyson closure and today's import tariff quota news.



"We are concerned with this announcement propping up foreign beef at the cost of our Midwestern producers," said Shannon Welsh, IBA President from Blandinsville, Ill. "Manipulating the cattle market by flooding our grocery stores with foreign meat is already reducing the value of our cattle and goes against efforts to rebuild herds on our family farms."



IBA Board members gathered in Springfield earlier this week to discuss the evolving market in the region and what the situation means for the state’s beef industry. The prior announcement by Tyson has serious implications for both producer profitability and the financial well-being of the state's beef trade organization and state beef council. Today’s tariff decision just further complicates the situation.



"These announcements are reducing the income of our farmer-members by the hour," said Josh St. Peters, IBA Executive Vice President. "Our organization's 30 farmer leaders are rallying to find solutions that can help members in the near term but also build sustainable markets for the future. Our membership is made up of family farms that are resilient. These producers are sharp marketers, but we need companies and policymakers to stop pulling the rug out from under us."



Since the news of the Joslin closing, IBA leaders have talked with Governor J.B. Pritzker and his senior staff. The State of Illinois is committed to ensuring we find viable alternatives for marketing cattle within our state. Director of Agriculture Jerry Costello, an IBA member and beef producer himself, has also committed the support of his agency to help farmers navigate challenges surfacing with the sudden closure of the state's largest beef processing facility.



IBA hosted a meeting with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth and been in communication with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin’s staff regarding the Tyson news. Both leaders have expressed commitment to helping farmers navigate federal programs or regulatory agencies that can support this unplanned transition. Several members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation have also conveyed their support to IBA members and the state's beef industry.



In parallel, the association's staff and leaders have been working daily with NCBA staff and leaders to understand what is happening across the U.S. marketplace and in Washington, D.C., during this market volatility. NCBA's CEO Colin Woodall met with IBA leaders following the Tyson announcement and has provided outreach and staff support to IBA during the last week as we address media inquiries, policymaker requests and other needs.



We have also seen tremendous support from other organizations and leaders in the Illinois agriculture and business community, including outreach from IL Corn, Illinois Farm Bureau, IL Pork, IL Soybean and the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association.



We are asking IBA members to stay in communication with the association and local board representatives regarding how the Tyson closure and today's announcement impacts your beef operation.



If you have cattle that were committed for slaughter at the Joslin facility that could not be delivered ahead of the closure, please make sure you have reported that to IBA. If member farms have pens of cattle that need to be marketed, IBA can assist with providing names and phone numbers for alternative cattle buyers in the region, as well.



IBA's commitment to advancing the state's beef industry remains unchanged during these challenging times, and we encourage members to let us know how we can best support cattle operations under current market conditions.



Please e-mail to [email protected], call the IBA office at (217) 787-4280 or send a message via the website's "Contact Us" link.

08/19/2026

We call her the herd babysitter because she doesn't care whos calf it is, she watches over them all.

Sophie decided to hang on to this baby for what seemed like forever, but now he's here, a 95 lb bull calf. (Ouch 😦)

She's gotta be happy though now she can finally go get her a Pedi!

08/08/2026

Looks like a pretty comfy resting spot ☺️