Name all the committees you are a member of and tell your roles on the committees:
I am involved in Isanti County 4-H and am the president of the Auction committee, the Secretary of the Animal Science committee, and the Vice President of my 4-H club, Lakeside Victory!! Showing Hereford Cattle is such a wonderful experience, but the people alongside the cattle are even better!! I am a director for the Minnesota Jr Hereford Breeders and have a great time with such amazing people! I am also the Minnesota State Beef Ambassador!
How did you become a member of the state Beef Council (please make sure I have the proper name of the Council)?
Becoming a beef ambassador consisted of writing a resume and applying to be a contestant at the summer banquet for the Minnesota Cattle Woman. After I submitted my application, I then got an email stating that I was selected to continue in the competition and I needed to create a mock social media post and prepare a presentation to share on the day of the banquet. The day of the banquet came, and I had to give my speech and presentation, have an interview with five judges, and travel on two different tours. Then, after dinner during the award ceremony, they announced the 2024-2025 Minnesota State Beef Ambassador Team.
What kinds of things do you do as an ambassador?
As beef ambassadors, we travel the state of Minnesota to promote beef and agriculture to everyone. We participate in social media posts, public speaking, livestock shows, trade shows, conventions, and interviews, spreading a positive message about the beef industry we love.
Have you met any celebrities or politicians as of yet?
I have met so many amazing people in my time in the livestock world, but only a few that are considered “famous”. I have met Amberley Snyder from the movie “Walk Ride Rodeo”, Amanda Radke who is a puplic speaker and rancher, Amy Klobuchar and Ryan Rash who is a famous livestock judge that travels the US. All of these amazing people were such a blessing to meet and talk with, and they all truly showed that anything is possible within this industry.
What is your interest in the beef industry?
My main focus in the Beef Industry is to promote a positive impact and outlook for the industry that has shaped who I am. I am involved in livestock judging, animal photography, education clinics and seminars, and showing cattle and pigs.
What breeds of cattle do you have?
We primarily raise purebred Herefords, a line of commercial club calves, and Charolais Composite heifers.
Have you ever won any 4-H awards with your cattle?
In the past 11 years, I have had the honor and privilege of winning many awards in the livestock show. I have won banners, buckles, ribbons, and plaques, but what I’m really winning are the memories, friends, lessons, and hard work that I will carry in my heart forever.
How many heads does your family own? How many acres?
Our cattle operation consists of 40-60 head that we own and operate on 120 acres. We cycle our cattle through 5 different pastures during the summer and winter months and use over 400 acres for hay ground that we bail to feed during the winter.
Do you sell beef to the public?
My family and I own and operate Hass Beef Cattle, which has a cow/calf operation and a feedlot operation. Our cow/calf operation consists of a herd of 30-40 cows that we breed for show quality calves that we will either show or sell as show calves to others in the show industry. We keep our high-quality heifers and use them as replacement heifers in our herd to grow our genetics. In our feedlot, we feed out 10-20 steers a year that then get sold to our private customers. We sell our beef in quarters, halves, wholes, and ground hamburger.
What are your future career goals?
While the beef industry has dominated my life to this point, my future plans involve helping others in a different way. I either want to be a dental hygienist or a nurse. I still want to stick to my roots with beef, so I want to stay in livestock judging, and I’d like to stay involved in animal science. I will start working on an associate’s degree at Anoka-Ramsey this fall, and I’ll figure out how I will specialize after that. Rest assured that the beef industry won’t go away. It is my life right now, and it will be forever. I’ll still have my herd of beef cattle, and I know my kids will show livestock, and I’ll do livestock judging. I won’t be leaving anytime soon.
