Guenzler awarded donor calf, 2015 applications open
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Coby Guenzler was one of 25 Montanans awarded a donor heifer calf through the Northern International Livestock Exposition Merit Heifer Program to get a start in the beef business.
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HOT SPRINGS — Coby Guenzler from Hot Springs was 1 of 25 participants chosen from more than 100 applicants to be awarded a heifer calf through the NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) Merit Heifer Program, a live animal scholarship program. Project participants were chosen on the basis of merit, future goals, and the ability to care for the animal. The purpose of the program is to help youth get a start in the beef business.
Coby went to the Klompien Red Angus ranch, owned by donors Dave and Kay Klompien in Manhattan, Montana, and chose which heifer he wanted. Dave and Kay both helped with telling him the breeding of each heifer and a few good or bad points of some. They have been donating a heifer to the program for several years.
Since then Coby has been working hard with his heifer. With this program they encourage the kids to have their heifers artificially inseminated. They also encourage them to show the heifers as much as possible. Coby plans to take his heifer to some jackpot shows in June, July, and the Sanders County fair at the end of August. Then he will take her to the NILE in Billings in October.
If you are awarded a heifer, you get to pick the breed you would like to have; and the NILE committee will set you up with a donor. The project participants will be selected in October and will be recognized at the NILE Stock Show in Billings. Participants cannot sell their heifers at the NILE.
Each participant will own his or her calf jointly with the NILE until the completion of the program. While they have the heifer, they are responsible for raising her, breeding her, completing monthly feed and expense records, and bring the heifer back to the NILE one year later as a bred replacement heifer to be exhibited at the NILE Stock Show. The program is complete when the heifer is determined bred, all records keeping completed, and the heifer has been shown at the NILE at which time NILE officials will sign off and the participant will take full ownership of the heifer and her offspring.
The application process has changed a little bit for this year. Applicants must be current 4-H or FFA members and must be 12-16 years of age by June 30, 2015. They must write a personal letter explaining their plans for the heifer and why they think they deserve one. They have to have three references the committee may call if need be. And new this year they must include a 3-5 minute long YouTube Video, goals and objectives for the heifer if they are selected. The video must be voiced by the applicant, and the remaining time is for them to be creative and show the committee they are worthy of receiving a heifer. Applications are due June 30, 2015.
For more information for anyone interested in applying for a Merit Heifer you may contact Shelby Shaw, NILE Merit Heifer Coordinator at (406) 256-2495, www.thenile.org, PO Box 1981, Billings, MT 59103.
