For Immediate Release
By: R-CALF USA Marketing Director Jaiden Moreland
Contact: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard
Phone: 406-252-2516; r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com
View photos of the R-CALF USA events here.
BILLINGS, Mont., March 7, 2025 – Support for R-CALF USA’s efforts to halt the electronic eartag mandate continues to gain momentum as hundreds of cattle producers gathered at events and fundraisers across South Dakota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Texas in early 2025.
From January 31 through February 8, R-CALF USA and its South Dakota state affiliate, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA), upheld their 20-year tradition of sharing a booth at the Black Hills Stock Show, focusing on membership recruitment, fundraising, and providing a place for cattle producers from across the Midwest to gather and discuss industry issues.
The booth drew a strong presence, featuring the 2025 R-CALF USA saddle, handmade by Baxter Badure of Belvidere; a saddle rack crafted by Leroy Wicks of Dupree; and SDSGA’s engraved commemorative Henry Repeating Arms .357 Big Boy rifle.
R-CALF USA Marketing Director Jaiden Moreland represented R-CALF USA throughout the 10-day event, meeting with legislators and reporting high success in membership growth and fundraising.
“It’s always a pleasure getting to promote our two organizations and building on our long-time partnership,” said Moreland. “We’re proud to provide a space where ranchers can connect and stay informed on critical industry issues like the EID mandate.”
Building on a successful start to the 2024-2025 rollover calf sale fundraiser season, Crawford Livestock Market in Crawford, Nebraska, hosted a fundraiser on January 10. A heifer donated by Dyesville Angus/Jack and Penny Dye of Hermosa, South Dakota, was auctioned off, raising nearly $6,000 for R-CALF USA.
Additional fundraisers followed, including a January 20 event at Winner Livestock Auction in Winner, South Dakota, where a calf donated by Lonnie and Pam Dreyer of Winner, South Dakota, raised $15,000. Another rollover took place on February 4 at Huron Continental Marketing in Huron, South Dakota, where R-CALF USA Region III Director Ron Volk of Sentinel Butte, North Dakota, donated a heifer calf that raised over $3,000.
The series of fundraisers concluded on February 27 at Valentine Livestock Auction in Valentine, Nebraska, where a calf donated by Miles Ranch/Craig, Joy, and Caleb Miles of Brownlee, Neb.; Greg and Marie Arendt of Valentine, Neb.; and Brett Galbraith of Wood, S.D., raised over $20,000.
Meanwhile, producer meetings held across South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska provided key organizational and industry updates, particularly regarding the EID mandate and ongoing litigation. Hundreds of producers attended meetings, beginning with two on January 2 in Faith and Lemmon, South Dakota, followed by a meeting on January 3 in Belfield, North Dakota. On January 16, a meeting was held in Atkinson, Nebraska, at Atkinson Livestock Market, and on January 27, another meeting took place in Yorktown, Texas.
“I’ve been so encouraged by the participation of producers coming to these meetings and learning about the issues we’re fighting for,” said R-CALF USA Membership Chair Theresa Fox. “We’ve got to hold steady and continue the outreach to engage everyone in the industry.”
Meetings continued in February with a producer meeting and member social at the Black Hills Stock Show in Rapid City, South Dakota, on February 5. Additional meetings followed on February 13 in Yankton, South Dakota, and on February 22 at Platte Livestock Market in Platte, South Dakota, and at Winner Livestock Auction in Winner, South Dakota.
These meetings were made possible by sponsorship from several businesses and individuals, including Gooseneck Implement, Lemmon, S.D. and Dickinson, N.D.; Maher JM Angus, Morristown, S.D.; Keffeler Kreations, Faith, S.D.; D Lazy T Ranch, Opal, S.D.; Fox Hole Ranch/Randy and Laura Fox, Newell, S.D.; Paul’s Feed & Seed, Faith, S.D.; Faith Veterinary Services, Faith, S.D.; Wedge Tent Ranch/Bart and Shannon Carmichael, Faith, S.D.; Dakota’s Propane Gas Co-op, Lemmon, S.D.; Dakota Plains Credit Union, Ellendale, N.D.; Clay County Famers Union, Vermillion, S.D.; Lincoln County Farmers Union, Canton, S.D.; South Dakota Farmers Union/Brian Hansen, Huron, S.D.; West Plains Inc., Beach, N.D.; Paramount Service and Supply, Glendive, Mont.; Atkinson Livestock Market, Atkinson, Neb.; Platte Livestock Market, Platte, S.D.; and the R-CALF USA Calendar Committee.
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Ranchers Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) is the largest producer-only cattle trade association in the United States. It is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle and sheep industries. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or call 406-252-2516.