For immediate release

May 7, 2008

For more information, contact:

Scott Ressler, NDSA environmental services director • sressler@ndstockmen.org

Julie Schaff Ellingson, NDSA communications director • stockman@ndstockmen.org

Wade Moser, NDSA executive vice president • ndsa@ndstockmen.org

(701) 223-2522 • www.ndstockmen.org

Stockmen’s Association will host Feedlot Tour June 17

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) Feeder Council will host its seventh annual Feedlot Tour at three central North Dakota lots, a research extension center and a new processing plant on June 17.

Buses will depart at 7:30 a.m. CT from the Kmart parking lot in Bismarck, N.D., and pick up more participants at 8:30 a.m. at the Coffee Cup Fuel Stop parking lot in Steele, N.D.

Mike Erfle of Heaton, N.D., will host the first stop at his private backgrounding and finishing lot at approximately 9:30 a.m. Constructed in 2006, Erfle’s lot features a concrete curb-feeding system with adjustable cable neckrails and commercial threaded tighteners. Erfle will showcase these and his unique steel windbreak layout and customized power-pole protectors in each pen.

Owner Jim Krueger and Manager Jeff Kvamme will host the next stop at the 7,000-head Pipestem Feeders lot near Carrington, N.D. Guests will visit the updated livestock working facility and load-out area, watch its feedmill micromachine and learn about procuring feed and securing manure agreements from area farmers.

Lunch will follow at the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center. After the meal, Dr. Vern Anderson and Chris Augustin will lead a tour of the Center and its 800-head state-permitted feedlot and research facility. The Center’s low-stress livestock handling facility, versatile feedmill, fly ash surface stabilizer and composting demonstration will also be of special interest.

Philip and Linda and Jeff and Leann Schafer will welcome the next stop at their private backgrounding and finishing lot, RV Feedlot, near New Rockford, N.D. Schafers’ 999-head state-permitted facility is a total self-fed feedlot and features supersteel perimeter fence, shelterbelt wind protection and a newly updated working system.

A visit to the North American Bison Cooperative plant near New Rockford will round out the NDSA Feedlot Tour. A North Dakota Natural Beef representative will describe how beef is slaughtered at the New Rockford processing plant and then shipped to a new facility in Fargo, N.D., for further processing and distribution as part of the Beef Systems of Excellence project.

Buses will return to the Coffee Cup parking lot at approximately 5:30 p.m. and the Kmart parking lot at approximately 6:30 p.m.

The cost to participate is $10 per person, which includes bus transportation and lunch. Pre-registration by June 10 is appreciated by contacting NDSA Environmental Services Director Scott Ressler at (701) 223-2522 or sressler@ndstockmen.org.

-30-