Cattle Drive Program
A Donation That Keeps on Growing
The Cattle Drive program, Montana’s largest steer feedout contest, allows ranchers and supporters to donate a steer or donate the market value of a steer. Donors can also partner with friends or neighbors to participate. This annual program allows your donation to gain in value to contribute an even larger impact in the future of the industry!
To donate, contact MSF Program Coordinator, Heidi Kool at foundation@mtbeef.org or (406) 461-0642.
About the Cattle Drive
Each fall, the MSF Cattle Drive program seeks steer donations from ranchers and businesses across the state. Donated animals are transported to Yellowstone Cattle Feeders in Shepherd, Mont., where they are put into the program and fed to ideal market weight. When each steer is at optimum weight, MSF, through the Montanans Feeding Montanans Initiative, matches the donor’s steer with a restaurant or retailer in the region in which the steer had originated starts.
Become a Donor
Donation commitments can be made at any time throughout the year by contacting MSF’s Program Coordinator, Heidi Kool, at foundation@mtbeef.org or (406) 461-0642. Pick up will be coordinated beginning in mid October.
Donor Benefits
Steer Data
Donors receive individual ADG and carcass data back on all donated steers.
Branded Apparel
Donors receive custom branded apparel each donation year.
Donor Updates
Monthly updates on the progress of your steer.
Cash & Prizes
Donors have opportunities to win cash and prizes from contests.
Charitable Tax Deduction
The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
NEOGEN Partnership
MSF has partnered with NEOGEN to provide donors with more valuable information on their donated steers. Donors will receive information back from Igenity’s Feeder test, as well as results from BCHF testing.
Does Your Steer Stack Up?
Grand Prize
The steer placing highest in both the ADG contest and carcass value contest is recognized as the Champion Steer. The donor of the champion steer is awarded a grand prize at MSGA’s Annual Convention.
In partnership with Western Ranch Supply and MJE Livestock Equipment, MSF will award the overall winner of the 2024 Cattle Drive Program a portable panel trailer package, valued at over $17,000.
For the 2025 Cattle Drive Program, we’re excited to announce that we’re partnering again with Western Ranch Supply and MJE Livestock Equipment to award the overall winner of the 2025 Cattle Drive Program with a portable lading chute package, valued at over $19,000.
Average Daily Gain
Steers weights are taken as the steers are placed on contest and before harvest. Donors are provided with ADG information. The top three steers are recognized at MSGA’s Annual Convention.
Carcass Value
After harvest, each carcass is evaluated and graded. Carcasses are prices based on a grid formulated from USDA data the third week of June each year. The top three steers are recognized at MSGA’s Annual Convention.
Upping the Steaks
MSF Partners with Montana Breed Associations
MSF has partnered with Montana breed associations to provide incentives for the quality cattle genetics raised by Montana producers. Montana Angus, Hereford, Red Angus and Simmental associations have pledged a combined $20,000. In cooperation with the breed associations, parentage of the steer will be determined. If the steer is sired by a bull registered with one of the four participating breeds associations and places in the ADG and carcass value contest, the donor stands to receive a financial award.
Montanans Feeding Montana Initiative
Montana Stockgrowers Foundation Works to Connect Consumers and Ranchers Through Montana Food Service Industry
The Montana Stockgrowers Foundation (MSF) Cattle Drive program has set out to do something no other cattle organization in the state has done—match Montana born, raised, and fed cattle with local restaurants and retailers. The “Montanans Feeding Montana Initiative” seeks to connect the Montana food service industry to the high-quality beef raised by Montana ranchers.
“Montana Stockgrowers understand the importance and desire of customers to know where their food comes from. What we have strived to do is link some of the best producers in the world, that are right here in Montana, with Montana consumers. We have it all right here in Montana. We have the best ranchers in the world, we have feedyards, and we have a lot of feed coming off the Yellowstone Valley that is being fed. To link Montana consumers through Montana restaurants and retail is really a win-win for everyone.”
“I have always had a deep appreciation for where the food is coming from, what it’s eating, where it’s been, who’s handled it. To be able to come out to Yellowstone Cattle Feeders, from day one, and be able to see that and be hands-on in the process, it’s been an incredible experience. Anyone can go to the grocery store and pick up beef and take it home, put it on the grill and have dinner. But I want it to be more than dinner. I want it to be a meal. I want it to be a memory.”
Thank you to our purchasers
2023 Cattle Drive Awards
GRAND PRIZE
Determined by placement in both ADG and Carcass Value
Kerry Erickson
Ismay, MT
AVERAGE
DAILY GAIN
1st Place
Merck Animal Health
Steer purchased from Veseth Cattle Co
2nd Place
Schuett Farms
David Schuett, Dillon, MT
Steer sired by a registered Angus Bull
3rd Place
Veseth Cattle Co
Dale and Janet Veseth, Malta, MT
CARCASS VALUE
1st Place
VS Inc, Jim Steinbeisser
Sidney, MT
2nd Place
Kerry Erickson
Ismay, MT
3rd Place
Katelyn Larson & Alexis Dynneson
Sidney, MT
2024 Cattle Drive Donors
2016 Leadership Class
2023 MBar Class
2025 MBar Class
21 Mile
9-F Ranch
Antelope Springs Ranch
Bales Ranch
Bliss Livestock
Bobcat Angus
Boucher Ranch
Careless Creekland & Livestock
Castle Mountain Ranch
Cherry Creek Ranch
Chokecherry Cattle Co
Coffee Cattle Co
Cornwell Ranch
Cross 4 Ranch
Cross W Livestock
David Voldseth
Deadman Ranch
Drange Ranch
Dynneson Ranch
Ehlke Hereford
Eric & Andy Moore
Forseth Livestock
Gateway Simmental
Glasgow Stockyards
Glennie Farm and Ranch
Grande Ranch
Griffin Ranch
Hagenbarth Livestock
Hahn Ranch
Hammond Cattle Co
Highland Livestock Co.
Hockett Farms
Holden Hereford
Hougen Ranch
Iverson Ranch
IX Ranch
Jacobs Ranch
JBC Farms
Jeff Johnson
Jim Peterson
Joe Dooling
Jones Brothers Livestock
Jones Cattle Co
Katelynn Larson & Alexis Prevost
Kerry Erickson
Lazy YE Cattle Co
Lee Cornwell
Leo Barthelmess
Lesh Cattle Co
Little Belt Cattle Co
LO Cattle
Mark Cain
Marks-Miller Post & Pole
Matador Ranch
Merck
Merrimac Cattle Co
Mike & Raylee Honeycutt
Mikkelsen Ranch
MSGA & MSF Boards
Olsen Ranch
Open A Feeder
Ostendorf Red Angus
Paws Up Cattle Co
Prewitt & Co.
Quarter H Ranch
Rein Anchor Ranch
Rocking Dot Cattle
Rolling Stone Ranch
Running W Cattle Co.
Schuett Farms
Sitz Angus
Steinbeisser & Sons
Stovall Ranch
Sunlight Ranch
Suthelin Farms
Tash Livestock
Taylor Ranch
Thousand Hills Ranch
Two Creek Ranch
Vermillion Ranch
Veseth Cattle Co
Vogel Land and Cattle
Walking 5 Ranch
Waterloo Land & Cattle
Western Ag Network
Western Ag Network
Willow Creek Cattle Co
Wilson Ranch
Woody Creek Cattle
Thank You
Yellowstone Cattle Feeders
for managing the cattle in the program
Marc King
for his help with the carcass data