While some ranches rely on hired hands to sort, vaccinate and feed cattle, many times the whole family is involved in the cattle-handling process.

To address the needs of all family members on the ranch, the North Dakota State University Extension Service’s Grant and Sheridan County offices will be hosting family-focused livestock workshops in June.

The workshops are open to all North Dakota livestock producers and are partially sponsored by the Beef Checkoff and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

The Gather Your Herd for Stockmanship and Stewardship workshop in Grant County will be held on June 15 from noon to 4:30 p.m. MST at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Carson.

Topics for the Grant County workshop are:

• Understanding the veterinary feed directive (VFD) by Katie Wirt, Grant County Extension agent
• Ask the expert question-and-answer session
• Low-stress cattle handling for the whole family by Curt Pate of Curt Pate Stockmanship
• Building a chute-side vaccine cooler

The Gather Your Herd for Stockmanship and Stewardship workshop in Sheridan County will be held on June 16 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 4-H facilities at Hoffer Lake, north of McClusky.

Topics for the Sheridan County workshop are:

• Understanding the VFD by Gerald Stokka, NDSU Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist
• Rangeland management by Kevin Sedivec, NDSU Extension rangeland management specialist
• Chute-side culling by Lisa Pederson, NDSU Extension beef quality assurance specialist
• Ditch-hay and hay sampling
• Low-stress cattle-handling demonstration by Pate

“Sheridan County Extension Service is excited to offer a new program for livestock producers who take pride in working with their families to produce a quality product,” says Nicole Wardner, Sheridan County Extension agent. “Our focus is to put everyone in the operation on the same page when it comes to working with cattle.

Our other featured topics will give beef producers the information they need to manage their forages, understand how the new VFD relates to their operation and provide useful guidelines for culling cattle at working time,” Wardner adds.

“The main event of both the Sheridan and Grant County workshops will be a hands-on demonstration of low-stress cattle handling techniques from Curt Pate,” says Katie Wirt, Grant County Extension agent. “Curt has a lifelong connection with ranching and manages a grazing operation in Montana. Together, Curt and his wife will showcase handling techniques for both experienced and inexperienced ranch hands.

This workshop will empower producers, couples and youth to work livestock together in an efficient, safe and confident manner,” Wirt adds.

“It will be wonderful for my husband, Joe, and me to get on the same page and learn some new things together,” says Caitlin Stegmiller of Flasher.

Activities also will be available for youth age 5 and older while their parents are busy learning. Older youth are encouraged to take part in the workshop.

The registration fee for the Grant County workshop is $20 per adult, $30 per couple and $10 per student. Age 12 and under is free, and discounts are available for families or large groups.

To register for the Grant County workshop, contact Wirt at 701-622-3470 or katie.wirt@ndsu.edu.

The registration fee for the Sheridan County workshop is $25 per adult, $40 per couple and $65 per family. Discounted rates are available for large groups.

To register for the Sheridan County workshop, contact Wardner at 701-363-2242 or nicole.wardner@ndsu.edu.

Registration fees for both workshops include lunch, refreshments and workshop materials.