Evan Pankoke enjoys showing cattle.
The Northeast Community College sophomore Diversified Ag major from Hampton, which is near Aurora, has learned a lot about cattle and life from his experiences in and out of the show ring.
At the 76th annual Norfolk Beef Expo on September 7, Pankoke showed a 1,235-pound steer named “Midget Man” at the Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex.
“Last week I showed him at the Nebraska State Fair, and the judge gave him the name, so we just stuck with that,” Pankoke said.
At the State Fair, Pankoke earned Reserve Champion Lightweight Steer. This was his first year showing at the beef expo.
“After I finish up my studies at Northeast, I’ll go back to the family farm and raise cattle and crops,” he said.
Showing cattle has taught Pankoke many things. They include sportsmanship when not winning, then being a gracious winner when doing well, along with various aspects of cattle, such as the importance of the proper feed rations and spending time taming and working on the cattle’s haircoat.
“Hard work tends to pay off,” he said. “These things aren’t easy to take care of.”
Pankoke, who has been showing cattle since he was 8, purchased his steer from Wolff Farms of Norfolk.
Another Northeast student who exhibited at the show was Rylee Hermelbracht of Hinton, Iowa. Elliot Hansen of Norfolk, who is the son of Northeast’s Jason Hansen – who manages the Northeast farm, had the overall grand champion steer.
But there were more Northeast connections. The Northeast livestock judging team members assisted with the show, such as serving as stewards in the show ring.
Stewards make sure the animals are walking around for the judge to see. Students also helped to announce and check in cattle before classes, and made sure the proper ribbons and awards were presented. They also came in on September 6 and helped to get the animals weighed and measured at the shoulder.
There were other Northeast connections to the 76th annual event, which was put on by the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. In more recent times, the event has been held at the Pohlman Ag Complex on campus.
The Northeast Diversified Ag Club runs the concession stand, with profits going to help offset competition costs for the club, such as the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) contests in April.
Northeast Instructors Sarah Sellin and Bernie Thyen are the advisers for the Diversified Ag Club.
“The Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce does a great job with this show,” Sellin said, “offering scholarships to our students and other incentives.”
Thyen said he remembers the first year at the Pohlman Ag Complex after it was moved from the Norfolk Sale Barn.
“Mike Roeber (Northeast Ag instructor) and I were talking about it,” Thyen said. “It was 20 years ago, and they opened the door. And they guy was hooping and hollering -- it was a brand new building. He led a Charolais heifer.”
Sellin said she has always enjoyed the show, especially seeing some of the Northeast alumni come back. Some of them judged livestock for Roeber or now have children who show.
“Mike Roeber takes on a lot of responsibility with this show, making sure his students show up and making sure it all runs smoothly. We have good help, good facilities, and everything needed to run a good show. He also makes sure the students have a good experience, and learn all the things they need to put on a quality show.”
Georgette Sweeney of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce said the college and chamber have a good working relationship with the show, including providing scholarships with business support.
“We like to promote ag businesses because it is so important to this area,” she said. “It covers a lot of counties.”
Northeast Exhibitor
Evan Pankoke, a Northeast Community College Diversified Ag major, shows his steer, Midget Man, at the 76th annual Norfolk Beef Show on September 7. (Northeast Community College)
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