When Boyd Dvorak of Dvorak Herefords received a call one day in early December, little did he know that he would be asked to be this year’s supplier for the 2025 Aksarben Stock Show’s Calf Challenge. The Dvorak family was thrilled to be asked to be a part of this opportunity that allows them to support and invest in the next generation of agricultural enthusiasts, while also promoting hands-on learning about the cattle industry. The Dvoraks have supported and nurtured their own children’s enthusiasm for agriculture and are excited to watch these young exhibitors develop their skills, build their knowledge, and grow their passion for agriculture.

As Dvorak Herefords sourced this year’s supply, they were asked to provide 10 steers. They chose the participants’ calves based on similar size, frame, and weights in order to give the exhibitors a fair starting point in the competition so that the focus could be on feeding and growing the cattle. The Dvoraks wanted the participants’ focal point to be on how they and their calves grow together, rather than the calves's physical appearance.

The Aksarben Stock Show is a Midwest-wide showing of cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep. The stock show also has a challenge program that is designed for youth who may not have the chance to own livestock or come from a background where livestock is raised to have an opportunity to experience the process of growing and showing a market animal. In order to be chosen for the challenge programs, there is an application along with a participation agreement that must be completed. The application asks for the standard information as well as some thoughtful questions about why an applicant wants to be involved including, “What do you hope to gain?” and “Why do you want to participate?”

The Challenge Programs are open to participants aged 9-19 as of January 1st and must have an established residence in one of the following states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Wyoming. The 2025 calf challenge participants are from Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota. This challenge program gives participants the chance to learn first-hand the responsibilities of livestock management which include daily animal care, understanding nutrition, and mastering the financial aspects of raising a steer. This program emphasizes record-keeping, financial planning, and understanding market dynamics. With the detailed records that the participants are to keep, it will demonstrate and determine the actual cost of raising a market steer. Now that the participants for the 2025 calf challenge have been selected, they will maintain regular communication with their sponsor, Dvorak Herefords, giving monthly updates on their individual calf's progress in addition to sharing their learning experiences. The Dvoraks can, in turn, offer guidance and support to the exhibitors. The program will come to completion when the exhibitors show their steers and demonstrate their acquired knowledge and skills at the Aksarben Stock Show in September.

For the calf challenge, participants will be scored on their record book, interview, showmanship, sponsor letters, average daily gain, and live placing. The top three overall scorers will then be recognized during the “Purple Banner Knight” when the supreme scholarship winners will be announced and awarded. After the steers are finished with the challenge, they are then purchased by the Omaha Steaks Company who then sells them through their company.

Dvorak Herefords is operated by the families of Boyd and Jeff Dvorak with the help of their kids. Boyd’s daughter, Sydney, has recently moved back to the area in order to help full-time. Although the rest of the kids are not as close, they always help from afar as well as when they are home because it truly does take everyone to make the business work. It is the goal of Dvorak Herefords to raise cattle that will add value to other cattlemen’s herds. That is why the Dvoraks utilize DNA technology on their newly born calves. 'Every calf has DNA samples taken to be sent to a lab to be individually tested for any genetic defects, identify parentage and detect future birth, growth, carcass traits, and more, that could hold the key to the future of what we want our cattle to be,” said Boyd. What makes supplying the steers such a privilege for the Dvoraks is that Boyd and Jenny’s daughters were very engaged in youth cattle showing. The Dvoraks started exhibiting at the Aksarben Stock Show in 2021. Although Sydney had already aged out of the competition, her sisters Maesa and JaCee were able to participate, and were very successful at the stock show, winning Champion Hereford and Champion British Steer titles in 2022.

As the calf sourcing sponsors for the next nine months, Dvorak Herefords will enjoy receiving updates, pictures, letters, and questions from the exhibitors as that will be their primary role in the challenge. The team at Dvorak Herefords plans to attend the Aksarben Stock Show this September to show their support and watch all of their exhibitors. The Dvoraks hope that this opportunity for the exhibitioners will help them develop skills and memories that they can carry with them the rest of their lives, and are proud to play a part in that.