Chico State Beef Unit

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Chico State Beef Unit The CSU, Chico beef unit is used extensively in our academic curriculum and as an educational and business tool for industry cooperators.

CSU, Chico’s student-run beef enterprise provides significant hands-on experience in animal science and beef cattle production. While the management team includes a staff technician and a faculty advisor, students are given primary responsibility for many of the day-to-day management decisions, and are actively involved in long term strategic planning. The unit includes approximately 40 purebred Red Angus, 40 purebred Angus, and few Hereford cows that calve in the spring, a feeding facility for approximately 150 head, 70 acres of irrigated pasture located at the farm, as well as winter range located north of Chico. In addition, the beef unit relies on the USDA inspected meats lab located at the ATRC. The beef program extensively utilizes artificial insemination and embryo transfer to speed the rate of genetic improvement. Students are exposed to the latest in cattle breeding, records utilization, pasture management, and new technology. As a complement to the learning opportunities provided at the beef unit, many students are also actively involved in the Young Cattlemen’s Association. YCA sponsors beef days and other educational events, and participates in statewide leadership programs. Visitors are always welcome at the beef unit, but to help ensure we maintain appropriate biosecurity, please be sure to check in at the farm office first.

Our final introduction is our wonderful faculty advisor who also makes sure our unit runs smooth and helps in so many wa...
10/19/2026

Our final introduction is our wonderful faculty advisor who also makes sure our unit runs smooth and helps in so many ways, Dr. Kasey DeAtley!

Hi! Welcome to the Beef Unit! I am Kasey DeAtley and I have the pleasure to serve as the Faculty Advisor at the Chico State Beef Unit. I grew up on a small cow/calf operation in northern CA which I now run with my sister and Dad. I am alumni from Chico State and was fortunate to be hired as a Professor 13 years ago after attending graduate school at NMSU. Today, I get to work with the Beef Unit team to foster our educational goals, conduct research, and provide opportunity for hands-on experiences.

We would love to introduce to you the person who makes this place run so smoothly, our manager, Travis Heffner! Hi! My n...
10/19/2026

We would love to introduce to you the person who makes this place run so smoothly, our manager, Travis Heffner!

Hi! My name is Travis Heffner. I was raised in Southern Oregon and built my foundation in the cattle industry by raising Herefords and club calves. I was involved in 4-H and Junior Hereford programs too. I’m a Chico State Animal Science graduate and competed on livestock judging teams; I now manage the university’s Beef Unit. With experience across Northern California operations, I’m also an active livestock judge. My wife, Darby, daughter Hadlee, and I remain active in mentoring youth and supporting the cattle industry.

Finally we would like to introduce to you our last fall intern Bennett Fischer! 🌾Hey! My name is Bennett Fischer, and I’...
10/12/2026

Finally we would like to introduce to you our last fall intern Bennett Fischer! 🌾

Hey! My name is Bennett Fischer, and I’m a junior majoring in animal science with a focus on food and animal production. I’m from Auburn,
Ca, and I’ve grown up surrounded by cattle my whole life. I showed cattle when I was younger and live on a purebred Angus seed stock ranch. I have also helped my grandpa with his commercial herd these past few years. I’m looking forward to all the projects the beef unit has going and learning along the way!

Another intern we can’t wait to introduce to you is Alonso Vera! 🌾Hello. My name is Alonso Vera.I’m a junior studying an...
10/11/2026

Another intern we can’t wait to introduce to you is Alonso Vera! 🌾

Hello. My name is Alonso Vera.
I’m a junior studying animal science with a focus on food animal production here at Chico State! I am from Occidental, Ca, and I am a transfer from Santa Rosa Junior College. My background in working with cattle is slim, but I can’t wait to learn more. I’ve worked as the livestock and pasture crew lead at SRJC Shone Farm, managing cattle, sheep, and goats while also managing the land they graze. I’m looking forward to connecting with this new crew and practicing new strategic herd and pasture management plans!

Our next intern we would like to introduce to you is Jackson Wood! 🌾Hi! My name is Jackson Wood, and I am a junior major...
10/11/2026

Our next intern we would like to introduce to you is Jackson Wood! 🌾

Hi! My name is Jackson Wood, and I am a junior majoring in animal science with a focus on food animal production here at Chico State. I was born and raised on my family’s fifth-generation cattle ranch in Northern California, where we raise commercial and show cattle. I have shown cattle ever since I was little and even judged at Fort Scott Junior College. I’m looking forward to interning this fall and meeting new people here at Chico State!

We are so excited to introduce our student interns for the 2026 Fall Semester! First up is Kallista Elkin! 🌾Hi! My name ...
10/10/2026

We are so excited to introduce our student interns for the 2026 Fall Semester! First up is Kallista Elkin! 🌾

Hi! My name is Kallista Elkin.
I’m a junior here at Chico State, double majoring in animal science-food animal production and agricultural business. I’m from Petaluma, Ca, and I attended Santa Rosa Junior College before transferring to Chico State.
While at SRJC, I was an ag ambassador for two years and worked at Shone Farm with the livestock. I’m looking forward to gaining more hands-on experience in the beef industry and learning more about cattle production!

Another employee we love to introduce you to is Jude Veress! 🐂🌾Hello! My name is Jude Veress, and I’m a junior majoring ...
10/10/2026

Another employee we love to introduce you to is Jude Veress! 🐂🌾

Hello! My name is Jude Veress, and I’m a junior majoring in animal science with a focus on food animal production and an agricultural business minor. I grew up in Davis, California, and this will be my second year here at the unit. In addition to the beef unit, I serve as President of the Young Cattlemen’s Association for this school year. Although I don’t have that much agricultural production in my background, I like to learn as much as possible about the cattle industry!

Up next we are excited to introduce our student employee Avery Weagant! 🐂🌾Hey! My name is Avery Weagant, and l am a seni...
10/10/2026

Up next we are excited to introduce our student employee Avery Weagant! 🐂🌾

Hey! My name is Avery Weagant, and l am a senior here at Chico State. I’m majoring in agricultural science-education and plan on becoming a high school ag teacher one day! This is my first year working here at the beef unit, and I am super excited to continue learning about the unit here on the farm and about the cattle industry as a whole. I did not grow up with an agricultural background, but I am looking forward to furthering my knowledge so that I can teach my future students about the industry that I have grown to love!

We are so excited to introduce our next Student Employee, Ellie Norris!🐂🌾Hi! My name is Ellie Norris, and I’m a sophomor...
10/01/2026

We are so excited to introduce our next Student Employee, Ellie Norris!🐂🌾

Hi! My name is Ellie Norris, and I’m a sophomore at Chico State, majoring in agricultural business. I currently serve as the Vice President of the Young Cattlemen’s Association and am a member of the Red Bluff Show Team. I grew up on my family’s fifth-generation cow-calf operation in Northern California, where I have been showing cattle for many years now too!

Introducing our Student Herdsman and Social Media Manager, Teagan Wunschel! 🐂🌾Hi! My name is Teagan Wunschel. I’m a Seni...
10/01/2026

Introducing our Student Herdsman and Social Media Manager, Teagan Wunschel! 🐂🌾

Hi! My name is Teagan Wunschel. I’m a Senior here at Chico State and am majoring in animal science and minoring in ag business. I’m from Plymouth, Ca, and am a fifth-generation cattle rancher. I show cattle both in-state and nationally too! Currently, I run all the beef unit social media pages, am the Reporter for YCA club, and have been working here for three years. I also am on the Red Bluff Show Team!

Address

311 Nicholas C. Schouten Lane
Chico, CA
95928

Telephone

5308986343

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