Calf News is the "Magazine for Cattle Feeders". Since 1964 Calf News has followed the industry with dedication, respect and humor, putting a face to the people who make the industry such a success.
We bring our readers industry news in a creative and original way. Each issue includes include in-depth stories on current events and cattlemen, along with columns from organizational manager Jim Whitt, humorist Baxter Black and other regular columnists.
Meet the Faces of Calf News
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Betty Jo Gigot, editor and publisher, was associate editor for CALF News magazine for 15 years before taking over the reigns in 2004. Born in New Mexico and raised on the western slope of Colorado, Gigot became involved in the cattle feeding industry learning the computer end of the business. In 1980 she founded her own computer company writing and installing programs in feedyards across Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas. After selling the company, she worked as a management consultant for Dinklage, Inc., in Sidney, Ne., before moving to Greeley, Co., as part of the management team for Lextron, developing the computerized system used for animal health in feedyards. In 1989, she went to work for CALF News Magazine traveling the country, writing stories and photographing the feedyard industry. Gigot also traveled to Mexico, France, and Germany writing stories and was a featured speaker at three national conventions for the Australian Lotfeeders Association. Gigot is also heard weekly on her radio show, The Gypsy Wagon on a Garden City, Ks. radio station. Married to Dean Gigot of Circle Land and Cattle, the couple has a combined 7 children and 12 grandchildren. |
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Patti Wilson, sales manager Working from a cow-calf operation at Hazard, Neb., Patti Wilson is at home with livestock, computers and communications. Primarily interested in raising cattle, she and her husband, Dick, have been working together for 27 years. Patti graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1977 with a degree in animal science. After working as a field representative at a central Nebraska livestock market for 23 years, she joined the staff with Nebraska Cattleman Magazine in 2001 selling advertising; CALF News was added to the mix in 2003. She decided to sell advertising exclusively for CALF News starting this year, particularly enjoying the feeding segment of the industry. Along with Dick, Patti enjoys the company of their two daughters, Michelle, an agricultural journalism major at UNL, and Robyn, a beef procurement trainee for Excel Corporation. |
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Kathie Bedolli, art director, has been designing CALF News for over four years. She has developed advertising campaigns as well as marketing materials for a number of companies in the livestock industry and continues design work for association periodicals along with her partner, Lisa Bard Field. Although she does not have a farm or ranch background, she has come to understand the industry and appreciate the people in it. Bedolli and her family recently relocated from Colorado to North Carolina, rounding out the broad geographic area that CALF covers. Kathie and her husband, Mark, have two boys, ages 11 and 13. |
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Lisa Bard Field, ad coordinator and designer, was raised on commercial and purebred cattle operations in northern
Arizona. Field came to Colorado to attend college. After earning
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in animal science at Colorado State University, she worked for beef cattle associations in the area of communications and member services. In 1991, she started her own business as a contract assistant to various sectors of the beef industry. She later teamed up with business partner Kathie Bedolli to form d2p productions, a company specializing in publication design and layout. Lisa and her husband, Tom, have three busy and energetic boys and live in Ft. Collins, Colo. |
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Larisa Willrett, copy editor and circulation manager, has worked for CALF News for more than eight years. Willrett lives in Malta, Ill., where she and her husband are partners in J. Willrett Farms, LLP, a feedyard and diversified farming operation; WM Cattle, LLP, a commercial cow-calf enterprise; and Beef Performance Technology, LLP, a feedlot ultrasound business. Originally from Montana, Willrett graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master of agriculture in beef industry leadership. She has worked for the National Cattlemen’s Association and University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service. Larisa and her husband, Jamie, have three children, ages 8, 5 and 2. |