More than 600 people enjoyed a prime rib dinner Saturday in Defiance, as part of the Shelby County Cattlemen banquet. The banquet was held at Saint Peter’s Hall, and is the biggest event of the year for the cattlemen as they hand out scholarships to local college students and a few awards. This year the Shelby County Cattlemen gave out more than two-dozen $1,000 scholarships to local students attending a college of their choice.

In the awards category, the “2013 Cattlemen of the Year” was presented to Roger Ahrenholtz and his wife Peg. Shelby County Cattlemen President Tim Graeve said in his speech, Roger could be described in one word, “Passionate.” That was defined as his passion for agriculture and family. Ahrenholtz has a farming and cattle operation along with a grain bin business, which continues to grow with a son and grandson being heavily involved in its operation, along with two full time employees and several other persons lending a hand.

Tom and Marcy Muenchrath won the 2013 Beef Backer award at the Shelby County Cattlemen’s banquet. Tom works as an electrician at his own business Tom’s Electric and Grain Equipment. He employs seven people full-time, and up to 27 people who work during the peak season of operation. The Muenchraths work closely with the Cattlemen industry, and said they were thrilled to win the award.

(Joel McCall/KNOD)