03/21/08 Matt Hayter

Some jobs just fit. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back with a story of a young man and a job that were made for each other. When ten-year-old Matt Hayter moved to Prosser, Washington with his family, he found an area that suited him just fine. Since Matt always enjoyed working with his family's cows, his high school ag teacher suggested he should try to get a job at the Washington State University extension bull test center located outside of Prosser. Matt did get a job and as part of his research project he conducted a study of the correlation of bull sale prices based on bull ultra sound data. Matt hastened his education by enrolling as a running start student at Yakima Valley Community College and then transferred to Washington State University. At WSU Matt was involved with the student group, Cougar Cattle Feeders, which feeds and markets donated steers while keeping total records of health, gain, feed efficiency and carcass data. The club also assisted with the Washington Cattlemen's Association/WSU bull test and sale, which kept Matt going back to the test facility. Following his WSU graduation, Matt was chosen to become the new herdsman for the bull test following the retirement of long-time herdsman Milt Russell. On March 26, 2008 the top 75 percent of the bulls from Idaho, Oregon and Washington producers will be sold at the WCA/WSU bull test sale. That will mark Matt Hayter's second year shifting from books to bulls. I'm Jeff Keane.