2005 Seedstock Producer of the Year Nominees

2005 Seedstock Producer Award Nominees

Altenburg Super Baldy
William and Sharon Altenburg
Colorado

Altenburg Super Baldy is a family-owned seedstock operation started in 1975 and is located in northern Colorado. Today, Altenburg’s utilize both Simmental and Angus genetics, including red and black segments of each breed, as well as developing half bloods which they designate as “Super Baldy’s”. A friend and customer raising commercial cattle recognized the advantages of Altenburg’s breeding program and coined the name “Super Baldy”. Currently, Altenburg Super Baldy sells 55-60 bulls annually to commercial breeders in Colorado, Wyoming and western Nebraska. The cowherd consists of 85 Simmental, 40 Red Angus and 10 Angus cows. A cooperator herd of 25 Angus cows provides bulls for the annual bull sale. Simmental genetics are utilized for additional growth, muscle and yield while maintaining a strong, maternal female. Angus genetics (both red and black) provide marbling, strong maternal traits and calving ease for use on first-calf heifers.

Altenburg attempts to utilize “all the tools” available to improve the genetic offering.

Artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and ultrasound are utilized. The major goal of the Altenburg operation is to provide “simple to use” genetics that can be used in progressive crossbreeding programs. These crossbreeding programs are designed to produce common sense products that allow commercial customers to take advantage of proven genetics.

Altenburg Super Baldy is located in close proximity to Colorado State University, Fort Collins. This location allows animal science students to live and complete an internship while attending CSU. Students provide much of the day-to-day labor requirements while Willie travels as Associate Vice President of Beef Marketing for Genex Cooperative. Each student becomes responsible for individual sectors of the operation (i.e. bull development, replacement heifer development, cow herd calving). Approximately 10 CSU students have served in this capacity. They have gone on to a wide array of positions within the beef industry including: two veterinarians, a university beef cattle instructor, a livestock judging team coach, an embryo transfer technician, while others have returned to manage family-owned beef cow herds.

Altenburg Super Baldy was nominated by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association.

Bar S Ranch
Ken and Pat Stielow & David and Stephanie Dickerson
Kansas

Bar S Ranch, Inc. is located in Russell County in North Central Kansas. Ken and Pat Stielow, along with their daughter and son-in-law, David and Stephanie Dickerson, and grandchildren: Grady, Ethan, and Jayce, share management responsibilities.

The ranch consists of 6,000 acres owned and 6,000 acres rented. Over 3,000 acres are farmed to produce wheat, feed grain and forage. Bar S Ranch calves about 500 Angus females and 50 Charolais females each spring. Genetic selection emphasizes low birth weight, high growth, and moderate mature size through the diligent use of EPDs. Local demand has grown for Bar S Ranch bulls and, in response; an annual production sale began in 1991. The Charolais breed was added in 1999 to serve as a terminal complement to Angus.

Bar S Ranch also operates a 1,000-head grower yard, which uses ranch-raised grains and forages to prepare cattle to be sent to Ward Feed Yard, in which Ken owns a minority interest.

Ken’s grandfather, Frank Stielow, Sr., as a young German immigrant homesteaded the quarter section where the ranch headquarters is located in 1900. Frank Sr. struggled through the 1920’s market collapse and the 1930’s extreme drought to grow the ranch in small, steady increments. Frank Stielow, Jr., Ken’s father, came back to the ranch in 1945. His first livestock purchase was a group of purebred Angus heifers. Frank Jr. had a deep appreciation of quality cattle. He developed a commercial Angus herd known regionally for its high-quality feeder calves as well as a small registered Angus herd.

In 1975, Ken and Pat joined the ranch after graduating from Kansas State University. At that time, the business was incorporated as Bar S Ranch, Inc. Additional registered Angus females were purchased from Minert Angus Ranch in Nebraska in 1985 and an extensive artificial insemination program was started.

Bar S Ranch was nominated by the Kansas Livestock Association.

Ellis Farms
Phil and Joyce Ellis
Illinois

Ellis Farms originated as R.H. Ellis & Sons in 1948 with the purchase of registered Polled Hereford females and a bull to replace a commercial cowherd. These cows became the nucleus of a registered cattle venture that has continued for 57 years. The ranch has been located just one mile from the original Ellis homestead since 1964. Today, it is remains a family-owned operation with Phil and Joyce Ellis and their son’s families: Matt and Lisa Ellis, Joe and Lauri Ellis. In addition, son-in-law Joe Seward serves as veterinarian, while daughter Cathy assists in public relations. This is a fifth-generation (with the 6th generation on the ground) cattle operation and they plan on leaving it in good hands for the next generation.

Today, a spring calving herd of approximately 190 Herefords, 15 Salers and percentage-Salers and 15 Angus females is maintained. The operation includes 1,400 acres of row crop corn and soybeans, 200 acres of hay and 400 acres of pasture situated in two states. Initially, Ellis Farms was strictly a single-breed cattle operation. However, with the construction of a feedlot and the need to diversify into a more complete supplier of genetics for the commercial bull customer, Ellis Farms added two additional breeds during the 1980's. The first Angus cow was purchased in 1978 and the first Salers genetics were introduced in 1983. These decisions were based on the need to supply the commercial cattleman with outcross genetics.

Ellis Farms sells 60 percent of its offspring as seedstock replacements or commercial bulls. The remaining 40 percent are fed out and either merchandised through a membership in the Illinois Crown Beef branded meat program or sold on an incentive-based grid. The marketing arrangements allow data collection to begin at birth and end with carcass information. Hence, birth, weaning, and yearling weights; frame score, scrotal measurements, yearling ultrasound data, and complete carcass data are recorded.

The American Hereford Association nominated the Ellis Farms.

Ingram Cattle Company
Owner: D. R. Ingram; Manager: Mike Wood
Mississippi

Ingram Cattle Company began operation in 1949 and is located in northern Mississippi near Water Valley. This family-owned and operated enterprise is an integrated farming and cattle operation. Row crops include cotton, soybeans, corn and small acreages of wheat and oats. The warm-season forage base is complemented with the cool-season forages of annual ryegrass and tall fescue. Registered cattle have been an integral part of the operation since its inception. Ingram Cattle Company was one of the leading Polled Hereford breeders in the Southeast for many years. Small herds of registered Angus and Gelbvieh cattle were added in the mid 1980’s.

The Gelbvieh herd was dispersed in the mid 1990’s and the Polled Hereford herd was sold in 2002. This has allowed Ingram Cattle Company to concentrate on the development and expansion of the registered Angus herd. From its beginning in 1985 with the purchase of 25 cows, the Angus herd has grown to 300 females. Artificially insemination is used on all cows and heifers before a clean-up bull is turned out. The September/October calving season allows for the marketing of 16-18 month old bulls in the spring when demand is the greatest. Bulls are primarily marketed private treaty and through state-sponsored BCIA Sale. Ingram Cattle Company also helps support the Mississippi Angus Association sale, breed promotion, and breed improvement efforts.

The Mississippi Beef Cattle Improvement Association nominated the Ingram Cattle Company.

Moore Farms
Dr. Billy S. and Trudy Moore
Alabama

Moore Farms is located northeast of Huntsville, Alabama on Moores Mill Rd, north of Hwy 72 East. The farm includes 172 acres, all of which is in pasture, except for the residence. Members of the Moore family perform all day-to-day farming duties, as there are no salaried employees. Moore Farms has been raising cattle in this location since 1975. They started with a few Angus cows which were crossbred with Simmental bulls. Beginning in 1980, Moore Farms began to acquire purebred Simmentals, and in the early 1990's, the focus of the operation was limited to fullblood Simmentals.

During the last 11 years, the focus of the operation has been further refined to concentrate primarily on the production of full-Fleckvieh Simmentals which presently make up approximately 70% of the herd. In 1999, Moore Farms purchased a full South African Fleckvieh bull from Bar 5 Stock Farms in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Since that time, South African pedigrees have been strongly emphasized in the Moore Farms program.

Moore Farms makes extensive use of artificial insemination and embryo transfer in order to take maximum advantage of the most exclusive bloodlines available in North America. Moore Farms has marketed these exclusive bloodlines throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. The operation currently maintains about 65 breeding age females, and primarily utilizes a fall calving season. However, some spring born calves are born each year in order to take maximum advantage of the embryo transfer program.

Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association nominated Moore Farms.

Morrison Stock Farm
Bob and Tom Morrison
Ohio

Bob Morrison started raising Polled Hereford cattle 45 years ago on his Morrow County farm, located in North Central Ohio. Today Morrison Stock Farm consists of 1,100 acres of both owned and rented ground and approximately 80 Hereford cows. The family farm has grown to include three generations; Bob and Karen Morrison, their son Tom and his wife Nikki, along with Tom and Nikki's two children, Cody and Paige.

Morrison Stock Farm holds a production sale every other year or when the numbers dictate they can offer more of their cattle for sale. They also sell cattle private treaty and are very successful in utilizing state and regional Hereford consignment sales. Two prominent herd bulls that have helped Morrison Stock Farm sell cattle, semen, and embryos into 45 states include: Feltons 492 and Feltons Legend 242.

Morrison Stock Farm uses the show ring as an integrated part of their total marketing plan. The most recent example of the high quality cattle bred and shown by Morrison Stock Farm comes from the 2004 Ohio State Fair. The Morrisons were named the Premier Breeder, Premier Exhibitor and Outstanding Herdsman for the Hereford show.

Bob and Tom Morrison have both served on the Board of Directors and are Past Presidents of the Buckeye Hereford Association and the former Buckeye Polled Hereford Association. Bob was Vice President of the American Hereford Association in 1999 and a Board Member when the American Polled Hereford and American Hereford Associations merged.

Morrison Stock Farm was nominated by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association

Pangburn Stock Farm
Buck and Beverly Pangburn
Iowa

This is a Century Family Farm started in 1860. The operation is composed of Buck’s mother, Marjorie, 92, who now resides in a retirement home; wife Beverly; son, Don, and wife, Bryn, and grandchildren, Grayson, 17, Paige, 14, and Peyton, 3.

The seedstock operation started when Buck was a high school sophomore and purchased a purebred Duroc hog. The purebred Duroc hog business lasted for 52 years. After graduation from Iowa State College and returning to the family farm in 1957, improvement in the cow herd was started. River bottom pasture was an important part of the farming and cattle operation.

Genetic improvement began in late 1950 with the purchase of a Hereford bull from Montana, followed by Charolais and Angus bulls in the 1960’s. The first Simmental bull was purchased in 1971. Field records confirmed that the Simmental bull increased weaning weights by 50 to 75 pounds.

Artificial insemination was started in the early 1970’s and weaning weights continued to dramatically increase. The operation relies on Don’s AI skills during all breeding seasons. Pangburn Stock Farm strives to keep abreast of new technology, for example, embryo transfer was started in the spring of 1990.

Usually about 100 cows are maintained in the operation; with approximately 70 percent purebred and 30 percent commercial. Their calving season is from Jan. 1 to Aug. 1. The AI and embryo transfer work is done from late March to the first of August, after that clean-up bulls are turned used for 60 days. The operation plans to reduce the cow herd to about 80 cows in the near future.

Pangburn Farms was nominated by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Rishel Angus
Bill and Barb Rishel
Nebraska

Rishel Angus is a family-owned purebred Angus operation that has been in business since 1966. The Rishel Angus mission statement reads: to produce superior Angus genetics based on economically important traits that provide profit for our customers, create value for all segments of the beef industry, and ensure a satisfying eating experience for the consumer.

Rishel Angus is known in the seedstock industry as one of the very first breeders of Angus cattle to make a substantial commitment to identifying and improving carcass merit. The belief at Rishel Angus, then and now, is that the real focus should be directed toward the acceptance of the consuming public for beef’s end product. Because of these efforts, many of the leading sires for carcass merit in the Angus breed now carry Rishel Angus’, “B/R” prefix. In fact, currently, 40 proven sires and 9 young sires listed in the National Angus Sire Evaluation Summary are Rishel Angus bred bulls. One of these sires, B/R New Design 036, ranks third among all Proven Angus sires for Pathfinder daughters and has the top 10 Pathfinder sons in the breed, and records the highest percentage of Pathfinder daughters of those eligible.

Rishel Angus has collected and used complete performance records on all cattle since the inception of the herd. These records have allowed them to not only identify many outstanding sires, but also to identify and perpetuate numerous outstanding cow families and individual cows. The Rishel Angus herd consists of 300 Angus cows and 100 Angus heifers. For the last 23 years, a yearling bull sale has been held the fourth Monday in March and for the last 26 years a female sale has been held the first Sunday in October. Rishel Angus operates on a combination of 11,000 deeded and leased acres with wintering and calving at the headquarters located 10 miles south of North Platte, Nebraska.

Rishel Angus was nominated by the Nebraska Cattlemen and the University of Nebraska.

Rogers Bar HR
Owner: Harlan and Dorotheann Rogers; Manager: Doug Rogers
Mississippi

Rogers Bar HR is located in South Mississippi less than 100 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. There has been a Rogers’s cattle operation at this location since 1926. Seventy-nine years ago 27 acres were inherited and over the years the operation has grown to approximately 1,650 acres of owned land and an additional 2,100 acres of lease property. Four sons: Oby, Bernie, Doug, and Joey, and one grandson, Levi, are involved in the cattle business and own and lease large tracts of land in this area. A Family Limited Partnership is utilized to manage the operations that also include timberland and other assets.

Registered purebred Charolais are the foundation of our 300 plus cowherd. The operation utilizes both fall (from November to December) and spring (from February to April) calving seasons. Cattle are maintained primarily on grass with very little grain.

Because of easy access to large quantities of inexpensive chicken litter, it is used to build pasture soil fertility. This greatly reduces the cost of fertilizer necessary to assure an abundance of high quality forage. They also use by-products made available by the Mississippi River grain business. Grain dust, corn screenings, rice bran and cotton tailings are readily available if supplemental feed is needed. The climate is mild with about 67 inches of rain per year. Marshall ryegrass grows extremely well in this area, probably as well as any place in the United States, even in January and February. The ryegrass is normally grazed from November 1st to May 20th and allows the cows to wean off very heavy calves. Some rotational grazing is used. Most pastures are permanently fenced and contain between 25 and 40 acres.

Rogers Bar HR was nominated by the American-International Charolais Association.

Soldiers’ Hill Angus Farm
Dennis Pearson
Virginia

Soldiers’ Hill Angus Farm, of Warrenton, Virginia, is owned and operated by Dennis Pearson and his father Harvey. It began in the early 1970’s as a 4-H heifer project. With roots established through a commercial cow-calf enterprise, Soldiers’ Hill has concentrated on registered Angus since 1990 and has evolved into a leading performance Angus herd.

Soldiers’ Hill’s breeding program has been focused on providing practical, balanced performance genetics to the commercial cow-calf sector. This has been accomplished through the use of highly proven AI sires. Soldiers’ Hill practices whole-herd AI and embryo transfer to rapidly propagate superior bloodlines. Sire selection emphasizes a balance of calving ease, growth, maternal traits, and carcass merit.

Since 1990, Soldiers’ Hill has utilized the Virginia BCIA Central Test Station at Culpeper for bull development and marketing. Over the past 15 years, they have developed a strong reputation and have become known as a source for predictable performance genetics. Highlights of the Soldiers’ Hill program include the breeder group award at Culpeper in both 1999 and 2004, the Bartenslager and Premier Angus Breeder Award from Virginia BCIA in 2000, and the high ADG bull in the 47 year history of the Culpeper BCIA test in 1998. An active marketing program and customer service have been key to the success of their modest size operation, which consists of 65 breeding age females. Select Soldiers’ Hill females have been offered through state association sales and private treaty sales.

Dennis Pearson, a 1983 graduate of Virginia Tech in Animal Science, has been an active beef industry leader. He is currently president of Virginia BCIA and Chairman of the Culpeper Test and sale committee. He serves as vice president of the Northern Virginia Angus Association. Additionally, environmental stewardship has been a priority at Soldiers’ Hill, and for their efforts they were the 2000 recipient of the Conservation Farmer Award for Fauquier County. Soldiers’ Hill has hosted several tours, field days, and educational events.

The Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association nominated Soldiers’ Hill Angus Farm.

Sunnyhill Angus Farm
Kent, Wendy & Emily Schleich and Junior & Melba Schleich
Illinois

Sunnyhill Angus Farm is located three miles north of Fairview, in Fulton County, Illinois. An Illinois Centennial Farm, Sunnyhill has been in existence for over 125 years, in addition to being a historic Angus herd maintaining Angus cattle for over 50 years.

The farm has expanded from the original 215 acres to an operation in excess of 1,400 acres producing cattle, corn, soybeans, small grains, and hay.

The cowherd has expanded from 70 cows in 1977 to over 200 registered Angus cows. Calving has always been primarily in the spring, but in recent years, 15% of the herd has been moved to fall calving.

The herd has been performance tested through AHIR since 1976. Weights and measurements are taken to make sure meaningful data is collected for their customers and the Beef industry. Therefore, close attention to contemporary groups is maintained.

Management practices, including strict biosecurity, have led to a closed herd for the last decade. AI sires are selected by EPDs, pedigree and performance. To best utilize their forage resources, intensive grazing has been practiced for over 10 years.

Breeding stock is marketed through a production sale held the 2nd Saturday in March since 1991. Additionally, cattle are marketed by private treaty. Steer progeny are sold at weaning to a local farmer who assists with collecting carcass information.

Sunnyhill Angus Farm was nominated by the University of Illinois Extension.

Waukaru Farms, Inc.
Carl Jordan and Families
Indiana

Waukaru Farms, Inc. has been incorporated for nearly thirty years; however, the Jordan family has been raising purebred Shorthorn cattle in northwestern Indiana for over 100 years since Walter Jordan first purchased Shorthorn bulls in 1902. Presently, Waukaru consists of 250 purebred Shorthorn and Durham Red composite breeding females, 1,400 acres of cropland, and 360 acres of pasture and hay ground. Seventy-five percent of the cows calve in the spring and the remainder in the first 60 days following the first of September. Waukaru genetics can be found in 38 U.S. states, 4 Canadian provinces, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland. Waukaru is currently involved in sire tests in Australia, Argentina, and the United States with the purpose of objectively quantifying the profitability of Waukaru genetics.

The breeding objective of the Waukaru program is to produce profitable, efficient genetics that can flourish on minimal inputs, reap profits for their customers and subsequent phases of the beef industry and provide a valuable eating experience for consumers. They meet this objective through performance-based management and objective decision making. Aggressive usage of artificial insemination and embryo transfer facilitated by the natural service of AI sires creates a mass propagation of superior genetics. Waukaru enhances the adaptability of their cattle by utilizing a rotational, forage-based production system in which cows are wintered on crop residue and growing cattle are supplemented with a high-fiber ration. Waukaru strives to be a full-service genetic provider by building personal relationships with each client and prides themselves in profitably matching the correct genetics with their customers’ needs.

Waukaru Farms, Inc. was nominated by the American Shorthorn Association and the Indiana Beef Evaluation Program.