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Joel Coleman

Gretchen Jensen

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2022 Executive Committee: Barry Wesner, Chairman Doug Parke, Vice Chairman Steve Eichacker, Treasurer Randy Moody Brandon Callis

North Central Region: Tim Clark (2024) 1999 18th St NW Turtle Lake, ND 58575 / 701.799.7752 Tim.Clark@hubbardfeeds.com

Loren Trauernicht (2025) 901 E Pine Rd Wymore, NE 68466 / 402.230.0812 mtrauernicht@diodecom.net

Matt Aggen (2026) 27133 146th St Harmony, MN 55939 / 701.866.3544 mattaggen@hotmail.com

Troy Marple (2026) 9450 Michaels Rd Westmoreland, KS 66549 / 785.250.0522 troy.j.marple@gmail.com

Chairman

Doug Parke Vice-Chairman

Brandon Callis

Barry Wesner

Steve Eichacker

Randy Moody

Executive Secretary-Treasurer

Wade Shafer, PhD

406-587-4531 Fax: 406-587-9301 www.simmental.org Email: simmental@simmgene.com

Eastern Region: Chris Ivie (2024) PO Box 264 Summertown, TN 38483 / 931.215.0316 iviejc@usit.net

Doug Parke (2024) 153 Bourbon Hills Dr Paris, KY 40361 / 859.421.6100 office@dpsalesllc.com

Barry Wesner (2024) 1821 W 700 S Chalmers IN 47929 / 219.863.4744 wesnerlivestock@yahoo.com

Brandi Karisch (2026) 648 Polly Bell Rd Starkville, MS 39759 / 225.717.3324 mbkcattle@gmail.com

Scott Trennepohl (2026) 6591 W 625 N Middletown, IN 47356 / 765.620.1700 sttrennepohl@yahoo.com

Western Region: Chad Cook (2024) PO Box 174 Walsh, CO 81090 / 719.529.0564 bridlebitsimm@gmail.com

Maureen Mai (2025) 427 Peaceful Way Bonners Ferry, ID 83805 / 208.660.2726 rymocattle@gmail.com

Ryan Thorson (2025) 207 3rd St Glendive, MT 59330 / 406.694.3722 ryanthorson7@gmail.com

Quin LaFollette (2026) 1476 Hwy 14A Powell, WY 82435 / 307.899.3553 Quin@Blacksummitcattle.com

South Central Region: Brandon Callis (2024) 26123 State Hwy 152 Minco, OK 73059 / 979.204.1265 callissteer@yahoo.com

Victor Guerra (2024) PO Box 92 Linn, TX 78563 / 956.607.5515 vgg03@aol.com

Joseph Hensgens (2025) 136 Deer Park Ln Rayne, LA 70578 / 985.992.9119 joehensgens@yahoo.com

Greg Burden (2026) 890 VZ CR 2205 Canton, TX 75103 / 405.780.0372 greg.gbcattle@gmail.com

Virginia Radison 5Z

Sire: Virginia Precision 16C n 100% Full Fleckvieh, Non-Diluter n Proven across Canada, Now available in the United States n BW: 72 lbs. n Top 20% for calving ease n Stylish and uniform progeny with excellent growth n Excellent udders on daughters n Sons averaged over $9,000 in ’21 Crossroads Farms bull sale to commercial producers

“I would say they are the best Full Fleckvieh calves I have ever raised.”

Mike McCart, Alliance Simmental Farms, Ontario, CA.

John Smith - 979-224-5144

Casey Smith - 979-820-9255

4704 County Road 106 Caldwell, TX 77836 johncaseysmith@yahoo.com www.rubylanefarms.com

by Maureen Mai, Western Region

There are so many views to point at as we roll into the New Year that I had a hard time choosing. Kids usually rank high on my importance list, so the youth won this month.

The AJSA program is amazing! I thought it was amazing when I went through it… a while ago. I have been and will continue as a firm believer that money spent on youth programs is WELL spent. I have had numerous people ask me during the years why I go to shows or haul kids around the country to a “cow show.” Do you make any money? After I chuckle, I quickly respond that I’m not really doing this for “my” cattle but making better humans for the future.

Kids choosing their favorite heifer or steer is only the beginning. They then feed, water, walk, and clean up after the animal daily. They make feed decisions to get their animal to look ideal. During our travels the kids see parts of the country they likely have never seen. They ask questions about unfamiliar crops growing in the fields. They ask why some cattle stand in ponds. If I don’t know, Google usually does. We study contest questions during the long drives. Hours of animal science and husbandry questions are answered, looked up, and understood as we cruise down the road. We talk about their animals. The heifer’s pedigree, breeding date, why they choose a specific bull to breed her to. What concessions will they make to “sell” that animal in the

Sales Talk competition, or in real life? If it’s their steer, what should the buyer expect for pounds of meat, taste, tenderness, etc.? What does the science on their registration papers tell them to help sell that animal? Once at the event, again the kids plan the set-up and act. During the move-in process, they talk to various kids, and ADULTS.

My favorite story is of the neighbor kid I hauled for years. He cried during Public Speaking at his first Regional Classic. At his second, he cried after the Sales Talk and mentioned he hated me for making him talk in front of people (two very nice judges). He placed in one of the two speaking events in his third Regional Classic. At his fourth, he won one and placed very high in the other speaking competition. Eventually he got an education degree and joined the Peace Corps to teach kids.

So, the moral to my story is, I don’t need to talk about the show ring to talk about the success of the AJSA program. If we raise kids who are confident in making decisions, capable of speaking to people, understand time management, realize responsibility, and cherish the true purpose of the beef industry, then I feel this is a win. Not only a win for me to have something to write about this month, but a win in developing great people to carry on and create a brighter future for the beef industry. No matter what direction these kids go, the traits learned through AJSA are all traits our society desperately needs. n