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ON THE COVER
Photo taken by Lacey Caffee, Caffee Ranch, Wessington Springs, South Dakota.
MCCF SIL KENO ET
2023 amaa show bull of the year
Sire: BNWZ Data Bank 1311C • Dam: MCCF Giselle (Silveiras Style 9303)
AMAA: 533748 • 3/4 Maine-Anjou
OUR MAINE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
JABR HATTIE 131H ET
dam of numerous champions + high sellers
Sire: NMR Maternal Made • Dam: CMCC Enter Up 708 ET (BK Xikes X59)
AMAA: 513508 • 3/4 Maine-Anjou
forbes x hattie
MAINE-ANJOU Headquarters
M. BLAKE NELSON EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Greetings,
After a highly successful state fair run, fall is quickly approaching. I always look forward to this time of year-cooler weather, crop harvest, cattle sales, and football. It doesn’t get much better than that. Interest in Maine-Anjou genetics continues to grow after Maine cattle have ranked at the top of many of the state fairs this fall, and I believe the sales will reflect this. I have noticed an increased amount of High Maine and Maine Angus cattle selling by watching the online sale sites. We have a tremendous product and must get the word out! Below is a piece of an earlier Headquarters that is still pertinent today!
Promoting our product is key. We must educate the industry on what we offer today. Unfortunately, many people in the commercial sector still think of us as a show-driven breed only, and we have production concerns like calving ease and longevity. I think we all have to communicate to every segment that the cattle have changed. Birthing issues have been addressed, and the cattle are more moderate and versatile than in the past. Some may say that many breeds can provide this, and that is true, but Maine-Anjou can also inject muscle, docility, and efficiency while still keeping frame and maturity under control.
Developing your marketing program is essential to succeeding in this increasingly competitive sales environment. Before you invest dollars, consider and ask yourself the following questions: Mass vs. Targeted, Personal vs. Non-Personal, Quick vs. Slow, One-way interaction vs. Two-way, Cost vs. Exposure. These are just a few things to consider. What are some avenues of promotion and marketing our product? There is no replacement for personal contact. In this day and age, when it feels that you have to send out a text or email just to let the household know that it is “Dinner Time”, calling a potential customer or making a farm visit can be refreshing and very effective. In agriculture, most producers appreciate eye-to-eye conversation. This may have more value today than it did for past generations because direct communication has decreased due to societal trends. Some great opportunities to make these contacts can be at Conventions, Cattlemen’s Meetings, the local stockyards, or coffee shops, to name a few. Another great thing about personal contact is immediate two-way interaction with the potential customer; your conversation or promotional items may prompt questions and interest. If you believe in what your Maine Anjou cattle
have to offer, then interact and tell people about them; there is no replacement for your own convictions and faith in what you are producing.
One avenue that we often use is print advertising. Targeted Magazine ads can be extremely effective, especially when marketing to a specific audience. Consistency within a particular magazine builds brand recognition and familiarity with your program. This can spark interest and let the customer feel more acquainted with your product. The Voice and other industry magazines are great avenues to consider. Regional publications and local newspapers can be cost-effective, especially when marketing bulls or replacement females. Ultimately you have to honestly access your cattle and decide if they should be promoted for a local market or if they have the attributes to attract customers from a larger audience.
Social Media is the hottest venue and must be considered a marketing source. The speed of communicating through social media has changed our world. Whether it is for the better or not, that is for you to decide, but without a doubt, it is here and for real. Social media is rapid, cost-effective, and can reach a large population: email blasts,
search engines, and social media forums. Today’s society thrives on having everything at their fingertips and cattlemen are no different. Email blasts are a great way to send a specific message to a targeted group; our goal is to prompt action by the customer. The AMAA offers these E-blasts services, so please contact Lindsey; she will be glad to assist you. Utilizing search engines can expose many folks to your product through analytics and critical words. Almost every major search engine (e.g., Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.) offers these services and is typically user-friendly when setting them up. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to name a few, can be very potent and give you instant contact with a big group. This is one of the most cost-effective venues to promote your cattle, and it can still have a personal touch on certain generations. I would encourage you to look into these options; if you are not comfortable, I bet your kids or grandkids will lend a hand. A weekly promotion of your bulls, matriarch cows, and sale cattle can all be great topics to showcase in these posts. Does it reach them? Is it credible? Does it create interest? These are some of the questions that I have heard about the use of social media. What is the answer? I don’t know, but it is working if it increases your sales and, ultimately, your bottom line. Ultimately, I call on you to promote our cattle. It takes all of us to tell our story and reach both current and potential customers. The AMAA will be happy to help you with any questions you may have on any of these topics, so please contact us. We are here to help you.
This is just a reminder that when sorting your spring-born calves, please consider some of the AMAA-sponsored marketing options: the Bright Lights Sale in OKC and the Power in the Pens sale in Denver. If you have any interest or questions regarding these programs, please contact Josh or me.
Best Regards, Blake
Power without Sacrifice!
MAINE-ANJOU
Commercial Connection
DIRECTOR OF PROMOTION & BREED ADVANCEMENT
The month of October started quickly, and it still moving just as fast. With the show heifer selling season heating up toward the end of September and getting the research project rolling, it was a busy start to the month. As this magazine reaches your mailbox, October will be more than halfway over, and we will likely be standing in Kansas City kicking off the Major Show season. The older I get and the older my children become, the less and less free time it seems I have, and yet I wouldn’t change it. I feel, and I believe all of us on staff at the AMAA would echo this, we work for the greatest set of breeders and breed enthusiasts out there. The last year has seen a strong surge in the acceptance and desire to be a part of the Maine-Anjou movement. Maine cattle are becoming more reliable and are counted on more and more to generate quality and consistency in the industry.
This has led us to a point where we ask, “What’s next to bring value and growth to Maine-Anjou breeders and the herd book overall?” This question, as well as a constant search to build reliability into the MaineAnjou platform, has led us to a research
initiative in conjunction with Texas Tech University - alongside Dr. Ryan Rathmann and PhD candidate Skyler Scotten - to build further value in the cow families that have made the difference in the sustainability of the AMAA. The greatest question we’re working to answer through this project is, “What does the ideal Maine-Anjou cow look like?”
If we’re going to build factors into our evaluation to eventually create a larger and more diverse EPD profile, then I felt it needed to be on the traits that cattlemen/women care about when they’re out in the sorting pen.
• Feet, both claw and angle;
• Udder shape and teat size;
• A cow’s lack of or ability to maintain body condition;
• If she weans the smallest calf, while having one of the largest mature body weights;
• Docility and its impact on how a cow works though a facility;
• And, in my opinion the most important standard, her ability to breed up in a timely manner and stay within the herd’s calving window.
We make excuses for cattle based on quality appraisal all the time, but we often
forget to ask ourselves, “Is she making us money?” I, myself, am guilty of this. It’s hard to let go of a cow that you find phenotypically attractive, but yet all the information says she’s costing you money.
The research project kicked off in South Dakota during the middle of September. We scanned/created a digital map of over 850 cows as they passed through the SizeR® machine Texas Tech is using to build their model from. Along with that, we took individual measurements for foot scores, quality scores, hair shedding, docility, body condition, and frame size. The machine itself estimated mature body weight, and we were sure to shoot a short video of each cow that came through the chute for our long-term reference. The article within this issue of The Voice brings further detail to the AMAA’s Maternal Initiative Research Project.
As we look further into the Fall, please reach out with any questions you may have regarding the project or the selling season. We are getting closer to the time of year when entries are due for both the Bright Lights and Power in the Pens sales; so be sure you’re on the lookout for information regarding those respected sales. I look forward the rest of the Fall and continuing to move along with the research project.
THE MATERNAL Initiative
AMAA RESEARCH PROJECT
BY JOSH CRIBBS, AMAA DIRECTOR OF PROMOTION & BREED ADVANCEMENT
Imagine a world where what we think is actually true about beef production. For instance, the type of cow that works for short grass country in Colorado is validated by factual numbers that aren’t derived off an EPD model and projection, but are coming from the understanding of what the cow residing in the territory actually looks like.
The American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) Maternal Initiative Research Project comes at a crucial time in the beef industry. Filling the replacement pen has taken a backseat as producers work to drive growth for feeder calves and capitalize on a market strongly influenced by a depleted cowherd. This lack of focus on the cow, and more importantly the replacement pen, has consequently driven up input cost and mature cow weight.
At Maine-Anjou, being a power breed, we know that sometimes we get seated with a group of cattle that aren’t always deemed functional. Power bulls are generally accepted as terminal sires, and therefore replacement retention is often the farthest thing from discussion. Yet the most successful operations populate their replacement pen with cattle developed on the same plane of nutrition, climate and region of the mature cow herd. That has led us to a point in our breeds’ progression to create a project that will bring focus to
the female side and shine a light on the herdbook and its longevity.
The research project that was conceived over the summer of 2024 and approved by the board, started with an idea to bring more validity to the EPD profile and help build confidence in the cow that is the backbone of Maine-Anjou. The initial data collection is to be built around a set of convenience traits that I think are extremely important to longevity. The visual scores taken through the month of October will account for a total of 2,000 to 2,500 cows that will combine to build multiple new EPDs. The EPDs we will add to the breed will include feet scores, both foot angel and claw shape. We will be able to add a hair shedding score and with the data from the Size R machine and the production records we will start to build a maternal index that will be a basis to find strong maternal lines within the MaineAnjou breed.
The most unique part of the project we are currently in the middle of is the side in conjunction with Texas Tech University and Skyler Scotten who is currently working on his PHD in Animal Science. The crew at Tech has been using a machine called Size R to full body map the image of the cow. The machine referenced in the pictures within this article sits either in front of the chute or behind it and is built so that
the cow passes though on her way up the alley or out of the chute after being worked. In total it collects 76 total data points. With the collected data we can assess the cows mature body weight, her body length and frame, her body shape and body depth along with a plethora of other measurements.
The two sets of data records within themselves is a true leap in the right direction in proving the worth of the Maine-Anjou cow. But when combined together is when things start to become interesting. Imagine being able to take the digital footprint of a cow that resides within a specific environment and combine her yearly pregnancy and weaning data, along with her mature weight and look at the relationship of the descriptor traits taken by three independent evaluators and look at the influence of rib shape and body length on combined profit that arises from those selection factors.
In total, as the research project progresses it will include multiple cow herds within different regions to see the difference in environments and its impact on the cows that reside in it and ultimately their profitability for the rancher that needs to sustain his or her operation.
Texas Tech University has teamed up with AMAA for the Maternal Initiative research project.
Measurements & data are collected with the use of the SireR machine.
FULLBLOOD
HIGH PERCENT MAINE-ANJOU
MINN HARD WHISKEY 591Y
I-80
BK ICE PICK 472J
BNWZ JOSE 703Y
HALL’S LEGACY PLUS 738G
LIFELINE 258J
6017D TLM MILKMAN 028X
Q35P
MONEY MAN 673J
OKLAHOMA STORM 01R
PISTOL PETE
NBH POLLED ENERGIZER 688
POLLED PREMIER 18C
REAL DEAL 71H
REMEDY 346R
HAA SECURITY 255U
HAA SHERIFF 506R
BSC SIMPLICITY 44U
KBSC SIMPLIFY 22C
XK SINNATRA 66T
BPF SLAM DUNK 78T
DCC SMOKIN JOE 157P
SLC SOONER 101M
NAGE SPECIAL D 59Y
GVC SPECIAL DELIVERY 42S
MCF THE SPECIALIST 9A74E
K&A SPICE 74S
GVC STATESMAN 4R ET
HAA STOCKMAN 321N
POLLED ENGERGIZER
SHERIFF
SIMPLICITY 44U
SIMPLIFY 22C
SINNATRA
SLAM DUNK
SMOKIN JOE
SPECIAL D 59Y
Asked
FREQUENTLY Questions
REGISTERING BULLS
Bulls must be sired by a) registered Maine bull, or b) registered bulls of another breed (see Adding Other Breeds Pedigrees’ above). Any bull calf registrations received after January 1, 2014 must be TH/PHA free by parents (parent testing must be on file with AMAA to be free by parents) or must be tested clean and on file with AMAA to register. Carrier bulls will only be registered as a Foundation breeding bull. The percentage is honored; however, they are not allowed to be shown. All offspring with the exception of steers will need to be tested and clean of the defect to register. Once testing has been completed the animal will then be registered at the rate based on the animals age at the time of registration.
DNA (PARENT VERIFICATIONS)
DAMS: Prior to registering ET calves, all donor dams must be DNA typed and on file in the AMAA office. This applies to all Maine-Anjou donors AND commercial donor dams. If you are unsure if a dam has been typed, please check testing online or call our office. You need to allow up to four weeks for DNA results to be processed from the lab.
BULLS: All bulls that have been collected for marketing OR for home use are also to be DNA typed.
TH/PHA TESTING
Females not tested for TH and PHA, and are not free by parentage, will be registered, but their registration paper will be marked ‘untested’ or “suspect” in regard to genetic abnormality status.
DAMS: Prior to registering ET calves, all donor dams must be tested for TH and PHA, and on file in the AMAA office. This applies to registered and commercial donor dams. You need to allow at least three weeks for samples to be processed.
SIRES: All bulls that have been collected for marketing OR for home use are also to be tested for TH and PHA and on file in our office. Any bull calf registered after January 1, 2014 will also have to be free by parents or must be tested and free of TH and PHA in order to register. Once testing is on file, the registration fee will be applied to register the bull calf. A bull calf that has a carrier TH/PHA result may be entered as a foundation breeding bull and cannot be shown. Any offspring out of that carrier bull must be tested and clean of the defect in order to register (with the exception of steers).
Note: Registrations will not be completed until all required testing is on file with AMAA.
Board of Director CANDIDATE PROFILES
REGION 1
REGION 1
REGION 1
REGION 2
MINDY KOURI, WYOMING
CODY GREEN, ARKANSAS
ANDY JONES, ILLINOIS
JOHN GRAUER, OHIO
REGION 2
ALICIA RIGDON, IOWA
REGION 3
NICK BEAUPREZ, COLORADO
BRIAN FOX, MINNESOTA
JIRL BUCK, OKLAHOMA
REGION 1
CANDIDATE NAME: ANDY JONES, ILLINOIS
History of your operation?
My family and I have been raising Maine-Anjou cattle for over 25 years and have successfully exhibited cattle at the local, state, and national levels. We market both heifers and bulls annually and feed out steers.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed, and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
The strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed would have to be what we can bring to the commercial industry in terms of calving ease and feed efficiency without sacrificing maternal or carcass traits. The Maine-Anjou breed has always been well known in the showring for its look and eye appeal, but the value we can have in the commercial setting, I feel, can be just as significant. Additionally, our junior program is the best and continues to produce just as many good young adults as it does good cattle.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
We want to continue to strengthen our already very strong junior program and to continue to get more of a commercial presence.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether it be locally, state, regional or national level?
Jones Cattle Company exhibits and sells cattle at all levels and we continue to try and help sponsor and donate to the Association and events to continue to bring Maine-Anjou cattle to the forefront.
CANDIDATE NAME:
CODY GREEN, ARKANSAS
History of your operation?
I have been the general manager at Willow Springs Cattle Company since 2012 with the Walker Family. We have focused on building a solid maternal baseline of Maine-Anjou genetics over the past 20 years with National Champions for both Mason and Whitney. Those cows today help with the diversity in raising real-world cattle that
work in and out of the showring. With the purchase of Bushy Park, we were able to add even more cowpower to the operation. Although COVID shut down our live auction offering, it’s a blessing in disguise, in my opinion, to get back to a handshaking, more verbal type of relationship with old and new customers.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
The Maine breed is as hot now as it has ever been. Not only the addition of Maine Angus cattle being productive in the seed stock business but also the added growth and power of our breeds bull battery it is making more pounds for fed and weaned cattle.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
Being a past AJMAA Junior Board President, the junior association needs to be a continued focus. Although we are led by the absolute best from a junior board and junior advisor standpoint already, continuing to support them and their membership needs to be a focus in my eyes.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether locally, state, regional or national level?
Our motto is focusing on juniors in the ring and in life. Whether hauling kids and cattle to junior nationals every year through our travel assistance program or getting everything organized for state shows, it has always been a must.
CANDIDATE NAME: JOHN GRAUER, OHIO
History of your operation?
I bought my first cows when I was a freshman in high school. Both were registered Maine-Anjou females. From there, I continued to buy and breed Maine-influenced genetics. My family and I run around 70 head of Maine-Anjou and club calf cows. My brothers and I grew up showing Maine cattle competitively across the county, and now my boys are showing registered Maines at a national level, which will allow them to lay the groundwork for their own herds and involvement within the MaineAnjou breed.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
Versatility is what makes the Maine-Anjou breed superior within the cattle industry. You can take a herd of Maine-Anjou cattle and breed them many different ways and be profitable. Whether your focus is to raise high-quality show cattle, replacement heifers or bulls for future generations, or simply raise cattle that will gain efficiently in a feedlot setting. Herds with Maine-Anjou influence cattle will allow producers to achieve their goals. The beef industry can improve phenotypically and genetically with the use of Maine-Anjou cattle.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
The Maine-Anjou cattle have significantly changed for the better within the last 10 years. The breed is producing cattle that will compete not only in a showring, but also in a feed lot setting in comparison to any other breed of cattle. We as a breeder need to continue bettering our breed with each generation of calves we are producing. Not only putting our focus on the show ring, but also cattle that will gain faster, calve easier, and become a foundation for outcross breeding.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether it be locally, state, regional or national level?
As a family and business, Grauer Show Cattle looks forward to the week of American Junior Maine-Anjou Association Junior National every summer. Every year, our goal is to sell more Maine-influenced cattle that will allow more exhibitors the opportunity to attend an event that is more than just a cattle show. My wife and I have always considered the Maine-Anjou breed and its members part of our family. I want to open the door for other youth and families to experience the same things we did growing up. We strive to sell and promote the breed to other families.
Additional Comments
I feel like I have a lot to offer to help this breed continue to grow.
REGION 2
CANDIDATE NAME: BRIAN FOX, MINNESOTA
History of your operation/family and involvement with the Maine-Anjou breed:
I have been directly involved with the MaineAnjou breed since 2007, but I’ve been around show cattle my entire life. In 2007, I had the opportunity to move with my wife, Paula, to Fort Morgan, Colo., and become the manager of Blind Badger Ranch (BBR). At that time, BBR was running about 350 cows, flushing a few donors, and had just completed its first production sale. Since then, BBR has evolved to around 500 cows with an extensive ET program. Throughout this time, our focus has always remained primarily on Maine-Anjou. Recently, my family and I made the move back to Minnesota, where both Paula and I were raised.
What do you see as the strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed and how can those strengths best be used in today’s beef industry?
Growing up, I always knew about the positive attributes the Maine-Anjou breed brings to the table, but I also heard some of the fallacies they’ve taken a bad rap for. It wasn’t until I started working with them every day at BBR that I was truly blown away by their ability to perform and how wellrounded they are. Their performance in the arid, dry, short grass country we live in is a true testament to the breed. We also operate in vast areas where Maine cattle are expected to cover large pastures, so structural integrity is a huge focus for us. The Maine cattle that are easy-keeping and sound ultimately produce the females that go on to milk well and raise bigger calves, all while breeding back in a timely manner.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether it be locally, state, regional or national?
I have always been a strong supporter of the Maine-Anjou breed and truly believe in their abilities to perform in the pasture, feed yards, and show rings. I’ve always made an effort to send steers and bulls to feed test trials to gain more knowledge for myself and the breed. I’ve also been deeply involved in the showring. What began as helping Taylor and Tori Hett with their show stock when I first started has grown into
an entire family of breeders and friends within the Maine-Anjou community. In 2014, with the support of my wife, and the owners of BBR, Jim Hett and Bud Gamel, I started the Rocky Mountain Maine-Anjou Association (RMMAA), which consists of breeders and exhibitors of Maine-Anjou cattle in both Colorado and Wyoming. We’ve been able to raise money through various activities to provide scholarships for young people, help with expenses for attending junior nationals, and present awards at local shows. Ultimately, we’ve used the RMMAA as a way to continue educating and supporting Maine-Anjou breeders in Colorado and Wyoming.
CANDIDATE NAME: ALICIA RIGDON, IOWA
History of your operation?
I have been a Maine-Anjou breeder for more than 35 years. My son and I own and operate Bar R Cattle Company in Mediapolis, Iowa, raising MaineAnjou for show and commercial breeding stock, including fullbloods and club calves. We sell cattle in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan, Texas, Wyoming, California, and Montana. We are strong supporters of the junior association and National Junior Heifer Show. I am currently the Secretary/ Treasurer of the Iowa Maine-Anjou Association. I work as a lawyer for a technology company.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed, and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
Milk, maternal instinct, docility, and longevity make Maine-Anjou cattle desirable within today’s beef industry. The fact that Maine-Anjou is a feedefficient breed with high cutability and marbling qualities makes this breed ideal for today’s beef industry. Maine bulls add dollars to commercial herds by providing vigorous calves that rapidly gain weight thereby providing profit for the producer.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
The breed has achieved top recognition in the showring but has yet to gain the same acceptance with the commercial cattleman. My desire would be that the breed achieves the same acceptance with the commercial cattlemen as we have within the show world. Acceptance with the commercial cattleman has been a desire of the breed for some time, but there has been a reluctance to take the
necessary steps to provide those customers with the data and performance information they need to make the informed decision to use more MaineAnjou bulls and females. More participation in feed trials, providing individual breeder data when they maintain ownership of cattle through the feedlot, and other available data will also assist in compiling information available to all breeders and used to break the barrier and obtain acceptance of this breed within commercial operations. Additionally, I believe we need to maintain a strong focus on our youth program. I am a product of that program. It helped me to want to stay a part of this breed and to have my kids grow up and participate in these activities. Maintaining a strong focus on the youth will also ensure a strong future for the breed.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether at the local, state, regional, or national level?
I have been active in the Maine-Anjou breed in both Missouri and Iowa. Our family has been a financial supporter and volunteers at the National Junior Heifer Show for several years. I have exhibited Maine -Anjou throughout the nation. We have participated in state, regional, and national shows with Maine cattle in Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Arkansas. We have an annual pasture sale for steer calves and select heifers in September. I am also active on various social media platforms.
Additional comments
I think that most cattle breeders would agree that sire selection is extremely important in building a quality herd. But owning the right kind of female is the foundation to any good breeding program and has been a key objective in our operation. We are committed to developing genetically superior cow families to ensure predictability in future generations. This philosophy is how we will be able to provide our customers with sound, functional animals consistently. With all the problems currently facing our industry, raising economically productive cattle that meet the quality demands of an increasingly sophisticated marketplace is more important than ever. That is why we strive for calving ease, performance, soundness, quality, and docility.
CANDIDATE NAME: MINDY KOURI, WYOMING
History of your operation?
Kouri Cattle was established in 2011 as a cowcalf operation. At that time, we primarily ran Angus and Hereford Angus crosses. After several years, we started looking for a breed of cattle that would better fit our program for what we were trying to accomplish, focusing on EPDs, the look we wanted and a high-quality cow. We did a lot of research on which cattle would be versatile with the quality that we were seeking to produce. We quickly switched to the Maine-Anjou breed and now run primarily a higher percentage Maine-Anjou herd. Currently, we run a cow/calf, bull, and heifer production operation.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
The Maine-Anjou breed has many strengths, including high and well-rounded EPD sires and dams. Bloodlines that produce body structure and frame that adds power, depth, and muscle. They are well-tempered and easy to work with. The dams are very maternal, have a good milk supply, and grow big calves. The Maine-Anjou breed crosses well with other breeds to improve genetics. A very versatile breed of cattle, nice big size for commercial beef and show quality.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
I would like to see the Maine-Anjou breed continue to carry and have high EPD markings for breeders. With focusing on higher EPDs comes a greater success rate in predicting the Maine-Anjou progeny, performance, and excellence. I would like to focus on phenotype and performance to ensure consistency and quality in the breed and what the breed offers. Continue to have national and local shows to educate others about the breed. Continue to support the younger generation with the cattle industry. Ensure that the Maine-Anjou breed is competitive and looked for.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether locally, state, regional or national level?
Kouri Cattle produces, shows, and sells MaineAnjou bulls, heifers, and steers. We proudly offer
bulls and heifers that rank in the top percentile for Maine-Anjou EPDs for production. We sell Maine-Anjou steers to 4H kids and have won multiple fairs with their performance. We always provide education about the breed and cattle to people who visit our operation and share our love for the Maine-Anjou breed with whoever will listen. We have shown and sold at the National Western Stock Show in Denver for multiple years.
Additional
I would be proud and excited to continue my love for the Maine-Anjou breed.
REGION 3
CANDIDATE NAME: NICK BEAUPREZ, COLORADO
History of your operation?
Beauprez Land & Cattle has been raising MaineAnjou cattle since 1981. After college I returned home to the ranch and have been working with my family on raising quality females and bulls which add performance to our herd and others. The past several years we have raised some of the top bulls in the breed.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed, and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
Structure, muscle and power are strengths I see in the Maine-Anjou breed as well as good maternal traits. The Maine-Anjou breed adds more red meat to feedlot cattle, therefore adding more profit to the producer.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
I would like to promote Maine-Anjou bulls to commercial breeders as a whole to show the advantages of the breed. Also, to continue to prove Maine-Anjou genetics are here for the longevity and that they work well as a cross with other breeds.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether it be locally, state, regional or national level?
We show and sell bulls at the National Western Stock Show as well as having a private heifer
sale. We have shown at all the major shows as well as local shows to promote our genetics and the Maine-Anjou breed. We have been guest consigners at other breeder’s sale to promote our cattle.
Additional Comments
I would be honored to serve on the Maine-Anjou Board to promote a breed I truly believe in. Thank you for your consideration.
AT-LARGE
CANDIDATE NAME: JIRL BUCK, OKLAHOMA
History of your operation?
I’m Jirl Buck, and along with my wife, Brenda and daughter, Bailey, we operate Buck Cattle Company in Madill, Oklahoma. Our family has been deeply involved in the Maine-Anjou business for over 30 years, and it’s how we make our living. I was raised on a ranch and have had the privilege of exhibiting cattle while I was in 4-H and FFA.
I graduated from both Murray State College and Oklahoma State University, and now we manage a herd of around 200 Maine-Anjou cows. Each year, we raise about 120 embryo calves. We sell 120 bulls and around 150 females through our annual spring and fall sales, as well as monthly online auctions. We always have cattle available for private treaty sales as well.
What do you view as strengths of the Maine-Anjou breed, and how can those strengths be used in today’s beef industry?
Maine-Anjou cattle have so much to offer the cattle industry with their feed efficiency, maternal strength, disposition, and added performance. I believe the dominance of Maine-Anjou cattle in showrings across the country has significantly boosted the value of the top-end cattle. It’s crucial for us to continue promoting this breed and to make commercial producers aware of the value that Maine-Anjou genetics can add to their programs.
What are your goals for the future of the Maine-Anjou breed?
I believe our association must continue to stay on the cutting edge of technology. It’s important for us as breeders to keep collecting and recording
data to improve the value and accuracy of our EPDs. This breed combines great cattle and great people. It’s simple: we need to continue getting more folks involved so we can become stronger and achieve our goals.
What does your present operation do to promote Maine-Anjou genetics, whether it be locally, state, regional or national level?
I’m proud to support and be directly involved with the AMAA, AJMAA, and both state and national associations. My wife, Brenda, and I have served as past Oklahoma State Youth advisors, and we’re avid supporters of the American Junior Maine-Anjou Association AJMAA and its programs. “It has been our pleasure to work with youth and guide them to be successful with their Maine-Anjou cattle.”
MAINE-ANJOU Board of Directors Ballot
2024 AMAA BOARD BALLOT
BALLOTS DUE DECEMBER 2, 2024
Any ballot that is postmarked on or before DECEMBER 2, 2024, but not received on or before DECEMBER 7TH will be void.
RULES FOR VOTING
Members will vote ONLY in your region for regional directors and ALL members may cast an At-Large vote. ONLY CURRENT ADULT AMAA MEMBERS ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE.
Mail-in, faxes, hand delivered or ballots sent via federal air courier are accepted. Facsimile votes must be dated on or before DECEMBER 2, 2024. Fax ballots to (913) 432-3447.
The individual member must sign ballots. Forged Entries will be subject to legal action.
If you plan to mail your ballot please mail to the following address: Walsh & Stverak, LLC
5001 College Boulevard, Ste 214, Leawood, KS 66211 All ballots must include NAME, BREEDER # and SIGNATURE.
AMAA BOARD OF DIRECTOR VOTING BALLOT
Walsh & Stverak, LLC
5001 College Boulevard, Ste 214 Leawood, KS 66211
REGION I Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
REGION II California, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming
REGION III Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
REGION I (vote for one, one position open)
Andy Jones, Illinois John Grauer, Ohio Cody Green, Arkansas
REGION II (vote for one, one position open)
Brian Fox, Minnesota Alicia Rigdon, Iowa Mindy Kouri, Wyoming
REGION III (vote for one, one position open)
Nick Beauprez, Colorado
AT LARGE (vote for one, one position open) Jirl Buck, Oklahoma
MAINE-ANJOU
Announcements, News & Events
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES & MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION
Memberships/Dues run from January to December of each year. 2024 Adult dues are $150 (includes magazine).
2024 Junior dues are $50 (Magazine can be ordered for an additional $40)
Note: Dues must be paid to register, transfer, sell or show cattle.
MAPP ENROLLMENT DEADLINE
MAPP enrollment for 2025 opens Sept. 1, 2024 and will close on Dec. 15, 2024. Reminders will be mailed in October. All MAPP members must have their dues paid by Jan. 1, 2025 to remain in the program. If you have questions or will need a paper copy of your inventory report e-mailed or mailed to you, please contact MaKayla Hern at makayla@amaapc.com or call the AMAA office at 816-431-9950 Ext. 4.
INVOICE AND STATMENT
HISTORY:
Log into your Digital Beef Account. Under the profile information are tabs that run right to left across the screen, click on “Account”. You may view your current and past invoices by selecting “Show Invoice History”. The information listed under invoice history are notes when work is held for payment, held for testing and when work was mailed. If you click “Download Work Detail” in red on the right side of the screen, it will provide your current fees charged.
DETAILED STATEMENT:
A Detailed Statement can be created with a date range. This is a good tool to use for tax purposes.
DONOR INVENTORY:
When cows are flushed from your herd, you may log the dates and count of inventory for each Donor.
• From the left side tool bar select “Breeding” and then click on “Embryo Inventory”.
• Add new Embryo
• Enter the registration numbers of the dam and sire of the donor flushed.
• Enter Flush Date
• Click on “Find these”
• Enter quantity, Tank and Canister and then click “Save Inventory”.
• When selling your inventory click on “Breeding”.
• Select “Embryo Transfer”.
• Click on Embryo Inventory in red.
• Click on the Blue Link that says “Record Sale”.
• Enter in how many embryos sold.
• Enter the buyer member number and date sold.
• Transfer embryos to buyer.
INCOMPLETE REGISTRATION AND PERFORMANCE DATA:
If work is submitted for weaning and yearling, but not completed, AMAA will delete the entry within three business days and it will need to be added once the data can be provided. AMAA will also delete registrations that have incomplete fields such as blank dams, sires, birthdates, names, tattoos or not owners of the dam that is entered within two weeks. The exception would be entries for registration that are pending due to testing. Please be aware that once a registration has been entered and the “Validate” button is selected, it goes to the registrar to be completed, invoiced and closed. AMAA will make an attempt to contact you prior to deleting the entry via email.
NEW MEMBERS:
All new members must choose a program when submitting a new membership. The two programs that are offered are MAPP and Breeders Choice. More information on these two programs is available by visiting maine-anjou. org and clicking on “Member Services” “MAPP Agreement.” If a membership is submitted without choosing a program, the new member will be placed in the Breeders Choice program.
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNTS
It is the AMAA policy to only share account information with those authorized on an active account, no matter the age of the account holder. The account holder must provide written permission to add a person(s) to their account to transfer and register on their behalf. Anyone that is not authorized on an account will not be provided passwords or invoice information no matter the age or relation to the account holder. The account holder is the only one that can call or e-mail the AMAA directly to remove or add any person(s) to/from their account. Any authorized person on the account can register, transfer, obtain or change passwords once they are on the account.
HELPFUL TIPS WHEN REGISTERING:
To avoid delays in your registration work during our busy season follow the tips below. Double check that all blanks and information are correct and complete before mailing or submitting online. Things most commonly missed are:
o Missing herd prefix and herd ID
o Birthdates
o Date of sale
o Name of animal
o Payment
Make sure the person that is registering the animal owns the dam with the exception of ET calves. If an ET calf, make sure the donor dam
MAINE-ANJOU
Announcements, News & Events
has DNA verified and has been PHA & TH tested with the results on file. If you are checking on testing work please e-mail Rylee at rylee@ amaapc.com. When calling or e-mailing please have the name and breeder number of the person submitting the work.
When registering annual active dams for performance only animals please submit them online if you have the capabilities. This will help the registrar processing tremendously.
We appreciate you and your business and want to make sure that the registration process runs as smooth as possible. Thank you in advance for your extra time in making sure all work is correct, complete and received in a timely manner.
REGISTRATIONS:
The AMAA will assess a $5 fee for any registration work received by fax, e-mail or by mail. To avoid this fee, please log into your online Digital Beef account to complete all registration work. New forms can be downloaded from our main webpage under Digital Beef/Registrations – Printable Forms. If you need assistance logging into your online account please contact us at maine@amaapc.com.
If work is faxed or e-mailed it is the responsibility of the breeder to give us a follow up phone call to make sure that the work is legible and to cover all fees.
BLOCK REGISTRATION DISCOUNTS:
Want to save on registration costs? Consider pre-paying for a block of registrations. The cost savings are as follows:
• 15 head - 12%
• 25 head - 15%
• 50 head - 20%
• 75 head - 25%
• 100 head - 30%
Blocks may only be used on animals under 13
months of age and may not be used on steers or foundation animals. Blocks will only be valid from January 1 - December 31 of each year. Any unused block registration numbers will expire. Block purchases must be pre-paid for prior to registering. If you are interested in purchasing a block, please contact us at 816-431-9950 Ext. 2.
FOUNDATION ANIMALS:
Non-registered bulls and females must be entered as a foundation animal prior to progeny being registered. All current “P” (performance only) cattle will be grand-fathered into the program. If the sire is an AI sire and registered at another breed association, the pedigree and testing must be on file with the AMAA. The charge to add a sire pedigree will be a onetime charge of $40. If the AMAA finds that the pedigree has already been paid for by another breeder, the $40 charge will not be applied. Dams registered at another breed association may also be added for a one-time charge of $25. See the new self-billing sheet for foundation fees.
ONLINE TRANSFERS:
When transferring an animal online make sure there is not a member number already created for the buyer. Creating more than one number for an individual creates registration problems later. If you find the buyer in the system at a different address please notify the buyer first to confirm the address and then notify the AMAA office to update the account. It is always a good idea to search for the buyer using the search tool before doing the work, that way if they have a different address it is caught before entering the registration and transfer.
When creating a new profile for a buyer please make sure to never give a junior a farm name. Please enter the junior’s name on the farm line and also as the contact.
RUSH ORDERS:
If you are selling an animal, we ask that you register and transfer the animal in a timely manner to avoid extra charges and to assure buyers they are purchasing from a reputable business person.
Rushes will be done in the order received; a rush fee is currently $50 (covers eight head). No work will be released until payment is complete.
Rush work is processed ahead of the regular work that is received in our office and mailed by regular mail within one to two business days. We will do our best to complete rush work that is received in our office by 2 p.m. (Monday – Friday). There is no same-day turnaround. If requiring a registration number only, it will still be considered a rush as we still have to process the work to obtain the number.
BULL CALF REGISTRATION:
If registering a bull calf born after Jan. 1, 2014, it must be TH/PHA free by parentage or have testing completed prior to registering and on file with the AMAA. Carriers will no longer be registered, but may be entered as a foundation animal. All progeny out of a Foundation carrier bull needs to be tested free of that defect prior to registration. If registrations are submitted before testing has been completed, the animal will not be registered. Instead the animal will be given a performance number. Once the animal has been tested the registration will be completed at the regular rate based on the animals age at the time the test is completed. Once the animal has been tested the registration may be completed at the regular rate. Please plan accordingly as testing can take up to three or four weeks.
MAINE-ANJOU
Announcements, News & Events
MAINE ANGUS PAPERS:
Digital Beef will automatically convert cow/ heifer registrations to Maine-Angus if they qualify. All Maine-Angus bulls applied for will be reviewed by the registrar prior to converting to MaineAngus. A Maine Angus paper will be blue in color, have Maine Angus under the Maine logo, and will have MaineTainer across the center of the paper. The animal can be shown as a MaineTainer if there is not a Maine Angus division at the show.
MAINE ANGUS REQUIREMENTS
• Maine Angus refers to cattle with the following characteristics:
• The animal will have between 3/8 Maine-Anjou to 5/8 Maine-Anjou blood and have between 3/8 registered Angus to 5/8 registered Angus and/or registered Red Angus blood.
• The standard is both parents must be registered at the AMAA, American Angus Association (AAA) or Red Angus Association of America (RAAA) will provide validated lineage.
• Qualifying cattle can have no more than 1/8 of non-registered blood or other breeds.
• A registered Maine Angus bull must be proven free of genetic defects PHA and TH. Depending on the Maine Angus bull’s genetic makeup, the individual must also be proven free of known Angus lethal genetic defects (Ex. AM, NH and CA) and/or known lethal Red Angus genetic defects (Ex. AM, NH, CA and OS) whether determined by pedigree or test.
• A registered Maine Angus female must be proven free of PHA and TH, whether identified by pedigree or test.
MAINE ANGUS COLOR REQUIREMENTS:
• All qualifying individuals will be predominately solid black or red in color. White markings are only allowed on the underline and switch of the tail.
• Starting Jan. 1, 2019 all animals that have qualified and registered as Maine Angus prior to Jan. 1, 2019 will retain their Maine Angus papers but will not be able to exhibit/show in the Maine Angus division, however, these animals are eligible to show as MaineTainers.
OTHER AMAA UPDATES:
Please make sure to update any change in address, phone numbers or e-mails with the AMAA by e-mailing us at maine@amaapc.com, or by logging into your online account. If you have a credit card on file and have received a new card, please make sure to call us to replace the new card on file. Credit cards are not automatically saved when paying online.
MAINE-ANJOU CATTLE FOR SALE:
Looking for cattle to purchase or consign? Do not forget to check out our consignment sale list located at the top of the Digital Beef Cattle search screen called “Maine-Anjou Cattle for Sale”. Active breeders may use this tool at any time to consign animals as long as you have a login for Digital Beef.
NATIONAL SHOWS
Anyone showing in a junior or open class at the national level must be an active member with the AMAA or American Junior Maine-Anjou Association (AJMAA). Junior members exhibiting at these shows must be the sole owner of the animal they are showing.
DNA, TH AND PHA REQUIREMENTS:
Prior to registering any ET calves, all donor dams (including commercial or nonregistered dams) must have DNA, TH and PHA on file in our office. Also, all AI sires are required to have the same on file. Therefore, our office will hold any ET registrations submitted out of dams without testing on file as well as all registrations out of AI sires that do not have complete testing on file.
If the donor dam is deceased and not tested, we do require that the ET(s) have the tests done, in the absence of the donor’s records.
To submit a sample through the association, please follow the DNA request instructions on our website, maine-anjou. org, under the Genetics/Testing tab. Samples must be on a hair card, blood card or TSU in order to be submitted.
Sampling supplies can be ordered on our website under the Genetics/Testing tab. Animals must be in the AMAA herd book before testing can be requested.
Please note that testing takes approximately 3-4 weeks from the time the sample arrives at the lab.
We would like to start sending the test results by e-mail only, please make sure we have an up-to-date e-mail address for you, if applicable.
MAINE-ANJOU
Announcements, News & Events
DNA REMINDERS
Fall Sale Season is approaching and extended test times are expected. Please be aware that the Geneseek lab turnaround time is approximately 3-4 weeks on defect testing. Turnaround times are longer for multiple tests on one sample. Please be prepared when preparing for fall sales and shows that testing will take longer than normal. We would encourage you to start ordering the testing you need as soon as possible. For assistance with ordering please email Rylee at rylee@amaapc.com.
• NEW All samples turned in on a hair card will be charged an additional $5 per sample starting January 1, 2022.
• NEW The Panel #3 has dropped to $95 and this is the most inclusive test offered through AMAA. With this test you will receive 100 thousand DNA markers which includes parentage as well as genomics. The panel also includes several defect tests including TH and PHA. This is the recommended choice for those wishing to improve their herd.
• AMAA will accept blood cards, tissue sampling units (TSU), semen straws or hair cards.
• All bulls born after January 1, 2014 must be TH and PHA free by test or pedigree in order to register. If a bull is found to be a carrier, he can register as a foundation or performance bull only, but all progeny will have to test free
of that defect in order to register. Foundation bulls will carry their Maine-Anjou percentage to their offspring.
• All A.I. sires regardless of breed and/or commercial, must have DNA, TH and PHA on file prior to registering any progeny.
• All donor dams must have DNA, TH and PHA on file prior to registering their ET calves. If a donor is dead before a sample was procured, you must DNA, TH and PHA test all ET calves in order to register them.
NEOGEN UPDATED PROCEDURES
The Neogen DNA lab has implemented new procedures regarding on hold orders. Samples must now be submitted to the lab within 30 days from the time of the order. Orders that are not received within 30 days will be deleted from their system. Samples that are received after the 30 days will experience delays in testing due to order recreation. It is recommended not to order the DNA testing until you have a sample procured and ready to submit. For DNA questions please contact Rylee Barber at Rylee@amaapc.com.
PAST DUE ACCOUNTS
Any unpaid accounts 30 days past due will receive a finance charge. Please make sure to pay for your registration work at the time of entry to avoid possible finance charges. Any unpaid work will be deleted if not paid within 90 days. Please log in to your online account to check your balance. Work is considered past due if not paid within 30 days. Registration work will be deleted if not paid within 90 days.
SELLERS
All sellers must have dues paid in order to transfer animals. The seller must sign in to authorize the sale of the animal(s). The buyer’s name, address and date of sale must be filled out. Please make sure that the date of sale is true and correct to avoid registration errors for the buyer in the future. To avoid higher transfer fees it is recommended that the seller send the transfer with payment as soon as possible. If you are not sure if your dues have been paid, please contact us prior to sending in transfers.
MAINE-ANJOU
AMAA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES
Annual dues must be paid by Dec. 31, 2024. You must be an active member of the AMAA to register and transfer cattle.
ADULT MEMBERSHIP: $150 JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP: $50
The adult membership dues include a subscription to the Voice. Enclose an additional $40 to get the Voice first class.
NATIONAL SHOWS & MEMBERSHIP DUES
**NOTE - Junior & Adult dues must be current to exhibit at any of the five national showsAmerican Royal, North American International Livestock Expo (NAILE), Cattlemen’s Congress, National Western Stock Show & Fort Worth**
2024 MAPP ENROLLMENT
Enrollment is now open for MAPP inventories. Inventories are due December 15th. Any MAPP members that did not completed their MAPP inventories by December have been removed from the program. A $50 reactivation and MAPP fee(s) must be paid to re-enter the program.
RENEWAL OR NEW MEMBERSHIP-INCLUDES MAGAZINE
JUNIOR RENEWAL OR NEW JR. MEMBERSHIP-NO MAGAZINE
ONE
VOICE MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION***
***PLEASE SELECT TO RECEIVE MAGAZINE BY MAIL OR EMAIL
*Steers-Add $5 to add dam pedigree from another association
*Steers-Add $5 to add dam pedigree from another association OTHER FEES FOR BOTH MAPP/BREEDERS CHOICE MEMBERS
MAINE-ANJOU
AMERICAN MAINE-ANJOU ASSOCIATION STAFF
204 MARSHALL RD.
P.O. BOX 1100
PLATTE CITY, MO 64079
816-431-9950
Maine-Anjou.org maine@amaapc.com
E xecutive Vice President
Blake Nelson Blake@amaapc.com
Voice Editor/Director of Shows, Communications & Youth
L indsey Broek, Lindsey@amaapc.com
Director of Commercial Developement
Joshua Cribbs Josh@amaapc.com
Director of Herd Book & Data Services
Marcena Fulton marcena@amaapc.com
DNA Coordinator & Member Service/Assistant Director of Shows & Events
Rylee Matheny rylee@amaapc.com
Office Assistant & MAPP
MaKayla Hern MaKayla@amaapc.com
2023 BOARD OF DIRECTOR LISTING
REGION 1
Trae Simmons 5236 W. 900 N. Carthage, IN 46115
M: (765) 438-2312 simmonstrae@hotmail.com
Chad Barker 16610 Elm Grove Rd.
M: (620) 255-5822
Chad.barker@nationalbeef.com
Brent Tolle 791 Brashears Points Rd., Taylorsville, KY 40071
M: (502) 905-7831
Brent.tolle@merial.com
Eric Walker 14845 Walker Rd., Prairie Grove, AR 72753
M: (479) 601-3567 eric@willowspringscattle.com
REGION 2
Beau Ebersole 1935 280th Ave., Kellerton, IA 50133
M: (515) 971-8461 ebersolecattleco@yahoo.com
Tara Thorson 78564 State Line Rd. Glenville, MN 56036
M: (507) 402-2503
Tbthorson1995@gmail.com
Marty Van Vliet 372 190th Ave. Otley, IA 50214
M: (641) 780-0631 blueprintcattle@yahoo.com
Cali O’Hara P.O. Box 991, Fort Benton, MT 59442
M: (406) 734-5252 Ohara@3rivers.net
REGION 3
Ethan Moore
P.O. Box 26
Madill, OK 73446
M: (580) 795-6707 emoore@oklahomasteel.com
Danny Dupree P.O. Box 1192, Clinton, OK 73601
M: (580) 445-7595 ddupree@bar-s.com
Dustin Dorsey 35291 County Road 41 Eaton, CO 80615
M: (970) 217-0522 drcattle@gmail.com
Brett Carter 11690 N. C.R. 3340 Stratford, OK 74872
M: (580) 759-9694 cartercattle03@gmail.com
AT-LARGE
Mark Beauprez 11780 Mimosa Rd., Byers, CO 80103
M: (303) 822-9260 markb@netecin.net
Wyatt DeJong 16600 W. Burmood Rd., Wood River, NE 68883
M: (605) 842-5683 Dejongranch.wyatt@gmail.com
Kendall Bremer 23384 Ridge Rd. Blakesburg, IA 52536
M: (641) 799-4911 klbremer81@gmail.com
Heritage Road
AMERICAN MAINE-ANJOU ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
The American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) Heritage Road honors those influential individuals who have made a lasting impact on the Maine-Anjou breed. Breeding programs recognized for this distinguished honor were operations that have been pioneers and have always strived to make the next generation better for Maine-Anjou. Chosen by the AMAA Board of Directors, each operation receiving this honor has a commemorative portrait that lines the halls of AMAA so we may always honor those breeding programs who came before us and paved the way for Maine-Anjou.
2012
Sonderegger Cattle Company, Victor Carter, David & Mary Marold
Packard Cattle Company, Guthrie & Peter Packard
G&F Cattle Company, David Gilger & Calvin Fryar
2014
JB Ranch, Jerry Bogaards
2015
4J Family Partnership, Jerry & June Gibson
Nortex Farms, Dr. R.C. Norman
Flying Dutchmen Ranch, Sid & Norma DeHaan
2016
John Boddicker, AMAA Executive Vice President
2018
Ferris Ranch, Tom, Jane & Glen Ferris
Heritage Road
AMERICAN MAINE-ANJOU ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
2019
DeJong Ranch, Miles & Kim DeJong
2020
K&A Farm, Kenny & Audrey Bremer
2021
James Farms, Larry & Helen James
2022
Blueprint Cattle Company, Tom & Marty Van Vliet, Sumner Mapes
Champion MaineTainer Bull Parker Lockhart, Fort Gibson, Okla.
Reserve Champion MaineTainer Bull Ayden Beach, Sperry, Okla.
MAINE-ANJOU Junior Update
JOANIE VANCE REGION 3 DIRECTOR
2024-2025 AJMAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President - Abby Stallbaumer, Nebraska
Vice President - Tyler Loudon, Iowa
Secretary - Parker Lockhart, Oklahoma
REGION 1
MaeLee Dean, Georgia
Emma Yochum, Ohio
REGION 2
Abby Stallbaumer, Nebraska
Regan Ringkob, South Dakota
REGION 3
Joanie Vance, New Mexico
Kennedy Lockhart, Oklahoma
AT-LARGE
Jacie Wolfinger, Nebraska
Kendall Leonhard, Indiana
Parker Lockhart, Oklahoma
Tyler Loudon, Iowa
John Haven Stalvey, Georiga
2024 ROYALTY QUEEN
Jaelin Wolfinger, Nebraska
PRINCESS
Lilly Christian, Oklahoma & Anna Belle Altman, Minnesota
Hey everyone! I’m Joanie Vance, a Region 3 Director for the 2024-2025 AJMAA Board of Directors. I was born and raised on our family’s commercial cow/calf operation in Tucumcari, New Mexico, where my love for the industry grew the more I became involved in helping manage the place. Although I got a late start to getting into the AJMAA, the memories, experiences, and the people that I have met will always be irreplaceable to me.
My first Junior Nationals was in 2021 in Chickasaw, OK. I didn’t know anyone there and was the only one from New Mexico as well. However, the Junior Board members were welcoming and encouraging, and each of the candidates took their time to stop and talk to me. I remember talking to Ms. Morayah Cupp multiple times and she asked if I was running for the board; learning that I wasn’t she told me that I should and we kept in contact afterwards. I always kept that at the back of my mind, and when Junior Nationals came back to closer country, I finally decided to throw my hat in the ring in Grand Island.
At that time in my life, there was a lot of challenges and things going wrong, but I will forever be thankful that I took the chance and applied to be one of the best in blue. My time on the Junior Board has been an amazing blessing, a constant that I have needed, and has helped me to grow not only my professional abilities, but my confidence in
myself to pursue something even when I’m doubtful of my own abilities.
This summer was O’fish-ally one of the greatest yet, from Keepin It Reel in Springfield to having a blast in Dallas with our MAINE Event. However, with the fall shows coming up, I’m excited to see top-tier cattle and breeders alike hit the show ring and to get to cheer on our Juniors as they show as well. Although..., I think we might try our luck to keep the wheel rolling on having the best Junior Nationals in 2025 in Louisville! P.S.- Don’t forget to also keep your eyes peeled for more info on the 2025 MAINE Event, one of the best experiences a junior member can have the opportunity to attend!
MAINE-ANJOU
Index of Advertisers
American Royal Junior Maine-Anjou Show
American Royal Open Maine-Anjou Show
Beauprez Land & Cattle Onlinse Sale
Jones Show Cattle High Standards Female Sale
Dateline
Winegardner/Klingaman Show Cattle Harvest of Excellence
Fort Worth Stock Show Entry Deadline
NAILE Junior Show
NAILE Open Show
Silveira Bros Passion for Success Elite Multibreed Female Sale
Bright Lights & Power In the Pens Entries Due
The Cowboy Kind 6th Annual Production Sale
Combined Forces Live Auction
Griswold Cattle, LLC, The Classic
Moonen Cattle Company Elite Heifer Sale
Southern Integrity Online Sale
Cattlemen’s Congress Maine Angus & MaineTainer Female Shows
Cattlemen’s Congress Pen-of-Three Shows
Bright Lights Maine-Anjou Bull Sale
Cattlemen’s Congress Fullblood, Maine-Anjou & Bull Shows
National Western Stock Show Pen-of-Three Shows
National Western Stock Show Bull & Female Show on the Hill
