Caden Perry during the fitting contest at the 2025 Illinois Hereford Preview Show.
PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE
Talk about a year that is flying by. It seems like the winter calving season was just starting, and now we are in the middle of summer. I hope that everyone has been blessed with the necessary rain that we need to grow hay and crops. In my area, our mud season lasted a little too long. Area farmers were able to just start getting into the field around Memorial Day. The moisture was accepted, but if we could have spread it out to some others that were in more need of it, I would have shared!
Mid-summer activities for many of us include the state preview show, Jr. Nationals, and Illinois State Fair. I was telling my youngest son that even though school had just gotten out, they will be back in no time. He didn’t give me the friendliest smile when I said that. With spring breeding season winding down and calves getting ready to wean, be sure to remember to market your cattle for the most money that you can. There are 2 sales at Carthage that can help you receive top dollar for your cattle, no matter what you are marketing.
As always, I hope that everyone has the best calf crop that they have ever raised
Sincerely,
-Craig Crutcher
CATCHING UP WITH CORBIN
Recently, our office made a monumental announcement that we believe will positively impact the membership for years to come. Effective June 5 th , the AHA transitioned to utilizing Weatherby’s Scientific as the official DNA lab for AHA genetic testing. The contract with Neogen will expire December 31 st of this year. Some of the benefits members will experience with this change will be: MD/DB testing will no longer be a separate charge when combining with a genomic profile, resulting in a $13 savings; horned/polled tests will be $8, resulting in a $8 savings; and a genomic test for cattle ages 0-6 months that includes parentage, genomic panel, and all known abnormalities will be $30. Additionally, turnaround times for results are expected to be unchanged or even improved. We are confident this change will be a net positive for all breeders as we press forward with
Additionally, excitement continues to build around the 2025 World Hereford Conference in conjunction with the AHA Annual Meeting as well as the American Royal. If you are able to attend, I strongly encourage you to be present for the duration of the week to be part of the camaraderie and fellowship as we welcome our international friends in Kansas City. The pre and post tour registration is now closed as the spots are filled, however, registration is still open until September 1 for the WHC events in Kansas City. If you have any questions, please contact the AHA office and they will be happy to assist.
Territory 5 Field Staff
May 1 marked my first trip around the sun as fieldman for Territory 5 of the AHA, and what a year it has been. They say when work doesn’t feel like “work”, you know you are where you need to be. I truly feel blessed to be employed by one of the finest organizations in the entire agriculture industry, and I am excited to continue serving the AHA membership as best I can.
We look forward to seeing you all at various events throughout the rest of the year. If we at the AHA can help in any way, feel free to reach out.
All the best,
-Corbin Cowles
Craig Crutcher, Illinois Hereford Association President
Corbin Cowles, American Hereford Association
Illinois Hereford Association 2025 Tour
August 23rd and 24th - Northern, IL
August 23, 2025: Day 1
Storey Show Cattle 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Lunch, with Herd Visit to follow
Address: 7456 East Townsend Road, Stockton, IL 61085
The Storey Family invites you to join us for lunch during the 2025 Illinois Hereford Tour. Come walk through our herd of registered cow calf pairs. At Storey Show Cattle we strive to raise quality Hereford females that are able to excel in the show ring while also adding value to our cow herd. We can’t wait to see everyone at this year's tour.
Thousand Hills Herefords 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Herd Visit
Address: 1709 Summit Dr, Stockton, IL 61085
A cowherd consisting of 35-head that concentrates on carcass merit and confirmation. A high priority has been placed on teat and udder scores, longevity, and cow families when purchasing herd sires. For the first time, Thousand Hills Herefords was named a Gold TPR Breeder, alongside having three cows on the Dam of Distinction list. This program is placing a growing emphasis on Genomically tested EPD’s and Ultrasound Data as well.
Perks Ranch 5:00 pm
Herd Visit, Live OPU Demonstration by SVS Repro, AHA Update, and Dinner
Address: 12526 N Weldon Rd, Rockford, IL 61102
Perks Ranch consists of 600 acres of rolling grass pastures, cropland, and protected forests, and runs around 120 head of registered Hereford cows and commercial cows used for the ET program as recipients. The ranch hosts a female production sale the 2nd Saturday in October each year, featuring a strong set of show heifers, replacement females, and bred cows, and an annual bull sale each year in March. The ranch was founded in 1961 by The Doug Perks family and managed and operated by The Tom Boatman family.
August 24, 2025: Day 2
Richardson Farms 8:30 am - 10:00 am
Herd Visit
Address: 7789 Coon Trail Rd, Capron, IL 61012
Richardson Farms got its start after the purchase of an open heifer in the fall of 2012. The operation has now grown to around 20 head of cows. We take pride in exhibiting bred and owned heifers at the state and national level. Additionally, we market all other calves to local show families and Hereford breeders. Select heifer and steer prospects are available by private treaty in the fall, while frozen genetics are available year-round.
Mud Creek Farms 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Herd Visit
Address: 6372 Edwardsville Rd, German Valley, IL 61039
Mud Creek Farms has been breeding Hereford cattle for over 30 years and currently runs around 30 cows. We’ve focused on marketing show cattle, replacement females, bulls, and freezer beef. We greatly appreciate the relationships we’ve built over the years with fellow Hereford breeders and look forward to hosting them on the tour!
* Anyone who attends all 5 tour stops will be entered for the chance to win a $250 sale credit for the 2025 IHA Winter Classic Sale *
Hotel Block Information for the evening of August 23rd: Holiday Inn Rockford, an IHG Hotel - 7550 E State St - Rockford, IL 61108
Rate: $119/night plus night
Block Name: Perks Ranch
IHA WINTER CLASSIC SALE
Illinois Hereford Association,
Once again, it is time to start prepping for the Illinois Hereford Association Winter Classic Sale!
The IHA Board has prioritized adding value for the Illinois Hereford Association membership. This now established, annual event is a way for all members to market the best of their herds, and connect with breeders and commercial cattleman from all over the state.
The Illinois Hereford Association Winter Classic Sale will be held on December 13th, 2025 in Carthage, IL at Carthage Livestock Inc. Brent and Kris Lowderman are incredible hosts, are a huge part of this sales success. They have and will continue to do incredible work for the Hereford breed, making this the perfect spot to continue to build this sale. Once again, Cody Lowderman will be serving as the auctioneer for this event.
I will be handling the screening process again for the IHA this year. The IHA board and I want to ensure quality stays consistent to help everyone turn as much profit as possible. All the nomination forms for the sale will be due on August 1st. Shortly after the first, I will begin planning to travel to farms with said nominations to screen the cattle.
When selecting cattle to nominate, I highly encourage you to select cattle that represent the best your program has to offer. The IHA Board sees the Winter Classic Sale as an annual event for breeders to purchase elite Hereford seedstock. To make this sale a household name, we must continue to improve. Cattle with phenotypic quality, popular pedigrees, and desirable genomic profiles will add value and make this sale a success. The board and I will be placing a big focus on selling quality bred heifers and fall cow-calf pairs. New this year, a select number of single lot bred cows. The quality of the nominations in this division needs to be very high.
In the rest of this document, you will find the calendar of events, the general rules and requirements for the sale, and the nomination form. If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
The IHA Board and I are both looking forward to building this sale for year three. We would love to work with any members of the IHA on consigning to this sale.
Sincerely,
nojo1132@gmail.com
The Illinois Hereford Association Winter Classic Sale is a screened sale. All cattle must first be nominated by the August 1st, 2025 deadline. All nominations must be accompanied by a non-refundable $50 per-lot nomination fee. If cattle are accepted after screening and consigned to the sale, this $50 fee will be credited to the consignor’s sale expenses. No cattle will be accepted that have not gone through the nomination and screening process. Any member of the Illinois Hereford Association that has paid their dues in 2024 and been accepted after nomination and screening is allowed to consign to this sale.
Other requirements:
1) Membership dues for the IHA Association for 2025 must be paid by the time of nomination.
2) No animal will be accepted without actual (individual) EPD’s available by the time of cataloging. If EPD’s are not available at cataloging time, the animal will be rejected and no refund of fees will be made.
3) Any known carrier of any genetic defect will not be allowed to sell.
4) There shall be no substitutions after cataloging and there will be no refund of nomination or entry fees if an animal is not brought to the Winter Classic Sale. Substitutions may be made only prior to cataloging with screener approval.
5) Age of cattle:
a. All bulls must be at least 12 months of age, and no older than 30 Months of age
b. All females in sale must be under 5 years of age with calf at side or confirmed bred -New in 2025: A select number of bred cows will be allowed in the sale. Screener will be critical on age, quality, AI breeding, ultrasounding, and genomic EPD’s
c. Open females will be allowed in the sale, but in a limited amount
6) Bull Requirements
a. Must have passed a Breeding Sound Exam (BSE) within 30 days of the sale
b. Must have Genomically Enhanced EPD’s (GE-EPDS) and DNA on profile with the AHA
7) Female Requirements
a. Females being sold as bred to be confirmed on health papers within 30 days of sale -Females due to calve between the sale and 2/15/25, have the option to provide a health paper within 60 days of sale to confirm pregnancy, alongside their standard health-paper within 30 days of sale
b. Females must be bred to have their first calf by 30 months of age
c. RECOMMENDED that females are ultrasounded to determine sex of the pregnancy
d. RECOMMENDED that females have GE-EPDS and a DNA on profile with the AHA
8) Health –
a. All cattle are required to have separate, official interstate health papers at sale time. Do not place multiple animals on one form.
b. All cattle must have a RFID or metal tag per state regulations. Suggested tests are Bangs, Anaplasmosis, Tuberculosis, and BVD. If your animal(s) sell into a state requiring listed tests, breeders will take the subject animal to its origin, have it tested, and once cleared, arrange shipping to the buyer.
9) Substitutions can be made up until the catalog deadline. They must be approved by the screener before said deadline.
10) Withdrawals made after cataloguing are responsible for average sale expense of lot type.
11) Withdrawals made after cataloging are responsible for average sale expense of lot type.
Schedule of Events
August 1
All nominations must be either post marked or emailed along with the $50 per lot nomination fee. *Nomination fees are non-refundable but will be figured into sale expense if the animal is accepted.
August 1st - October 1st I will be making screening arrangements to be made.
October 15
All information for catalog is due. Footnotes, pictures, breeding information, etc. Substitutions cannot be made after this date.
December 12 – 3 pm
All Cattle in place at Carthage Livestock Inc.
December 12 – 6 pm
Illinois Hereford Association Social
December 13 – 11:30 am
Illinois Hereford Association Winter Classic Sale
NOMINATION FORM
When selecting your animals to nominate, please keep in mind the rules and recommendations listed above in the document. All bulls to sell must have their DNA profile completed, and all females 30 months of age or older must be bred or have a calf at side. All cattle must be registered and have EPD’s by the time the catalogue is produced. Also, remember that your 2025 dues to the IHA must be up to date. Please Contact Buddy Edenburn or Noah Benedict for this.
Make checks payable to the Illinois Hereford Association. The fee is $50 per lot nominated. This is non-refundable but will be figured into sale expense if your nomination is accepted. Mail checks to Noah Benedict – 165 White Pines Cir Decatur, IL 62521
Farm Name:
Mailing Address:
Farm Address (where screening will happen) :
Phone Number:
Email:
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Heifer
DF ACD Miranda 403
Owned by Addison Duis
Reserve Grand Champion Bred & Owned Heifer Lemenager Myla M92 ET Owned by Paige Lemenager
Third Overall Heifer
KESL KAGS Fannys Annie 40M Owned by Kesler Collins
Fourth Overall Heifer GB BP CB Felicia's Milli 8M Owned by Maddox Gunn
Fifth Overall Heifer Storey Frost Holly Joy 44M ET Owned by Stetson Storey
JUNE 13-15 | BELVIDERE
JUDGES: EDDIE SANDBERG & KYLE PEREZ
PHOTOS BY CINDY'S LIVESTOCK PHOTOS
L2 MKL LCC 7437 Gentry
Grand Champion Bred & Owned Bull
2471
Owned by Nash Lowderman
Reserve Grand Champion Bred & Owned Bull LF PMH 8071 Proficient 4037 ET Owned by Logan Rhoads
Grand Champion Cow-calf
MKS 73G 3J Yankee Girl 9L
Owned by Kade Boatman
Reserve Grand Champion Cow-calf NST 8J Lillie 5L Owned by Aiden Wexell
Grand Champion Market Steer Bane Lighting 42M ET Owned by Ella Bane
Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer TBC Marksman 49 Owned by Lacie Sellers
MMK 1502 Valerie 2404 ET
RGR Trixy Gypsymark 17Z 984ET
Grand Champion Horned Heifer
Owned by Kade Boatman
Reserve Grand Champion Horned Heifer DF ACD Miranda 403 Owned by Addison Duis
Third Overall Horned Heifer
Owned by Blakely Storey
Fourth Overall Horned Heifer Purple Sutton 126L ET Owned by Blakely Storey
Fifth Overall Horned Heifer L2 LCC 0183 Annabelle 92M ET Owned by Nash Lowderman
Grand Champion Polled Heifer Wildcat Violin 4939 ET Owned by Lauren Jones
Reserve Grand Champion Polled Heifer Hawk Audrey 7M ET Owned by Nolan Lee
Third Overall Polled Heifer Storey Frost Hollys 654M ET Owned by Wyatt Gunn
Fourth Overall Polled Heifer Spin Alexander 12M Owned by Faith Benedict
Fifth Overall Polled Heifer Hawk Sawyer 22M ET Owned by Ella Brooks
Retiring Junior Members - Dellana Muck, Logan Rhoads, Lauren Jones
Not pictured-Abby Muck, Shelby Siemer, Clayton & Denton Stapleton
Princess Paige McCaskill, Queen Allie Anderson, Princess Shelby Pearl
