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The Largest Privately Owned Hereford Newspaper in North America The one that’s read “from cover to cover.” • Visit us on the web at: www.herefordamerica.com
Vol. 21, No. 7
Published by: Hereford America, Inc. • 13823 Beaver Creek Place • Reva, SD 57651
Editorial Comments... Jill Bayers Hotchkiss It’s been a sad summer for us here at Hereford America. My dad, Byron Bayers, passed away on July 15 as the Jill Hotchkiss result of complications after a fall sorting cattle on the family ranch. He remained active on the ranch for all of his 88 years. His final week of life began with a celebration of our family’s 100 years in the Hereford business. It was a fabulous party and celebration held on July 7th. We had at least 90 family members there and many friends from the community and several Hereford breeders from other states. Dad enjoyed the day immensely as he was able to tell stories about his life, visit with friends and family and celebrate the rich Hereford history as well as his life. My brother Rich and sister Kathy helped moderate the event and my nephew Britt and I ran a slide show of historical photos. It was almost like a living memorial now that we look back on it. The Hamilton Ranch, who now owns and has fully restored the old round barn we raised cattle in for over 70 years, allowed us to use the beautiful venue for our celebration. We thank them for all of the help and generosity they offered before, during and after the event and after dad’s passing. Dad had an incredible passion for Hereford cattle which was matched only by equal interest in sports and flying. He excelled at all of these and enjoyed them until the end. (continued on page 4)
Serving Commercial Cattlemen & Registered Hereford Breeders
September 2018
Byron Bayers, 1930-2018
Remembering Hereford America’s Patriarch Byron Bayers was born in 1930 in Lieutenant, helping run the base on the the recipient of the Canadian Hereford Dillon, MT to Art and Elizabeth Bayers. Canadian border. He was very patriotic Ambassador Award. He had 5 older sisters, Helen, Jeanne, and proud of his service. Many annual cattle auctions were held Beach, Bertha and Wanda. He passed away peacefully on July 15, 2018, at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Clinic (EIRMC) in Idaho Falls, where he was in ICU following complications from a fall at the family ranch in Twin Bridges, MT. He moved with the family to the current ranch site near Twin Bridges in the 1930s. There he attended school where he excelled in academics and sports, where he was a standout in track, basketball and football. Byron was also involved Byron Bayers with family members at the Bayers Hereford Ranch at an early age with 100th Anniversary Ranch party. Photo by Jody Sandru his parents’ purebred Hereford ranch, showing, fitting and After his Air Force service they retraveling with the show cattle all over turned to Twin Bridges and back to the the western United States. ranch until his father’s death in 1960. After high school he attended the He then continued to run the ranch University of Montana in Missoula. until his recent passing. He and Pauline There he received a degree in business raised 3 children, Rich, Kathy and Jill and competed in track and football until on the ranch. ROTC duties demanded more of his His love for Herefords was unsurtime. While there, he married his high passed. He served on the American Byron Bayers at his final party. school sweetheart, Pauline Oberg of Hereford Association (AHA) Board in Photo by Judy Paige Twin Bridges. He and Pauline were mar- the 1970s and was elected President in ried for 62 years before her passing in 1976. In 2017 he was inducted into the in the Old Round Barn located on the 2015. Following college Byron entered AHA Hall of Fame. He attended World Bayers Ranch where their cattle set sevthe Air Force during the Korean Con- Hereford Conferences in Canada and eral price records in Montana. During flict. His original military orders were Uruguay and went to Hungary to act these years, the Bayers Hereford Ranch to Korea, but later changed to a radar as an AHA consultant to that country sold cattle and genetic material into 38 base in Yaak, MT. There he served as a in selecting Herefords. In 2009 he was states and 3 foreign countries. He also judged some of the major cattle shows across the country. In 1997, he along with wife Pauline and daughter and son-in-law Jill and Marc Hotchkiss, started the publication Hereford America which is widely read nationwide and in seven countries He also became a private pilot after being passed over in the Air Force due (continued on page 3)