FOCUS on the by B. Lynn Gordon photos courtesy Plasen Red Angus
The passion is contagious at Pladsen Red Angus.
March 2020
A spark of interest from their children has led this family into a new venture of raising registered Red Angus, and they can’t say enough about how happy they are to be in the business. About 8 years ago, oldest son, Chase, asked his parents, Steve and Michele Pladsen, Harpers Ferry, IA if he could purchase a heifer to show. Little did they know that this move would change their lives the way it has and that now they would be focused on marketing top Red Angus genetics from their northeast Iowa farm.
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CHANGES AHEAD In the late 1980s, Steve Pladsen’s father had commercial cattle that they bred to Red Angus bulls. The family was friends with Walter and Nan Larson, Larson Red Angus, Decorah, IA, pioneers in the Red Angus business, who introduced them to Red Angus genetics. The Pladsen’s liked what they saw in disposition and growthy calves. When Chase expressed interest in showing cattle in 4-H, he started out with a commercial heifer. “Once we saw how he just loved the farm and cattle my wife and I decided it was time to get a little more serious about
this for him,” says Steve, and the decision to which breed they would purchase was easy - it would be Red Angus. On their way for a family weekend trip to a UNI football game in Cedar Falls, IA, they decided to stop in to visit Red Angus breeders, Garth and Nancy Griffith. They purchased two open heifers that day, and the following spring, went to the Iowa Beef Expo and bought two more. “Needless to say, we got the fever and started purchasing more Red Angus cattle,” said Michele. The family currently runs a confinement hog operation and
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