Focus on the Future

FOCUS by B. Lynn Gordon photos courtesy Plasen Red Angus

on the

The passion is contagious at Pladsen Red Angus.

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.

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

FUTURE

the Chevrolet dealership in Waukon, IA. Michele is a teacher at Allamakee Community Schools. Chase is a 2019 graduate from Iowa State University and is back home on the farm, managing the hog operation and day-to-day cattle management. Luke is a senior at Waukon High School and will be attending Iowa State this fall. When son, Luke, then expressed interest as well in showing cattle, the family traveled to Wisconsin and purchased more cattle from Ennis Wallace of Emerald. The cattle were from the Damar and Cloud Nine programs, which are Red Angus herds managed by Wallace. They also headed west to another established program. Pieper Red Angus, Mark and Deb Pieper, in the sandhills of Nebraska, near

THE STOCKMAN | thestockmanmag.com March 2020

2019 Iowa State Fair Champion Red Angus Spring Heifer (Open Show and Junior Show)

_______ “We started spending a lot of time on the road and traveling around the country showing cattle and meeting some very nice people that we are very close with today.” Steve Pladsen, Pladsen Red Angus

2019 Iowa State Fair, Champion Red Angus Fall Heifer and Reserve Bred and Owned in Junior Show

2017 North American, Division Winner – Joplin Heifer

Hay Springs and purchased a group of Fall-bred cows.

The Pladsen family had now developed both a spring and fall calving herd, which would become advantageous as the herds were based on different pedigree backgrounds. “It was almost like we were running two different herds, and we could market cattle from whichever herd best suited our customers. We feel like our customers can now buy a bull from one side of the pedigree and keep heifers out of them and then come back and buy from the other pedigrees.” As the interest continued to grow from their sons in showing and marketing Red Angus cattle, the family soon were traveling to major events. “We started spending a lot of time on the road and traveling around the country showing cattle and meeting some very nice people that we are very close with today.” Pladsens have exhibited at the Iowa State Fair, Iowa Beef Expo, National Western in Denver, North American in Louisville and Sioux Empire Livestock Show in Sioux Falls.

PROGRAM PRIORITIES

The herd has grown to 60 cows and a recently added embryo program, resulting in receiving about 90 calves per year. Four donor cows make up the primary donor program including Bellett X22, Damar Oh Baby W168, Pieper Playmate, and Red Eutopia 42U. These donors are flushed to leading sires such as Silveras Mission Nexus, PIE Cinch, PIE Cowboy Kind, and Red Soo Line Power Eye.

Pladsen Red Angus is very interested in expanding its embryo program. Following which bulls have worked on which cows over the past few years, they are confident they can produce some very high-quality offspring and more numbers with embryo transfer. They have also been working with a couple of neighbors who have offered recipient cows. Although the terrain in northeast Iowa is rugged, it does offer good pastures and land for beef cattle operations, thus the family is confident the expansion of their numbers will still provide a market.

“We knew if we were going to make this a go and make a

above Damar Oh Baby W168, one of the donor females at Pladsen Red Angus.

future for our boys then we needed to establish ourselves with an annual bull sale.” In April 2019, Pladsen Red Angus hosted their first annual sale and April 2020 they will be offering 45 bulls and a dozen open heifers. “Our goal is to someday sell 100 plus bulls,” says Steve. They chose to host the sale in April as most area producers turn their bulls out in June or July. Making the purchase in April versus February means the customers can turn the bull out about 30-60 days after purchase. Located in far northeastern Iowa offers them a unique bull market. Many of the local producers were previously dairy farmers, but as margins in the dairy industry became tight, area farmers sold their dairies, focused on crops and decided to run small commercial beef herds. Herds averaging 20 head of cattle are now seeking bulls, and this has become a great market for Pladsen Red Angus. “Our customers are looking for bulls with excellent disposition, a low birthweight to offer calving ease, yet some growth in the calves and Red Angus genetics is a perfect fit. A live calf is worth everything.” Their program focuses on fulfilling the needs of the commercial cow/calf producer, selling females that are easy to handle, have good mothering ability and __________

_______ “We built it for the kids because now they will have something to take into their future. It has been such a joy watching them grow up and learn how to manage and take care of the cattle.”

Michele Pladsen, Pladsen Red Angus

above Luke Pladsen echoed his brother’s interest in the cattle business at a young age and works along side his family to grow their herd.

above Chase Pladsen is the instigator behind Pladsen Red Angus. His desire for a 4-H heifer snowballed into a career at Pladsen Red Angus.

longevity for their customers. Longevity is also important on the bull side of the equation. They aim to sell bulls that are structurally sound because they want the bulls to last 4-5 years. Selling bulls that are durable and long-lasting will be key to having return bull buyers.

THE NEXT GENERATION

Steve and Michelle look back now and are very glad they gave into their sons when they expressed interest in showing cattle. They recall when the herd started with two cows, reaching milestones such as having their first annual bull sale plus the many great memories from traveling the country watching the boys show. “We built it for the kids because now they will have something to take into their future. It has been such a joy watching our kids grow up and learn how to manage and take care of the cattle,” says Michele. “Having them learn the importance of herd health, feed quality and how to handle livestock - you treat the cattle well they will treat you well,” echoes Steve.

The family cannot say enough about the people who have helped them. It seemed right from when their interest in Red Angus began, when they asked questions about the breed, the industry, etc., neighboring Red Angus breeders were willing to help. “The breeders were very open to teaching us and our kids. They never shut a door on us; in fact, they seemed almost more excited at times about our success than we were,” says Steve. “We wouldn’t be here without their help.”

Although many breeders offered assistance and advice, the Pladsen family says Ennis and Karen Wallace, Walter and Nan Larson, Garth and Nancy Griffith, Mark and Deb Pieper, and Mike and Diana Nolan were very influential in helping them get started and continue to grow.

“It is not easy to get started in the agriculture business, especially for bringing in the next generation. We were fortunate to have other financial elements to help us strive for our vision for our children and many great people who are supporting us along the way,” says Steve and Michele.

learn more facebook.com/pladsenredangus

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