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[ May/June/July 2007 ]

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MAINE ACES

Talented poker players know that the way to win is to keep an ace in the hole. Every organization sees change as new challenges arise in the industry. A younger generation of Maine-Anjou breeders have chosen to ante up and stake their future on Maine-Anjou cattle. Most have family ties to the breed, with memories of showing Maine-Anjou cattle as a youngster. They are involved in leadership roles within the breed at state and national levels. Most will readily tell you that what they’re doing is not the norm compared to their peers. Thirteen “aces” were selected for this article as representatives from the next generation of Maine-Anjou breeders. While they face some of the same challenges, each bring a different hand to the table. We hope you joy our focus on the “Maine Aces,” because they are the future for the Maine-Anjou breed.

Matt Elliott Chester, Oklahoma | Age 29 | Single

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Elliott got an early start in the Maine-Anjou business, as he was born into his family’s operation, 4E Cattle Company. He grew up showing Maines, as well as attending events on a national level. His dad served on the American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) Board of Directors and as president of the association. He attended Conners College and Panhandle State in Oklahoma and then received his degree in agronomy. At Conners, he was a member of the judging team. He then received his master’s degree in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University in 2005. During college he remained active in the family operation and was confident that he wanted to continue to be part of the beef industry. Elliott is a soil conservation technician with the United States Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service in Tologa, Oklahoma. This is an hour and a half from his family’s operation at Burlington. He is very involved in the family’s herd of approximately 25 momma cows and he has put together a small group of cows, about 10 that he owns, under MEF Cattle Company. Their numbers, like many from this part of the country are lower than normal, due to the severity of last year’s drought. They have two different locations that they run cattle on and Elliott is close enough to both locations to have hands-on involvement. “I grew up with Maine cattle playing an important role, not just from a financial standpoint, but raising the cattle, traveling and showing was how our family chose to spend time together. It’s a lifestyle I wanted to continue, and I believe Maine cattle have a lot to offer the industry,” describes Elliott. In 2005, the family bred and exhibited the National Champion Point Show Bull of the Year, 4E Ice Cube. They have always strived to maintain a national presence with their genetics. Elliott sees land and its availability, as well as price, as probably the biggest challenge facing cattlemen of all ages, but particularly his generation. “Land values are escalating rapidly and in addition to land just being far too expensive to justify for cattle, it’s just really hard to even find land that has the grass needed to expand. I am fortunate that my family was already established and had land available, so that I could come back into the family operation. I think this is going to continue to be the most limiting factor for agriculture as a whole,” he says. Elliott is a member of the AMAA Board of Directors, and is involved in the planning of the 2007 National Junior Show, which will be held in Oklahoma. He sees a solid future ahead for the Maine breed and plans to be a part of it.

Randy and Pearlann Pohlman Delphos, Ohio | Ages 31 and 27 | Married with two sons, Austin 4 and Aiden 2

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The Pohlmans met at the Ohio State FFA Convention and were married in 2001. They operate their registered Maine-Anjou program in the northwest part of Ohio. In addition they own and operate three hog finishing houses. Today their herd runs approximately 140 momma cows, which is about half registered Maines and MaineTainers and half registered Angus. They plan to incorporate Simmental into the mix very soon for SimAngus and Maine- SimAngus. Randy was raised on a small family farm with no cows. He graduated from Bluffton University in Ohio in 1998 with a degree in economics and business administration. He had put together some commercial cows on his own and then with the help of his grandfather added some Maine influenced cows. Pearlann also grew up on a small family farm with primarily Angus cows. She and her sister both showed registered Angus. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in animal science and today handles all the promotion, registrations, accounting and paperwork for the operation. “We operate on my family’s land, but we have built our cattle program ourselves. We have also built the facilities we needed for both the cattle and hog finishing operation. Pearlann and I purchased a small group of a heifers and a Maine bull once we were married and our herd has grown from that base, plus I had purchased a small group of registered Maines from the Harding dispersal in 1998. We also have purchased some Angus donors to utilize in our MaineTainer segment,” he explains. They started hosting their own fall female sale, two years ago, which includes bred females as well as show prospects. Their bulls are sold through sales sponsored by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio Beef Expo. They also have developed a sizeable local freezer beef market in their local area. Randy cites maintaining finances to operate as one of the biggest challenges they face along with being able to stay ahead of changing technology. This year they incorporated sexed semen and sexed embryos in order to maximize their resources and utilize technology.    “Some matings just lend themselves to a better market for a certain sex,” he says. Another area Randy struggles with is time management. “I would say this is one my biggest weaknesses. It’s hard to get everything done and spend time with my family. It’s very hard to find employees that will stay. Ideally you would like to find that one employee who loves this as much as you and would help you grow it. We have found that part-time employees often end up costing us in the long run, “ he says. Randy is confident that the Maine-Anjou breed will be part of their operation, as well as that of the entire beef industry in the future. He says their eye appeal, docility, showring presence and the economic traits they bring to the commercial segment are significant factors. Randy has been drawn to the cattle business since he was a teenager and doesn’t see himself, leaving the place for a job anywhere else. “I think it’s the only thing I will ever be doing. Cattle breeding is an art. My customers’ successes are my ultimate measure of success. If I am satisfying them, then I’ve accomplished something,” he concludes.

Chris Swanson Peterson, Iowa | Age 38 | Married-wife Lisa; 4 children-Brandon, Allie, Collin & Cal

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The Swanson operation is truly a family affair, with Swanson’s parents and his sister, Pam and her husband, Tom. They run about 450 head of momma cows and farm 6,000 acres, with 95% percent corn. “My mom and dad always had commercial cows, and we incorporated registered Maines into the mix about 1988. Our cowherd is still largely commercial based and structured to produce club calves. We don’t have a lot of Maines, but feel the ones we have are high in quality,” he explains adding that they also own some registered Maines in partnership, which helps from an income standpoint.   In the beginning of their operation, they showed a lot, but they have cut back on this aspect. He feels it really helped to establish their Maine program in the beginning and continues to bring traffic to the farm. They continue to show in the yards at Denver and at the Iowa State Fair and Iowa Beef Expo. The Swanson kids have also been participants in the American Junior Maine-Anjou Association (AJMAA) National Junior Show and Swanson has served on the Iowa Maine-Anjou Association Board of Directors.   They sell 80- 00 females annually in the fall through a private treaty sale and their bulls are marketed at Denver, the Iowa Beef Expo and by private treaty. “It takes time to build a program and the key to being successful is to get good cattle out to your customers and keep raising good cattle,” he stresses. He thinks Maines have a bright future and feels great strides have been made in the last six to eight years to improve the product to the commercial segment. Swanson doesn’t remember ever considering leaving the family farm. He did a attend a local college for a while, but has always known this was his calling. He says he feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to join his parents and that with today’s land prices and other factors it would be hard to get established. “I think a young person can still enter the cattle business and even the farming on their own, but it’s going to take a lot of creativity. They need to have diverse sources of income to do it. I think my kids will stay involved in agriculture in some way, whether or not it’s production agriculture, I don’t know. It’s a great way of life, but it’s not easy,” he comments. Swanson describes financing and the continued escalating prices of inputs as their biggest challenges. “The row cropping end of our business has been tough for the last three to four years, but cattle prices have been strong. The weather is a constant factor and in our business that directly affects our production and our income. This winter has been really hard. Here we are in mid April and we’ve got nine inches of snow on the ground and another storm in the forecast. Input costs go up almost daily, which makes it hard to budget. We now have high priced corn, which is good, but on the flip side our feed costs have increased dramatically. It’s a constant battle,” he describes. Both Lisa and Pam are school teachers, and the entire family is involved in the day to day operations. They have no outside help on a permanent basis. “It’s putting years on us to do all this, but it’s hard to find help. You can find help that will go on the road, help you clip and show, but no one wants to stay home and do the work. This is one of the areas we contend with constantly and it only gets more difficult to find good help that you can trust,” says Swanson. He adds that they have a strong family bond and they know each other’s capabilities and limits. They also have established areas as Tom spends the majority of his time with the cattle, Swanson’s dad oversees the farming and Swanson floats between the two, depending on the season.

Landon Nagel Springfield, South Dakota | Age 21 | Engaged [  BACK TO TOP ]

Nagel says that he has noticed the family operation doesn’t have any bull customers his age. He also says that when he goes to most cattle and cattle related events, there just aren’t a lot of people involved who are his age. Nagel, who is a fourth generation rancher, is defying the experts and the odds by choosing production agriculture to stake his future. He is quick to point out that he is fortunate that he has a family operation as his foundation. He can readily see why some of his peers would be reluctant to do what he is doing, much less try to start on their own. “I know people who have family operations they could return to, but they are choosing not to. There’s more money elsewhere, less physical labor required and not necessarily a 24/7 commitment in other careers.  Landon & Kelsey Farming and ranching are not predictable. Mother Nature can change everything and we operate in a climate where we don’t control markets,” he says. Nagel has always thought this is where he would be and went to South Dakota State University for five semesters with the goal of coming home. “I knew I had the option to be part of this. My family had always said there could be a place for me, if this was where I wanted to be. I’m grateful as it would be difficult to start on my own and I would have to start so much smaller and build for a number of years. Our program is established and that gives me even more opportunities,” he stresses. He was born into the Maine business, as his parents, Blane and Cindy, as well as grandparents run about 250 registered Maine and MaineTainer cattle. In addition, Cindy owns and operates her own ultrasounding business. He participated in junior Maine-Anjou events as a youngster, including the AJMAA National Show. They have an annual bull sale in February and have marketed their females, primarily by private treaty. Last fall, they held their first annual club calf sale in the fall, which was Nagel’s idea and he was given ownership of its success or failure from the beginning. “Our full time employee quit and that’s when I decided to leave school and come home earlier than planned. Dad and I sat down and talked about how I would fit in, the responsibilities I could have and how we could make this work. We talk about everything and I’m trying to learn as much as possible about every facet of the program. Dad has been great. I had the idea for the club calf sale and they let me run with it. It was good, we averaged right at $2,500 on 21 calves, and I’m full steam ahead for the next one,” he explains. Nagel has already learned that the keeping their bull customers satisfied is paramount to survival and notes this is one of their biggest challenges. “Cattle, as well as the whole industry are always changing and you have to be ready to meet those needs. We have added some Angus into our herd for genetics, so that we can provide our bull buyers with Angus and MaineTainer bulls. I think the future for Maines is very exciting as the addition of the MaineTainer cattle provides a bigger audience and more options,” he says. Chesney, Cheylee, Shayna, Landon, Blane, Shalayne & Cindy Nagel   Mark Beauprez Byers, Colorado | Age 44 | Married, wife, Lisa, 2 children Nicholas & Megan [  BACK TO TOP ] Beauprez is currently serving his first term on the AMAA Board of Directors. While he laughs that he doesn’t necessarily view himself as part of the younger generation, he does acknowledge the reality that in the cattle business, he is. Like many in the business today, Beauprez’s first exposure to the breed came from showing steers as a youngster, as he grew up with crossbred cattle. He met Larry Handy, a Colorado Maine-Anjou breeder and was convinced of the breed’s merits. He and his dad purchased some of the first black and white Maine- Anjou heifers in the country, as well as some red and white fullbloods about 1978. Beauprez would start attending shows across the nation, and began making select purchases, including some Canadian genetics. He has never second guessed his decision to raise Maine-Anjou cattle. Today, he and his wife, own and manage the cattle, which includes 200 females, of which about 70 are purebred Maine-Anjou. The majority are 1/2 Maine-Anjou x 1/2 commercial Angus base for club calves, as well as MaineTainers. They farm over 800 acres of corn, 260 acres of irrigated alfalfa and some dryland wheat. Their land joins Lisa’s family operation and is located about 70 miles east of Denver. The majority of their calves are marketed commercially and those are all sired by Maine-Anjou bulls. They feed the calves till they reach about 900 lb. and then market by video most years, depending on current market prices. They also have developed a show heifer and steer market. He will soon have 30 years invested in the breed and he is very familiar with old and new pedigrees in the breed. He sees many, many more promising years ahead for Maine- Anjou.   “I think the breed is poised for expansion. The genetic disorder problem has been a setback, but I believe as a breed we have that behind us. I think we will see demand increase as the cattle work in a commercial environment. There’s no doubt they have unlimited popularity for the showring,” he describes. Beauprez spends the majority of his time with his cattle and crops, but also serves as the local high school wrestling coach. “During wrestling season, which is November to February, I’m at the school three hours a day and night a week. Then almost every Saturday is spent at a tournament. I wrestled in high school and made it to state a couple of times and now my son wrestles. I just enjoy working with the kids,” he remarks. Beauprez says that land prices are extremely high in their area and with their close proximity to Denver, they have no real way to expand, even if they wanted to in terms of land. He also cites the grain markets and the fact that he has no control over the price received for his product as ongoing challenges. In addition, weather is always a factor as they farm in a relatively dry area and this winter has been extremely challenging. “I have no regrets about my choice to be involved in production agriculture. It teaches us a lot about life, it’s a great way to raise my kids and I love the cattle,” he summarizes. BOE Pebbles 911R    Bred by Beauprez    Winning Beauprez Maine heifer for Kirbe Schnoor        Kyle Walter Elk City, Oklahoma | Age 36 | Married, wife, Kristin, 2 daughters, Kyla & Kamdyn [  BACK TO TOP ] Walter also gained his first exposure to the Maine-Anjou breed by showing. He represents the third generation of his family to raise cattle, as his grandfather and father both were involved in the Hereford breed. Growing up in western Oklahoma, Walter showed a lot of Chianina based cattle, before switching to Maine-Anjou in the early 90’s. Once he began showing Maine-Anjou, the females were retained in the herd, and over time they became the registered breed of choice. Today, Walter and his parents run about 125 mother cows including some MaineTainers, Angus and SimAngus. They also flush selected donors and maintain a quality herd of recips. The majority of the cattle are owned in the family partnership, although some belong to just Walter. In addition, Walter’s sister, Megan, and her husband and three sons, live on the family operation and are involved around their full time jobs. The program gained national prominence in 1997 with a National Champion Female to their credit. This female is central to the program today and one of her granddaughters won big this past year on the Texas junior circuit, including championships at San Antonio and Houston. They breed a large portion of their cattle to produce show heifers and this has developed into a strong market for them. They have built a good bull market in their area and across the state, as well. They market largely through private treaty sales and consign to some select sales throughout the year. They are focusing their breeding program towards efficiency to offset the ever increasing input costs. Walter also emphasizes strong maternal traits. “I was blessed to have a family business to come back to, as many of my college friends, did not have that opportunity and would have liked to have had it. I graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1993 with a degree in animal science with a business option. We established roles and responsibility up front when I came home, and we talk about all aspects. I handle most of the breeding decisions and I really enjoy that,” describes Walter. He finds it challenging as a small breeding program to compete sometimes with larger outfits, which have access to more capital or have outside funding, but he is pleased with the niche they have carved out for their program and the loyal and satisfied customer base they have established. Plus land is at a premium in their area, and he acknowledges there is no real room for expansion. “I have never regretted my decision to make this my lifelong occupation and I believe in the Maine-Anjou breed. I’m banking my future on it,” he concludes. Walter is active in the Oklahoma Maine-Anjou Association and is looking forward to the state hosting the national junior show this summer. National Female Champion Marty Van Vliet Pella, Iowa | Age 43 | Married, wife, Teresa, twins, Cade & Chloe [  BACK TO TOP ] Van Vliet, like his good friend Beauprez, laughed when he found out he was categorized as young for this article. In addition to his “youth”, he brings almost 30 years of experience and involvement in the breed to this current position on the AMAA Board of Directors. Van Vliet was largely influenced by two Maine-Anjou breeders in his hometown - Sid DeHaan and Jerry Bogaards. Van Vliet started showing Maine-Anjou that he purchased from them in high school and what started as a project has become a career. He attended college for about a year and a half, then spent about four years in Canada, working for Cormie Ranch. He returned home to join his dad in farming and building a registered herd of Maine-Anjou under the name of Blueprint Cattle Company. In the early years of the operation, Beth DeJong was a partner in Blueprint also. Today Van Vliet mostly handles the operation on his own and runs about 80 momma cows. These are all registered or Maine-influenced, including MaineTainers. He also farms about 1,900 acres. “I always thought I would stay here and take over the farming and I have. The cattle portion is something that I’ve basically added to the family operation. Dad was integral in the beginning, but I learned a lot of it on my own and through trial and error. I’ve never had a job, where I punched a clock — agriculture has no clock and that is all I have ever done,” he says. Blueprint shows cattle at the Iowa State Fair, as well as promotes their bulls at Denver and the Iowa Beef Expo. Van Vliet took the time early on to build a program that would produce cattle that would attract customers and work for them. They market their females in their Focus on the Female Sale, held in December annually. They start marketing their bulls in Denver and the majority are moved by private treaty. In today’s economy, the statistical experts throw out a figure of five to seven years for the average life of a purebred breeder. Van Vliet blew by that number many years ago and is often reminded of it when he attends cattle events in general and Maine-Anjou events, specifically. “When I attended my first AMAA Board of Directors meeting, it really hit me how long Mark (Beauprez) and I had been in the business, but yet we are youngsters in terms of age. I think it is extremely difficult for young people to get started in agriculture in terms of capital and land. Then you can factor in the long hours, the uncertainty of when and how much your paycheck will be and Mother Nature. I know I still struggle with knowing when I’ll get my next check and its amount,” he explains. But on the other hand, he wouldn’t trade his hours or his responsibilities. He and Beauprez met in Denver in the early days, and today they are lifelong friends, and own some cattle together, take their family vacations together and serve on the AMAA Board. “If I were to give any advice to new breeders it would be to go slow, learn as you go. It takes a lot of experience to know what you can do and what you can not do. A lot of people jump in the business and flash, they’re gone. This is not an overnight success type of business, it has to be cultivated and you have to love it,” he summarizes. Jeff Bogaards Pella, Iowa | Age 36 | Married, wife, Mary, 2 children, Paighton & Ethan [  BACK TO TOP ] You could easily say that Jeff Bogaards and the Maine- Anjou breed have grown up together. His family was one of the first to incorporate the breed into their cattle operation in the 70’s and he continues the operation, started by his dad, Jerry. The name, JB Ranch, was coined by Jerry as the entire family had first names starting with the letter “J” and the program continues under that name. “We had the bull, Streamliner in 1979, who was the National Champion and was undefeated. He put our program on the map and did a lot for our genetic base,” recalls Bogaards. The program today includes 150 momma cows, of which about a third are registered Maine-Anjou and the rest MaineTainers and Angus based cows. “I think there are two main reasons, why I have continued to raise Maines and that would be the quality of the people involved and the cattle themselves,” he says adding that he selects for strong maternal lines and easy-doing cattle. He has a partner on some of the cattle and he also runs cattle for a local vet at their operation. In addition, he is an area manager for Vigortone Ag Products. His territory includes, southeast Iowa, western Illinois, and north Missouri. “My partner, myself and the vet share the workload and somehow we manage. But it’s a nightmare trying to be here for calving and breeding, do my job and spend time with my family. The cattle are important to me and in my blood, “ he stresses. Bogaards, who has a degree in communications, with a business management minor, thinks a lot of their success and longevity in the breed has come from his operating premise of selling functional cattle for solid prices, rather than just a few head for a lot of dollars. “We sell cattle for real money and we have a loyal customer base, because we don’t make any promises we can’t keep,” he stresses. They market their cattle by private treaty for the most part and do consign to sales in Denver and at the Iowa Beef Expo. A majority of their production is designed for the club calf business and he enjoys working with their young customers. “When you weigh your costs and your time in this business, it doesn’t pencil out. I think we raise cattle because we love it, not because we want to get rich. It’s becoming harder and harder to justify. Land is just one example. We can’t compete for land with developers and that is what is happening here,” he remarks. Bogaards thinks the breed has many attributes that will carry it strongly into the future. “The genetic disorder problems have hit us hard, personally and has been a setback for the breed. But I think the AMAA Board has been very aggressive to stop any calves that are carriers from being marketed and it’s going to be up to individual breeders to be honest and not use carriers. We will not breed to anything that is positive here, and we are going to test all our calves to assure our customers that we are doing everything possible to make our product the best it can be,” he emphasizes. When the breed first made its entrance into the U.S., he was just a kid, but like his dad, who saw its potential then, he sees it now and sees it for the future. Jerry Bogaards with Streamliner, 1979 undefeated National Champion — the bull that started it all at JB Ranch Charles Hill Tupelo, Oklahoma | Age 36 | Married, wife Shannon, 2 Children, Tyler & Bentley [  BACK TO TOP ] Hill is a newcomer to the breed, but has spent all his life around cattle. His parents and grandparents operated a commercial cow operation as he was growing up, and became registered breeders because of his show interest. “In 1985, my parents bought me a Limousin heifer to show and then we developed a purebred herd from that,” he recalls. In 1999, Hill returned to his family ranch where he orchestrated the sale of the Limousin cattle in 2000. After much research on breeds, they began building their Maine-Anjou program.With his parents having to work at jobs off the ranch, building and managing the ranch has been his responsibility. Hill graduated from high school in 1989. He spent two and a half years at Oklahoma State University (OSU). He left OSU to spend a few years working for some of the premier Limousin outfits in the country learning from some of the top seedstock producers. “I worked for John Sullivan in Iowa and I really learned a lot about all the little things that make a seedstock operation successful. I also spent time at Express Ranches and then would manage Deer Creek Limousin in Edmond, Okla. Our veternarian, Dr. Larry Thompson, who is also our embryologist, has worked with and taught me a great deal about health, fertility and genetic soundness in cattle. These were all very good experiences for me,” he comments. Initial purchases were made from Jirl Buck, followed by the purchase of the Nebraska-based Mellor Maine herd. The herd now consists of 400+ mother cows that include, Maine-Anjou females, Angus for the MaineTainer program and Charolais females that are bred with Maine-Anjou. Hill has been in the building phase and has been retaining large numbers of females. He recently held his first private treaty female sale in March, which was a great success. A second female sale is in the planning stages for this fall. He has been selling bulls through select sales and by private treaty. He was preparing for an April bull sale at the time of this interview. Hill has been selling his bulls in conjunction with an area sale barn, which holds special cattle sales, quarterly. Hill has been participating in the special sale for about two years. This will be his first time to headline the sale. His offering will have included 50+ Maine-Anjou and Charolais bulls. He likes being a part of this sale, as he is able to build his customer base and it keeps him tied with the commercial market. In addition, he has worked to develop a junior show clientele and attends a number of junior shows in Oklahoma to support his customers. Hill likes to think of his operation as family oriented. He runs it with his parents, wife and other family members. He considers his family values a very important asset to the ranch. When you ask Hill what kind of problems he faces managing a cattle operation, he is quick to answer. He sees rising feed and energy costs as continued management challenges within his operation. He obviously sees a strong future for the Maine-Anjou breed.   HAA Crossroads 511S —   owned with Hartman &  Associates, Tecumseh, Neb. Kendall Bremer Blakesburg, Iowa | Age 25 | Single [  BACK TO TOP ] Bremer was born into Maine-Anjou and is committed to spending his life with this breed. His parents, Kenny and Audrey, were some of the early Maine-Anjou breeders and Bremer grew up showing Maine-Anjou, attending the National Junior Show as well as Iowa Maine-Anjou Junior Shows. He served on the AJMAA Board and the Iowa Junior Board for four years. He also held offices with both organizations. He attended Blackhawk East College for two years and finished at Iowa State University, graduating with a degree in agricultural economics. He then returned home to build his future in the breed. Today their breeding program includes 120 mother cows, which are predominantly Maine-Anjou, with some MaineTainers and Angus cows. Bremer has 20 cows of his own, including two donors that he owns with a partner. One of his primary responsibilities is the marketing and customer service aspects of their junior show heifer customers. “I like show heifers. I like to sell to kids, help them learn how to show and I like to be there to watch them show,” he says. One of the new ideas he has brought to the operation is a fall sale featuring 50 head of show heifer prospects and 50 head of bred heifers. He calls the sale, “Girls Gone Wild”, and it has been a successful event for all. It has created a lot of interest and generated income for the family operation and a number of calves have gone on to be champions for their young customers. “I think the showring appeal is one of the strong points of the breed. Plus, in my mind, there is no other extracurricular activity that affords the leadership, responsibility and work ethic as the daily care of show cattle teaches young people. In addition, I know from my own experiences that it is also something to be shared as a family. It takes parents and kids working together every step of the way,” remarks Bremer. He is quick to note that it would have been hard to start on his own, even with an economics degree. “It’s hard to build equity without getting in over your head and land prices are making it almost impossible to start from ground zero. I’m grateful to be involved in the family farm operation and share some resources that make it possible for me to get started in the cattle business,” he says. Bremer is also serving on the Iowa Maine-Anjou Association Board of Directors, where he is looking forward to serving and promoting the breed. Clean Jeans 94S - 2006 All American Bull   Megan Lee DeQueen, Arkansas | Age 21 | Single [  BACK TO TOP ] Lee, who is junior agribusiness major at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Ark., developed a love for the Maine- njou breed largely through the National Junior Show. Now she is planning a career that will include continued involvement in the family owned cattle. “I’ve been attending junior nationals since 1990 and this year will be my last. I love junior nationals and I think that event, as well as the superiority of the cattle convinced me and my family to become Maine-Anjou breeders." Lee’s family had registered Angus, largely because that was the breed her mom showed as a child. She and her brother were showing Angus, but purchased Maine-Anjou heifers to attend the National Junior Show in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1990. They fell in love with the breed and found the breeders and exhibitors to be very supportive and encouraging. They loved the family atmosphere at the events. Today the family herd includes 50 females of both high and low percentages Maine-Anjou and they still have some Angus. They utilize AI in their breeding program and sell their cattle by private treaty. “We have developed a strong local market for our bulls, as there are not a lot of Maine genetics in our part of the country.” Lee is quick to note that she admires the milking ability, bone, and the thickness of Maine-Anjou, as well as the showring presence. Lee’s brother is also still involved in the operation and works full-time as a sales representative for a farm equipment company. Her parents are both school teachers. Lee plans to find a career in agriculture and she hopes that it will be close to the family farm, so that she can continue to be involved. “I think it would be very difficult to start up on my own and I’m very grateful to my family for the opportunity they are offering my brother and I. I plan to become a very active adult breeder, since my days as a junior member are limited. I am currently serving on the AJMAA Board and hope to stay involved at that level in the future,” she says.  Grand Champion Bred & Owned Bull 2005 National Junior Maine-Anjou Show Heath and Hardy O’Hara Ft. Benton, Montana Hardy | Age 21 | Married, wife Cali, son, Trevor Heath | Age 32 | Single [  BACK TO TOP ] Over the years, they’ve become known as “The O’Hara Boys” and now they are all grown up and in full partnership with their parents in their family cattle and wheat operation in north central Montana. “I guess Dad has been using Maine genetics for almost 35 years. He had an Angus based cowherd and used a couple of different breeds on them, before settling with Maine-Anjou bulls. The performance and do-ability of those calves led him to develop a registered herd along with the commercial base,” explains Hardy. They have about 225 females in production, largely MaineTainers, but also registered Maine-Anjou and some registered and commercial Angus cows. In addition, they farm winter wheat. Due to the low moisture levels in this part of the country, the wheat crop is only planted on half the ground each year and rotated. The blocks of ground that are not planted are sprayed to keep any vegetation from growing, so that no moisture is removed. The wheat is planted in September and then harvested in mid-July. “When we go to farming, the cattle have to be second, as it’s critical that we get the crop in and tend to it. Harvest lasts about two weeks and we are totally focused on it during that time,” he adds. Their registered cattle are marketed by private treaty and the commercial calves are sold as feeders. They have developed bull customers in Montana, Oregon and Washington. “This country is straightbred Angus country and we have to work at still breaking that barrier. But once we get ranchers to see the bulls, see their calves, we make progress. We think that the future is unlimited here for the breed. People are beginning to realize they have to have heterosis. We are primed for that with black polled bulls,” he says adding that they have to keep on educating people that Maines are not the same cattle they were 30 years ago, even though that perception still exists. Both boys have degrees in business administration and returned to the farm after graduation. “In 2001, dad and mom offered Heath and I an opportunity to be partners in the farm. It has worked out great. We realized that to make this work the partnership would have to be first when it came to decisions, rather than the individual. We work together every day and we are one for all and all for one here,” describes Hardy, who adds jokingly and seriously that family gets more upset with each other than they would others, but also forgive quicker and deeper. He goes on to say that they would not want to be anywhere else, as they both wanted this type of lifestyle. They acknowledge a lot of their peers are not returning to the farm and that the number of family farms are diminishing in their area. “Farming is getting bigger and bigger. Lots of smaller places are being purchased and made into big operations, as this is supposed to be more efficient and it is decreasing the number of jobs available. This aspect, plus it’s just hard for a young person to have the capital or the borrowing power it takes today to start even a small operation. We are fortunate to have the family’s place and we are grateful for the opportunity,” he concludes. Troy Jones Harrod, Ohio | Age 27 | Married, wife, Sara and daughter, Delaney [  BACK TO TOP ] Troy Jones would not know what a day without cattle would be like, and he really has no interest in knowing. He grew up with cattle, as his parents raised registered Angus, in addition to owning an excavation business. He showed Angus growing up and in the late 1990’s, he became involved with Maine-Anjou cattle. “I competed at the National Junior Angus and Maine shows and I committed myself in high school to staying at home and raising cattle. It’s what I enjoy doing,” comments Jones. Today he and his parents have about 180 cows on the place, which includes Angus and Maine-Anjou, as well as MaineTainers. Many of these are recips, as they have acquired a select group of females they flush. They market their cattle in their production sale, High Standards Female Sale, which is the first week of November and consign to three or four select sales throughout the year, including the Ohio Beef Expo. They also have been successful in the show ring, with champions all the major arenas across the country. They sell the majority of their bulls by private treaty. “Our bull customers are all older and that’s been one thing I have had to learn is how to visit with them about the bulls with the age gap. At most events, I am about the only one in their 20’s, who’s there because this is their job. I realize there are very few people in their 20’s and 30’s involved full-time in cattle, like myself. I understand the challenges — capital, long hours, no set income and land. Our operation is as big as it can get with the current local land prices. It’s not easy to do this and I was fortunate to have a family farm to join,” he explains. In addition to the registered cattle program, they own a 550 head capacity feedlot with a partner. They buy the calves in Alabama and own the cattle till harvest. “The feedlot has its own set of challenges. We try to buy the calves at a price we can make money on when we sell them and afford the costs in between,” he explains adding that part of his time is spent there also. Jones thinks the Maine-Anjou breed will have a place in the industry for a long time. He, like others we have talked to, realizes the seriousness of the genetic disorder carriers and feels the responsibility is up to breeders to handle this problem honestly. As a new dad, he considers time management his biggest struggle right now. “It’s is hard to get home before dark. I continually struggle with this aspect, but I wouldn’t want to be working anywhere else,” he concludes. Reserve Grand Champion Female   2007 National Western Stock Show   Oklahoma Crowns Royalty During the Oklahoma Youth Expo, Oklahoma City, Okla., March 14, 2007, the Oklahoma Maine-Anjou Association recognized their new royalty and scholarship winners. Congraulations to these ladies on their accomplishments! Left to right: April McLane, Anadarko, queen and Holly Heibert, Ringwood, outgoing queen and scholarship winner Left to right: April McLane, Anadarko, queen and Sheyenne McGlothlin, Anadarko, princess.   Left to right: April McLane, Anadarko, queen and Lyndsey Woulfe, Ardmore, princess.

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We Can Compete
by Dave Steen, commercial marketing director

At the time of writing this article, Maine-Anjou sales are winding down and the sales have been extremely good. The acceptance and demand from the commercial sector has been overwhelming as an abundance of new faces have filled the seats to buy Maine-Anjou genetics. I've had the opportunity to visit with many of these producers and ask them about their cow/calf operations. Many of these producers indicated they are looking for more muscle, more performance and cattle that will produce additional value. To quote one producer, "I'm looking for a little more kick in my calves and these Maine-Anjou bulls look like they can provide that kick!" To quote another producer, "I saw some of your feed trial results and it looks like these Maine-Anjou cattle have what I need, the ability to improve my carcass results and add some performance and still keep them black, but I don't want any problems." Industry wide, we often hear feedlot manager's goals of attaining 70-80% Choice cattle, 70% Yield Grade 1's and 2's, 0% out cattle and 65% yields, while converting at a 5.5:1 or less ratio on a dry matter basis and gaining at or near 3.5-4.5 lb. per day. It is no small order to produce cattle that meet all these criteria, let alone keep the maternal side of the equation in check. To achieve these goals, industry experts agree that a planned crossbreeding program is necessary. To further substantiate the value of Maine-Anjou genetics, continued efforts are being made to collect carcass and performance data through the AMAA National Feeding Trials and the National Sire Test. Results from four years of trials indicate that Maine-Anjou influenced calves have the ability to grade 60-90% Choice, Yield Grade 1's and 2's in the 50-70 percentile, gains from 3.5-4.5 lb. per day or more and feed conversions from 5.5-6.5 lb. of dry matter feed per pound of gain. Feeding trial harvest data from over 900 head of Maine- Anjou influenced calves consigned from more than 110 producers have proven that Maine-Anjou sired cattle can meet or exceed industry goals.

WE CAN COMPETE!
The Maine-Anjou breed will continue to play a key role in helping producers achieve their goals and position their operations for success in the future. Producers with the proper genetics who will fit the market specs and produce a high quality, consistent product will be able to experience sustained high returns like no other time in the history of the beef industry. I believe in order for a producer to demand a premium, he will have to document his genetics, his management and the past performance of his cattle in the feed yard and on the rail. The good news is if he starts today, a producer can easily position himself to take advantage of the changing marketplace. Source verified genetics will play a major role in the coming years.

To our seedstock producers, communication and staying in touch with your customers are the keys to building a successful program. Cattlemen are for the most part very traditional in their thinking and to make a change in their commercial programs, they need to be comfortable in the decisions they make.

Therefore, as seedstock breeders I encourage you to continue to make available the cutting edge genetics to help your customers reach their goals.

Thank you and please call if I can be of help in any way. Continue to breed with commitment and direction!

Maines on the Move,
Dave Steen

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High Selling Lots
$11,250 — Lot 38 — consigned by Blueprint Cattle Company to Brock May, Mineral Point, Wis.
$10,000 — Lot 25 — consigned by Blueprint Cattle Company to Addy Van Vliet, Pella

Hartman Cattle Company
11th Annual Customer Appreciation Sale
Dec. 10, 2007 — Tecumseh, Neb.
Auctioneer: Steve Dorran, Canada

Black Hills Stock Show
Maine-Anjou Sale
Feb. 2, 2007 — Rapid City, S.D.
Auctioneer: Lynn Weishaar, South Dakota

High selling lots
Bulls
$8,300 — Lot 26 — WEBC Satisfaction 653S, consigned by Weber Show Cattle, Highmore, to Hytrek Ranch, Lusk, Wyo.
$4,500 — Lot 47 — RDDT Hotline 1958R, consigned by Deiter Bros./ Holt Bros., Faulkton, to Kearns Cattle Co., Rushville, Neb.
$4,100 — Lot 22 — DLDJ Scotty S11, consigned by Destiny Livestock, Box Elder,  to Wyn Johnson, Baltic
Females
$3,000 — Lot 21 — JRJV Rachel 02R, consigned by Jensen Reindl Joint Venture, Custer, to Chad Smith, Granada, Minn.
$2,100 — Lot 5 — DLDJ Sabrina S5, consigned by Destiny Livestock, Box Elder, to Holt Bros., Aberdeen

Watertown Winter
Farm Show
Feb. 9, 2007 — Watertown, S.D.
Auctioneer: Chisum Peterson, South Dakota

High selling lots
Bulls
$2,575 — Lot 14 — consigned by Scott Gilbertson, Watertown, to Jeff Christensen
$2,500 — Lot 21 — consigned by Dave Stout, De Smet, to David Oldsen, Wyndmere, N.D.
Females
$2,100 — Lot 4 — consigned by Donnie Begalka, Castlewood, to Melroe Farms, Gwinner, N.D.
$1,900 — consigned by Tom Remmele, Echo, Minn., to Barb Genzlinger, Madison

Green Valley Cattle’s 17th
Annual “A Solid Foundation” Production Sale
Feb. 10, 2007 — O’Neill, Neb.
Auctioneer: Matt Lowery, Nebraska

High selling lots
Bulls
$6,000 — Lot 27 — GVC Bouncer 32P 19S, a 3/4 blood son of GVC Bouncer 32P to Rocking J Ranch, Cody
$5,500 — Lot 57 — GVC Incredabull 96R, a purebred son of GVC Incredabull 51ML to ST Bar Ranch, Niobrara
$4,500 — Lot 38 — GVC Real Man 55S, a 5/8 blood son of DCC The Man  to Scott Patrick, Ericson
$4,250 — Lot 8 — 1/2 semen interest of GVC Special Delivery 42S, a purebred son of GVC Noble Man 11N to DeJong Ranch, Kennebec, S.D.
$3,500 — Lot 20 — GVC First Rate 37S, a 3/4 blood son of GVC Noble Man 11N  to Rocking J Ranch, Cody
$3,500 — Lot 21 — GVC Deep Man 40S, a 3/4 blood son of GVC Noble Man 11N to Schrock Land & Livestock, Elm Creek
Females
$4,000 — Lot 113 — Miss Green Valley 669S, a purebred daughter of FJH All American 501L to Rocking J Ranch, Cody
$4,000 — Lot 152 — Miss Green Valley 128L, a 1/2 blood cow sired by GVC Boulder 760G to Rocking J Ranch, Cody
$3,500 — Lot 122 — GVC Commercial 550 — a purebred Angus bred heifer sired by OCC Legend 616L to Mark Wolfe, Colon
$3,250 — Lot 105 — GVC Miss Juneau 640S, a purebred Angus daughter of BEB Juneau 104 to Marvin & Joan Howard, Homer

Iowa Beef Expo
Feb. 15, 2007 — Des Moines, Iowa
Auctioneer: Steve Dorran, Canada

High selling lots
Bulls
$6,500 — Lot 35 — VL Big Top, MaineTainer bull consigned by Vander Linden Farms, Prairie City, to Lauterbach Farms, Van Meter
$5,000 — Lot 10 — SC Seth, purebred bull consigned by Sharff Cattle, Maynard, to Blake Rau, Aurora
$4,600 — Lot 4 — NBJ Nelson 84S3, purebred bull consigned by Nelson Cattle Company, Denison, to Liberty Rose Maines, Lyle Hoversten, Williams
$4,000 — Lot 9 — NBJ Nelson 84S4, purepred bull consigned by Nelson Cattle Company, Denison, to RB Farms, Ralph Ballanger, Numa
$4,000 — Lot 19 — JB’s Somethun Special, purebred bull consigned by JB Ranch/Lowery Cattle Company, Pella, to Ronald Hoops, Lake City, Minn.
Heifers
$6,000 — Lot 77 — CMAC Sure Thing, 3/4 blood heifer consigned by Core Farms, Pleasantville, to Cole Staudt, Marble Rock
$5,900 — Lot 82 — TDSM Serendipity 617S, MaineTainer heifer consigned by T. DeWitt & Sons Show Cattle, Blakesburg, to Sophie Hansen, Adel