Young, established Hereford breeders advanced their industry knowledge and expanded
their networks during the latest Hereford Seedstock Academy.
“This has been absolutely invaluable to me,” says Ben Roudabush, Dvorak Herefords, Mitchell, SD. “The knowledge I’ve gained, the people I’ve met, the networking ability and just the resources I’ve been given—I don’t know of another opportunity like this.”
The eight Academy graduates from six states have much in common. The participants share a passion for the beef cattle business and the Hereford breed along with their longstanding, dedicated involvement. They’re uniquely different, too, from their goals and challenges to why they wanted to attend the Academy.
For some, it was gaining more insight into specific American Hereford Association (AHA) research projects or particular breed selection and marketing tools.
As an example, Lindsey Jacobs is a key part of her family’s Church View Farm, Gambrills, MD. She is also attending Virginia Tech online, earning a master’s degree in agriculture and life sciences with a concentration on food safety.
“The research we are currently working on looks at land use management and how that affects different types of food animals and the overall end product,” Jacobs explained, before the Academy. Learning more about Certified Hereford Beef, its specifications and management helped with her research and extended her knowledge of the beef processing sector.
All came with an eye on learning more about the breed they champion and its role within the commercial cattle business.
“I’ve always thought the industry is very segmented, and we heard that some during the week,” says Amanda Boecker, Bacon Cattle & Sheep, Siloam Springs, AR. “This (Academy) really gives you an opportunity to see what’s going on with the breed. You can go to the Annual Meeting, you can read the Hereford World, but you don’t necessarily get the chance to really get one-on-one time and hear what’s happening with the breed.”
Academy participants were granted an all-access pass to everything AHA, from data collection and genetic evaluation tools to the association’s work across all sectors of the beef industry.
“It’s a way to dive into everything so much more in depth and get a behind-the-scenes look at some things you thought you understood but found out you knew less about than you actually did,” says Mac Stuber, Stuber Ranch, Bowman, ND.
For instance, Roudabush explains, “Just the amount of effort, intensity and thought that has gone into the decades of data collection that’s generated the tangible data and fact-based Hereford data.”
These young breeders saw firsthand how this data was used to create real-world decision-making and selection tools for those using Hereford genetics.
“All of the data being collected and how it’s starting to make its way down the pipeline from the packer to the feeder and from the feeder to the commercial cow-calf operator,” says Matt Stroh, Stroh Hereford Ranch, Killdeer, ND. “I knew some of it was going on, but I didn’t realize to what extent. I mean just the carcass data alone and how through the work at Olsen’s we’re achieving a lot of Prime and a lot of Choice carcasses, and that’s just been really exciting and really fascinating to see.”
Stroh is referring to Olsen Ranches, Harrisburg, NE, the mainstay research herd for AHA’s National Reference Sire Program (NRSP). The Academy class spent a morning viewing the Olsen herd and learning more about how the NRSP helps identify the genetic merit of young sires earlier in their lives. There’s more Hereford data collected at Olsen Ranches than at any other single location in the world.
“They do amazing work out there. As we’ve been told multiple times, there’s no other place in the world like it,” says Nick Delaney, Delaney Herefords, Lake Benton, MN. “We’re just really lucky to have that as a breed, and I, personally, feel very fortunate to be able to really see how our genetics can stack up against the rest of the breed.”
Learning from pros
The Hereford Seedstock Academy is an intensive four-day learning experience carefully designed to provide participants with insights to all industry sectors from thought leaders within each segment. Participants started at the AHA headquarters in Kansas City, MO, and then made stops in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming.
“I believe one of the incredible opportunities for participants in the Academy is meeting leaders from across the beef supply chain,” says Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president. “All of the participants were so engaged and insightful with their questions. I know each of them is taking something home that will help them improve their programs.”
In addition to learning about specific AHA programs and research from AHA staff, Academy students heard from industry experts about a range of topics including: the role of sustainability in U.S. beef production, adding value to Hereford genetics, developing a customer experience, insights into the cattle feeding sector, beef packer value targets and leveraging individual breeder brands with the AHA brand.
“Getting to know my industry peers is vital, but in addition to that, understanding the current events going on in our business and how we should work to address them is another crucial component for young producers like me in our growth within the industry,” says Trevor Johnson, Sleepy Hollow Farm, Centerville, SD.
In addition to Olsen Ranches, stops included: Hen House Local Markets, a premier Certified Hereford Beef retailer; Torrington Livestock Commission in Wyoming and the pioneering AgNext at Colorado State University.
“It’s eye-opening in the way that it gives me a vision of where we need to head as a breed and as a breeder,” says Austin Matheny, Matheny Herefords, Mayslick, KY. “It’s just very helpful and refreshing to see new ideas being brought forth to young breeders.”
Building the leadership chain
The Hereford Seedstock Academy also serves as a key tactic for developing future leaders within the Association, which is a core strategy of the AHA Strategic Plan.
“We’re ensuring strong, consistent leadership for the future by identifying successful, young Hereford breeders and giving them the opportunity to network and engage with various sectors of the supply chain. They also get an in-depth look at AHA research, programs and leadership structure,” Ward explains. “The Hereford breed has a rich heritage and longstanding commitment to the beef industry. Many current and past AHA leaders have also become national industry leaders.”
Each of the Hereford Seedstock Academy graduates walked away with a bounty of ideas and excitement about the future.
“The discussions during the week around just all of the technology coming down the pipeline and the different programs in the industry, whether that’s carbon markets and how to capitalize on them, how to optimize a cow herd or how to optimize our feedyard production,” Johnson says. “I think what intrigues me the most is how to integrate technology to optimize real world practical production. To me, that’s intriguing because I think we can start doing a much better job of meshing our day-to-day operations with data and really take individual operations to the next level.”
Improving their operations and building for the next generation were also goals of those attending the Academy.
“Challenging current thinking is a powerful aspect of the Academy as those in the class learn from each other and from industry leaders,” explains Shane Bedwell, AHA chief operating officer and director of breed improvement. “A common quality among those attending is their willingness to objectively weigh what they’re doing with new information.”
As an example, Delaney says, “Learning about the different ways that you think you have a breeding philosophy and then you come in and learn this information. It can really change things for you. Hearing about breeding for optimums rather than maximums really hit home. And I feel like it can for a lot of breeders.”
The way customer experience and operational sustainability meld together was a key takeaway for Boecker.
“We heard throughout the week about creating a customer experience as a breed—being united in the message and having the same voice,” she says. “I think that ties into the customer experience for our direct customers, but then also overall for all Hereford breeders, having that customer experience.”
The experience also challenged attendees to evaluate how their operations can better serve customers and how the Hereford breed can maintain its growth in serving the U.S. commercial cattle industry.
“I think we need to keep hammering on the F1 baldy,” Stroh says. “Our nation has a predominantly solid-colored cow herd, and from not only what I’ve seen here at the Seedstock Academy, but also what I’m seeing at home looking over the fence. Those F1 baldy calves are healthier and stouter, and they’ve just got all-around more go. When you see the baldy female raising the calf, she’s got a nice solid calf at her side.
“We went through drought in 2021 and a lot of the cows that stuck around through the drought had a white face,” he adds.
Attendees left the Academy with more than they envisioned finding.
“I think this Academy is a great segue from junior involvement to getting our feet in the water with the industry,” Johnson says. “This event has done a terrific job of involving us in every sector of the industry. There’s something here for everyone, and I think it makes us more well-rounded and united as a producer base.” — Wes Ishmael, Hereford World executive editor
