Hereford Women of Nebraska
Hereford Women of Nebraska Inaugural Executive Committee — Front (left to right): Jill McMahon, Vice President; Kay Morgan, President; Trudy Nolles, Secretary; Marsha Huwaldt, Treasurer; Back (left to right): Directors — Maureen Moeller, Jessye Goertz, Linda Bolte, Karla Person, Linda McKay and Angie Huwaldt. Not pictured are Linda Lewis and Serena Boner.
Hereford Women of Nebraska is a new organization that the Nebraska Pollette’s and the Nebraska Hereford Women came together to form on November 19, 2011. The ladies are excited about the potential of this organization and look forward to working with many enthusiastic Hereford breeders. They would also like to extend an invitation to all- to the 2012 Jr. National Hereford Expo to be held July 2nd- 8th in Grand Island, Nebraska.
2012 Royalty
(left to right) 2011 Nebraska Hereford Queen Atayla Witthuhn, 2012 Nebraska Hereford Queen, Princess Katie Nolles.
2011 Breeder of the Year — Stillwater One
2011 Breeder of the Year — Stillwater One, Joe & Frances Brockman, Lawrence, NE
Many registered breeders start out with purebred cattle and then learn about the cattle business. It has been my observation that some of the most successful purebred breeders start out first with commercial cattle and then switch, breeding the kind of registered cattle that made money for them as commercial producers. Such is the case with this year’s NHA Breeder of the Year, Joe Brockman, Stillwater One Polled Herefords. Joe’s ancestors farmed and ran cattle near Lawrence since 1879. Hereford cattle walked those pastures as long as there have been Herefords in Nebraska. Before 1977 those were always unregistered but purebred cattle, although Joe’s father and his uncle did raise and sell a few bulls in the thirties and forties. Joe took over the operation in 1973 and soon found he was keeping all the records needed for a registered herd, so he purchased his first registered cattle in 1977.
Although Joe switched from commercial to registered cattle he never forgot the lessons from his father and from the commercial cattle that had been profitable for them. Heifers had to calve as twos, then raise a calf every year and do so with the feed available on their Lawrence farm.
Joe’s foundation stock was purchased from a number of sources. Although they were registered they were expected to produce just as well as the commercials had or they didn’t stay. Today’s Stillwater 1 cow herd is comprised of the get of those cows that were productive under the practical production conditions and that complemented the farming operation. Joe’s operation has always been one of minimal labor inputs, initially with just Joe, and later with partner (and wife) Frances who joined the operation in 1994. Cattle that thrived under those conditions were multiplied and make up the current herd of about 75 cows. In Joe’s words: “We let our Herefords be Herefords. They are run like commercial cattle, supplemented only enough to stay healthy and productive. Our cattle are allowed no excuses. A cow must give us a saleable product each year, either as a calf or herself. Disposition and structural problems are not tolerated and corrected by the slaughter house.” Joe also stresses eye placement and eye and scrotal pigment.
Joe has used many tools for herd improvement. He has used AI extensively for many years, although not always to the betterment of his herd. He has been disappointed in the progeny of some highly promoted bulls he used when this progeny was exposed to the conditions at Stillwater 1. Now AI is used to expand the impact of the best home-owned bulls and a few partnership bulls.
Bulls are sold as two-year-olds at private treaty to many satisfied repeat customers. Most of the heifers are also sold privately, and a few bred heifers have been sold through the Alma sale barn. Stillwater 1 has been a long time consignor to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Classic and the Cornhusker Calf Sale.
With this unwavering, practical approach to the production of profitable cattle for the commercial cattlemen it is no surprise that he enjoys a strong demand from many loyal customers for his Polled Herefords. The Nebraska Hereford Association is pleased to recognize Stillwater 1, Joe and Frances Brockman, as the 2011 Breeder of the Year.
2011 Heritage Breeder — Engelhaupt Herefords
2011 Heritage Breeder — Engelhaupt Herefords, Jack Engelhaupt, Butte, NE
Engelhaupt Herefords, Butte, Nebraska, was founded by Ed Engelhaupt in 1911. This makes the 100th year of continuously raising registered Herefords for this firm. The herd is currently operated by Ed’s grandson Jack and his wife Judy.
In the early years Engelhaupts were regular consignors to a number of consignment sales. They were a mainstay of the old Butte County Hereford Association which had an annual sale at the Butte Sale Barn. They were also long time consignors to regional consignment sales at Niobrara Valley, North Central at Bassett, Springview, and Broken Bow. They also consigned many times to the Nebraska Hereford Association state sale. For a number of years, Engelhaupts held a joint production sale in Atkinson with Harold Melcher. More recently Engelhuapts have sold bulls at the Black hills Stock Show in Rapid City and the Cattleman’s Classic in Kearney. Jack currently markets his cattle as part of the Heartland Herefords Sale.
Over the years Engelhaupt have been very consistent in their program, always producing rugged, high volume rancher cattle. Their bulls had plenty of growth and they were always good doing cattle with depth and capacity.
When some serious health problems made it difficult to properly care for his cattle, Jack sold the majority of his cows in a major private treaty transaction. Since then, the herd size has grown back to a manageable forty cows.
Jack is recognized as an excellent horseman and judges quite a few horse shows. He is also a saddle maker and even maintains a successful saddle shop.
The Nebraska Hereford Association is proud to congratulate and recognize Jack and Judy Engelhaupt, Engelhaupt Herefords, as the 2011 NHA Heritage Breeder.
2011 Young Promoter — Angie Huwaldt
2011 Young Promoter — Angie Huwaldt, Randolph, NE
Angela Huwaldt attended her 1st Junior National in Kansas City at the age of 3. She wasn’t old enough to show cattle, so she brought her string of twine tied in the cattle trailer. She took care of that string for the week, and hauled it back home tied in the cattle trailer next to her sister’s heifers. She had a love of Hereford Cattle from early on.
At the age of seven, she joined as a Junior Hereford Association member and soon after joined 4-H and FFA. Through her many years, she was awarded many showmanship awards at the county & state level, with her highlights of being named Champion Senior Showman Pierce County Fair, Champion intermediate Showman at the Nebraska Junior Hereford Show in Broken Bow and third place 4-jh Market beef Showman at he Nebraska State Fair. While attending Northeast Community College in Norfolk, she was a member of their livestock judging team.
She exhibited the FFA Champion Hereford female at the 2009 Nebraska State Fair, Champion Hereford Steer at the 2010 Cattlemen’s Classic and had the Champion Hereford female in 2010 & 2011 at the Sioux Empire Farm Show in Sioux Falls. She has exhibited at the American Royal and several of the Nation Junior Hereford Expos.
She has served as secretary and director of the Nebraska Junior Hereford Association and the Nebraska Poll-Ettes. Also while serving as director, she was very active on the Strategic planning Committee for the working towards combing the Poll-Ettes and Nebraska Hereford Women into one organization. Her Dad was injured during the peak time of calving season this spring. Angie became the chief herdsman and put up the first and second cutting of alfalfa, she has been doing the AI’ing on the farm the past couple of years, currently using CRR About Time 743, Wide Angle, TCC MR Davidson 81 and Victor 719T. She had her first cow flushed this past summer and received 13 eggs.
When Angie is not busy with her cows or getting calves ready for shows, she is attending college. She will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis on Finance and Agriculture.
Hereford Cattle — raising, showing and talking them is what Angie loves to do.
2011 Commercial Breeder — Rasser Brothers
2011 Commercial Breeder — Rasser Brothers, Red Cloud, NE
Rasser Brothers are a 4th generation farming and ranching operation.
Great Grandfather Gottlieb Rasser along with his two brothers homesteaded in 1870 east of Red Cloud along the Republican River near Elm Creek. They were some of the first settlers in Webster County. Grandfather William Rasser farmed and raised Hereford cattle.
After Gary and Lonny’s father, William Jr. and uncle Gene graduated from school they joined the farming operation. They bred and raised Hereford cattle. In the 1960’s, they bought a few Angus bulls, thus, starting a cross breeding program, with keeping a big part of the herd as Herefords.
Today they run a 300 head cow/calf operation. Both Hereford and Angus herds are maintained with crossing between the two. Their veterinary states that they have one of the most disciplined crossbreeding programs in his practice area. The calves are weaned and grown to around the first of the year before selling. They save all their own replacement heifers. The Rassers realize that our cross breeding program is more important than ever. However, they still keep part of the herd as Herefords. Some of the Hereford cows are bred to Hereford bulls. We think it is important to keep the Hereford heritage going.
We are honored to present the 2011 Nebraska Hereford Association Commercial Breeder Award to Gary and Lonny Rasser, Rasser Brothers.