Retallick to Serve AGA Members and Customers

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The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to welcome Kelli Retallick, Manhattan, Kansas as the new Data Services Specialist.

Retallick was born and raised on a purebred beef operation in southwest Wisconsin. She is still active in her family’s own seedstock operation where their main goal is to sell bulls that will produce industry relevant cattle to fit the needs of commercial customers. Growing up in 4-H, FFA and junior beef breed associations allowed Retallick to network with seedstock and commercial producers alike, from around the country pushing her towards a career and a life in the beef industry.

Retallick received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was highly involved in both on and off campus activities from the UW Saddle & Sirloin Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and the National Junior Angus Association’s Board of Directors. Her time served on the board gave her an inside look into the inner workings of a breed association and only further sparked her interest in how a breed association could be used to a producer’s advantage. She is now in the process of receiving a master’s degree in the field of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Kansas State University (K-State).

Most of Retallick’s current research revolves around feed efficiency of growing beef cattle, specifically the optimum test periods to capture gain and intake data. The time at K-State was one of the most eye-opening experiences to date and reaffirmed the belief that she is in the exact field she wants to be involved in.

“One of the most valuable lessons I have learned as a master’s student was not taught from a textbook but rather gained over time and it is the idea that I will never, nor do I want to, stop learning,” Retallick said.

AGA members and customers will benefit from Retallick’s background and education in animal breeding. Retallick will work closely with AGA breed improvement staff to continually enhance the AGA experience as it relates to services and programs provided by the AGA as well as the information that accompanies registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle. AGA members are encouraged to contact Retallick as they have questions regarding DNA testing, data services and information gathered from commercial bull customers’ inquiries.

“Kelli will be a great asset to the Gelbvieh association and the beef industry, as the AGA evolves into a modern breed association. With a focus on providing genetic and marketing solutions to Gelbvieh stakeholders, Kelli will certainly be able to use her experiences as a seedstock supplier along with an extensive education in animal science to provide members and Gelbvieh customers the information they need for success in an ever changing business,” said Myron Edelman, executive director of AGA.

John C. Oswald Inducted Posthumously Into Gelbvieh Hall of Fame

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Photo caption: Ken Schmucker (left) and Andy Oswald (middle) accept the 2015 AGA Hall of Fame award, presented by AGA board member Brian Dunn, St. John, Kansas (right), on behalf of John C. Oswald.

 

John C. Oswald of Hutchinson, Kansas, was inducted into the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Hall of Fame posthumously for 2015. The induction took place on Saturday, January 10 at the AGA's Impacting the Beef Business™ with Maternal Influence Annual Convention. John's son Andy Oswald and herdsman Ken Schmucker were present at the convention to accept the award.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals for their lasting contribution to the growth and development of the Gelbvieh breed. That contribution is through the influence of the cattle they have bred, their breed promotion efforts and the leadership provided to the AGA.

John C. Oswald has been a part of the Gelbvieh breed for over 25 years. He, his wife Liz, their son Andy and his family own and manage The Land of Ozz – John C. Oswald and Sons Gelbvieh and Balancer in Hutchinson, Kansas. Herdsman Ken Schmucker handles the ranch's day-to-day operations. John passed away on January 26, 2012.

John was very involved with several organizations throughout his lifetime including president and long term board member of the Kansas State Fair Board, president of the American Polled Hereford Association, member of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Committee, Kansas State Alumni Association, Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce as well as many others. He also served on several American Gelbvieh Association committees throughout the years and was past president of the Kansas Gelbvieh Association.

In the late 1980s, John switched his breeding program from Polled Herefords to Gelbvieh, seeing a brighter future in the Gelbvieh breed. John C. Oswald and Sons has been a member of the American Gelbvieh Association since 1989.

Today, Ken and Andy are leading The Land of Ozz from the lessons instilled by John. John's legacy to the operation is powerful performance, strong maternal traits, good temperament and absence with problems. John C. Oswald and Sons Gelbvieh and Balancer select for value and profit and feel that is the most important direction for the operation.

Many breed-leading animals have carried the OZZ prefix, perhaps the most noteworthy of which is OZZ EXT Govenor 3N. Born in 2003, Govenor currently has 2,153 progeny recorded in the AGA herdbook. Today, Govenor's EPDs rank him in the top 25 percent or better of active Gelbvieh sires for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk, calving ease maternal, heifer pregnancy, dry matter intake, yield grade, carcass weight, ribeye area, marbling and total maternal; in the top four percent of the breed for $Cow; and the top two percent of the breed for 30-month pregnancy and feeder profit index.

Nominated for this honor by the Kansas Gelbvieh Association, the American Gelbvieh Association recognized John C. Oswald as its 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee.