Media Releases

Upperman Joins Gelbvieh Association

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Lincoln, NE – The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Lindsay Upperman as performance programs coordinator. In this role, Upperman will help coordinate member education and breed improvement efforts, as well as travel the country visiting Gelbvieh and Balancer stakeholders.
“We are very excited to have Lindsay joining our team,” says Megan Slater, AGA executive director. “She has a strong cattle background and a wealth of education that will make a great addition to the talented staff of the AGA.”
Originally from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Upperman grew up an active member of 4-H and traveled the country with her parents showing livestock and participating in livestock judging and stockman’s contests. After high school, Upperman attended school at Butler Community College where she was a member of the junior college’s livestock judging team. After earning an associate of applied science in agriculture, Lindsay joined the ranks of the Kansas State University livestock judging team where she received the All-American Judging Team Award and completed a bachelor’s degree in animal science. Upperman earned her master’s degree in animal biology from the University of California-Davis where her studies focused on lethal recessive alleles in beef cattle. Upperman is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with a focus on the estimation of genetic parameters for days to finish traits in beef cattle.
“Starting from a young age, I have been involved with the beef cattle industry through raising my own herd, livestock judging competitions, and even completing graduate education focused on beef cattle research. Through these experiences, I am prepared and excited to help guide the Gelbvieh and Balancer producers in reaching their operation’s genetic potential towards a more profitable future,” Upperman says.
Upperman began her role with the AGA on December 28 and can be reached at lindsay@gelbvieh.org or at the AGA office at 303-465-2333.

Dr. Glenn Wehner Inducted into Gelbvieh Hall of Fame

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Dr. Glenn Wehner of Rocking GV Gelbvieh in Kirksville, Missouri, was inducted into the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Hall of Fame during the awards presentation at the AGA Virtual Annual Meeting on December 4, 2020.
The AGA Hall of Fame recognizes individuals for lasting contributions to the growth and development of the Gelbvieh breed. Hall of Fame inductee selection requirements include contributions to breed promotion efforts, leadership provided to the association, and the breeding of superior genetics that are of great influence within the Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle population.
Dr. Wehner, one of the earliest AGA members, was an agriculture science professor at Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, where he introduced hundreds of students to the Gelbvieh breed. He holgd a Ph.D. in animal nutrition. He developed the first Gelbvieh herd maintained by Truman State University, as well as his own fullblood Gelbvieh herd.
“We bred purebreds at the time, at the university, and I wanted to stay with purebreds,” said Wehner. “A purebred operation is obviously different than a commercial, but you can teach all the commercial aspects with a purebred herd, so it seemed like a good fit for the university. When I put in my own herd, I decided we would go with fullbloods so that’s where we are today.”
Dr. Wehner has seen many positive changes within the breed over the years and has been influential in reducing mature cow size in Gelbvieh cattle.
“We’ve seen a lot of positive changes. We’ve stayed on top of the mothering ability, early fertility, pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed, longevity, and those things that definitely have an impact on the bottom line of an operation,” said Wehner.”
Along with his wealth of knowledge of the Gelbvieh breed, Dr. Wehner has been involved in many ways with the AGA and the American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) over the years. He has been a promoter of the fullblood Gelbvieh herd book, served on numerous committees and currently serves on the AGF board of directors as treasurer. With his involvement in the AGF executive committee, he has played an instrumental role in developing the AGA’s 50-year history book.
“I think it’s one of those things that gives us the history of the breed in Germany and all the way up to our present time,” said Wehner. “I think some of the positive changes we’ve seen are going to be very accepted and highlighted in that book.”
Willing to knowledgeably discuss the breed with anyone, Dr. Wehner continues to be an avid proponent of Gelbvieh cattle today, and still teaches a few classes at Truman State University. The endeavors and contributions of Dr. Wehner have not only improved the breed, but the association, as a whole.
“I am profoundly humbled by this nomination,” said Wehner. “When I looked at the line of people ahead of me with this honor, and thought about their contributions, it’s just surreal to be included in that line.”

Handke to Serve as Gelbvieh World Editor

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LINCOLN, NE – The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is excited to announce the addition of Laura Handke to the AGA publications team, serving as editorial contractor.
In her role, Handke will help to create and coordinate content for Gelbvieh World and The Profit Picture publications as well as other AGA communications efforts. Handke previously contributed to the publications through freelance writing.
Handke, her husband and eight-year-old daughter, Audrey, live in Easton, Kansas and run a small herd of commercial cattle. Handke holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in agriculture science from Northwest Missouri State University and has been professionally involved in agriculture communications for the past decade, working on education initiatives and content for crop and animal health companies and associations.
Handke says of the opportunity to join the AGA team, “I am excited to have the opportunity to join the AGA team, and look forward to sharing the story and communications of a breed that has meant so much to me throughout my life.”
“Laura has contributed great work to our publications in the past and we are excited to have her a part of our team in this new capacity,” says Megan Slater, AGA executive director. “She has a wealth of experience in ag communications and will be a great asset in growing the Gelbvieh and Balancer message.”
Handke began her role at AGA on December 1 and can be reached at laura@gelbvieh.org.

Fifth Annual Gelbvieh Foundation Carcass Contest Results Released

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Results of the fifth annual American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Sire-Identified Carcass Contest have been finalized. Producers from Iowa and Nebraska took home top honors with prize payouts totaling $4,000.

The AGF continues to help advance the Gelbvieh and Balancer® breesd through its support of research and development. For this reason, the AGF launched the Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Sire-Identified Carcass Contest in 2016. These two projects, together, provide the information and funds necessary to generate datasets to advance Gelbvieh and Balancer carcass merit.

The AGF Steer Challenge is a competition amongst individual Gelbvieh and Balancer-influenced steers in which the judging criteria focuses on carcass value and average daily gain in the feedyard. The Steer Challenge gives an opportunity for participants to donate a steer to the AGF. All proceeds from the donation go toward research and development within the breed. Green Hills Gelbvieh, Mount Ulla, North Carolina, and Flying H Genetics, Arapahoe, Nebraska, each donated a steer to the AGF this year. Thank you for your generosity. The champion steer for carcass value in the steer challenge contest was owned by Flying H Genetics. This steer had a total carcass value of $1,582.92 and graded USDA Choice. Flying H also took home champion steer for average daily gain in the steer challenge contest. This animal gained 3.93 pounds per day; the calves were on feed for 205 days.

In its fifth year, seven ranches participated in the contests at Darr Feedlot in Cozad, Nebraska. All steers were harvested in July 2020 with a total of 133 individual carcass data records. CKS Gelbvieh of Collins, Iowa, won big at this event, taking home three of the five prizes in the Gelbvieh division of the Scale and Rail Sire-Identified Carcass Contest. CKS Gelbvieh had the champion Gelbvieh steer in the carcass value category with an animal that valued at $1,593.70. This steer also posted $436.50 for an increase in value. They also had the champion Gelbvieh steer in the average daily gain category with an animal that gained 4.40 pounds per day.

CKS Gelbvieh also owned the champion pen of Gelbvieh steers in the Scale and Rail Contest with a total carcass value of $4,323.56. AMGV1395460 (CKS LEGACY E64), owned by CKS Gelbvieh, Collins, Iowa, sired the pen of three steers. This group of steers averaged a marbling score of USDA Choice, Yield Grade 3, with a 15.98 square inch ribeye and 944-pound average hot carcass weight. In total, CKS Gelbvieh took home $1,500 in prize money.

In the Balancer division, Eagle Pass Ranch of Highmore, South Dakota, won champion steer in the carcass value category. This steer valued at $1,637.29. This steer also posted $522.85 for an increase in value and graded USDA Choice. Rick and Kim Taylor of Wauneta, Nebraska, won the champion steer in the average daily gain category with a steer that gained 4.46 pounds per day.

Hamilton Farms of Hitchcock, South Dakota, won the champion pen of Balancer steers. The steers had a total carcass value of $4,649.61. AMGV1331092 (EGL CODE RED C081 ET) owned by Robert Farlee and Eagle Pass Ranch sired the pen of three steers. This group of steers averaged a marbling score of USDA Choice, Yield Grade 1, with a 15.27 square inch ribeye and 1,017 pound average hot carcass weight. In total, Hamilton Farms took home $500 in prize money.

To view full results, including all closeout data, please visit the Projects page under the Foundation tab on Gelbvieh.org.

American Gelbvieh Association Elects Board of Directors

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Members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) elected five candidates to the board of directors during the 2020 AGA Annual Membership Meeting held virtually on December 4, 2020.

The newly elected board member is William McIntosh, Georgetown, Kentucky. Re-elected to serve a second term were Dustin Aherin, St. Charles, Missouri; Jeff Loveless, Spanish Fork, Utah; Dan McCarty, Rifle, Colorado; and Derek Martin, Bucklin, Kansas.

The AGA board of directors also elected individuals to serve in leadership positions on the executive committee for 2021. Dan McCarty was re-elected president. Klint Sickler was re-elected vice president. Both John Carrel, Columbus, Montana, secretary, and Derek Martin, treasurer, were elected to serve a second term in their role.

Other members of the board include: Todd Bickett, DVM, Chickamauga, Georgia; Leland Clark, Barnard, Kansas; Mark Covington, Montrose, Colorado; Lori Maude, Hermosa, South Dakota; Andrea Murray, Kingfisher, Oklahoma; Randy Sienknecht, Gladbrook, Iowa; Jeff Swanson, Oxford, Nebraska; Tom Vehige, Billings, Missouri.

The retiring member of the 2020 AGA board of directors was Lowell Rogers, DVM, Seminary, Mississippi. The AGA would like to thank Lowell for his years of service on the AGA board of directors.

Gelbvieh Association 50th Anniversary Celebration Postponed to 2021

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The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) board of directors has made the difficult decision to postpone the association’s 50th anniversary celebration to late 2021. The event was originally scheduled to take place December 2-4, 2020, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Association will now hold a one-day meeting on December 4, in Lincoln, Nebraska, to conduct the business of the Association. The decision was made to postpone the celebration due to current gathering restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and attendee health and safety.

“The health and safety of our members, guests, and staff remains our top priority,” said Megan Slater, AGA executive director. “We want to make sure we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary during a time where all members can feel safe in gathering in an event of this size.”

The one-day meeting in Lincoln will consist of a board of directors meeting, committee meetings, and the annual meeting of the association. The annual meeting is set to take place at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 4, and will include the election of the board of directors. If members are unable to attend in person, a virtual option and absentee voting will be made available. The day will also include a socially distanced awards luncheon to recognize the recipients of the breeder of the year and commercial producer of the year awards as well as honor the newest inductee into the AGA Hall of Fame.

“This decision was certainly not taken lightly. Unfortunately, current circumstances including social distancing guidelines and various other restrictions, would make for an environment that was not conducive for the proper celebration of a 50th anniversary,” Slater continues. “After all, a golden anniversary only comes around once for an association and we want to be able to give it the celebration it deserves!”

Information regarding the one-day meeting, including schedule and registration, will be available on the Annual Convention page on Gelbvieh.org or call 303-465-2333.

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