Media Releases
Malerie Strahm Joins American Gelbvieh Association Staff
LINCOLN, NE – The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) would like to welcome Malerie Strahm to its staff where she began her role as multimedia coordinator on July 5, 2019.
Strahm grew up and currently resides in Sabetha, Kansas. During her youth, she was actively involved in 4-H, which developed an interest in animal agriculture and the beef industry. Strahm graduated from Kansas State University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and journalism, as well as a minor in agribusiness. She then began her professional career at KSi Conveyors, Inc., a leading manufacturer of conveyors and seed handling equipment, as the marketing coordinator.
“While I gained invaluable knowledge about the crop industry through my communications role with KSi Conveyors Inc. and an internship with Kansas Wheat before that, I am thrilled to pursue my true passion: the beef industry,” Strahm said. “I have always been passionate about the beef industry and am excited for the opportunity to promote the Gelbvieh and Balancer® breed through a variety of media platforms.”
In her role as multimedia coordinator, Strahm will manage and develop AGA social media strategies and contribute to AGA publications and the marketing team. Her skills in photography, film production, and design will be valuable assets brought to the AGA marketing team for the promotion of Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics throughout the beef industry.
“Malerie’s talents and skill set are a well-suited addition to the AGA team to help us further the reach of the Gelbvieh and Balancer message and to provide additional member service,” says Megan Slater, AGA Interim Executive Director. “We are excited to have her on board.”
Strahm will work remotely from her home in Sabetha, Kansas, and can be reached by phone at 303-465-2333 or malerie@gelbvieh.org.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,000 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
American Gelbvieh Association Relocates Headquarters Office to Lincoln, Nebraska
LINCOLN, NE – The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to announce the relocation of its headquarters office to Lincoln, Nebraska. This relocation is taking place the first week in June.
After careful consideration and much planning by the AGA Board of Directors in 2018, the AGA began final preparations for the move earlier this year. This new location places the office in a more centralized location in relation to the U.S. beef industry, including a bulk of the Gelbvieh and Balancer® cowherd and customer base. A more direct tie to the Midwest will also give the AGA better access to help foster and grow relationships with our beef industry partners such as commercial customers, feedyards, packers, and other agriculture companies.
The AGA will occupy office space on the second floor of the office building located at 1001 S 70th Street, in Lincoln, Nebraska.
“A move to the Midwest greatly benefits the AGA’s future. The AGA will be closer to an increased number of our members and stakeholders, which will help to enhance customer relations,” says Megan Slater, AGA interim executive director. “In addition, Lincoln is a much more affordable city than the Denver metro area. This move not only financially benefits the Association, but also provides current employees with a lower cost of living and will help attract and retain new staff talent.”
All correspondence should now be sent to the AGA’s new Lincoln address: 1001 S 70th Street, Ste 215, Lincoln, NE 68510. The AGA’s phone number, 303-465-2333, will remain. The AGA will be open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central time.
An open house will be held at the new headquarters office once the AGA’s new office space is completed. Details of the open house will soon be available at Gelbvieh.org.
Top Genetics on Display at NWSS Gelbvieh and Balancer® Pen Show
The Gelbvieh and Balancer® Pen Show took place at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, January 13, 2019. A total of 17 pens entered in this year’s show and included 14 pens of bulls and three pens of heifers. Quinton Smith, Lebanon, Tennessee, judged both the pen bull and pen heifer shows.
Beastrom Ranch, Pierre, South Dakota, exhibited the grand champion pen of three Balancer heifers in the inaugural Gelbvieh and Balancer heifer pen show. The champion pen consisted of three March 2018 calves. The average weight among the pen was 945 pounds with an average weight per day of age of 3 pounds. All heifers entering the pen shows are ultrasound scanned at the time of check-in, which took place on Thursday, January 10, 2019. The champion pen had an average ribeye area of 11.24 square inches, 3.88% IMF, and 0.27 inches of back fat.
The reserve grand champion pen of three Balancer heifers was exhibited by T Bar S Cattle Company, Billings, Missouri. All three females in this pen were November 2017 calves with an average weight of 961 pounds with an average weight per day of age at 2.2 pounds. This pen’s ultrasound data averaged a ribeye area of 12.71 square inches, 4.37% IMF, and 0.32 inches of back fat.
The grand champion pen of five Balancer heifers was exhibited by Warner Beef Genetics, Arapahoe, Nebraska. The pen consisted of five late-January to early-March 2018 heifers. Average weight for this pen was 874 pounds with an average weight per day of age of 2.6 pounds. The ultrasound data revealed an average ribeye area of 12.41 square inches, 4% IMF, and 0.35 inches of back fat.
Judd Ranch Inc., Pomona, Kansas, exhibited the grand champion pen of three Gelbvieh bulls. The champion pen consisted of three January 2018 born bulls. This pen had an average weight of 1,248 pounds and an average weight per day of age of 3.4 pounds. All pen bulls are ultrasound scanned at the time of check-in. This pen’s ultrasound scan data averaged a ribeye area of 15.63 square inches, 3.5% IMF, and 0.26 inches of back fat.
The reserve champion pen of three Gelbvieh bulls was exhibited by Bar Arrow Cattle Co, Phillipsburg, Kansas. This pen consisted of February 2018 bulls and had an average weight of 993 pounds with an average weight per day of age of 3.4 pounds. This set of bulls had average ultrasound scan data of 13.74 square inches for ribeye, 2.8% IMF, and 0.20 inches of back fat.
Judd Ranch Inc., Pomona, Kansas, also exhibited the grand champion pen of five Gelbvieh bulls. This pen consisted of three January 2018 bulls and two February 2018 bulls. The pen had an average weight of 1,198 pounds and an average weight per day of age of 3.4 pounds. This set of bulls had average ultrasound scan data of 14.66 square inches of ribeye, 3.39% IMF, and 0.26 inches of back fat.
In the Balancer pen show, Judd Ranch Inc., Pomona, Kansas, struck again and exhibited the grand champion pen of three Balancer bulls. This pen consisted of one January 2018 born bull and two February 2018 born bulls that averaged 1,180 pounds with an average weight per day of age of 3.5 pounds. The pen’s average ultrasound scan data is as follows: ribeye area of 14.45 square inches, 3.33% IMF and 0.31 inches of back fat.
The reserve champion pen of three Balancer bulls was exhibited by Boehler Gelbvieh, Orleans, Nebraska. Their pen of February 2018 born bulls averaged a weight of 1,016 pounds and 3 pounds weight per day of age. This pen averaged 13.11 square inches for ribeye area, 3.8% IMF and 0.40 inches of back fat with their ultrasound scan data.
Warner Beef Genetics, Arapahoe, Nebraska exhibited the grand champion pen of five Balancer bulls. This pen included four February-born and one March 2018 born bull. This champion pen had an average weight of 1,165 pounds and an average weight per day of age of 3.5 pounds. The pen’s average ultrasound scan data was 13.69 square inches for ribeye area, 3.55% IMF, and 0.31 inches of back fat.
Judd Ranch Inc., Pomona, Kansas, exhibited the reserve champion pen of five Balancer bulls. This pen included three January and two February 2018 bulls. This pen averaged a weight of 1,148 pounds and had an average weight per day of age of 3.3 pounds. This set of bulls had average ultrasound scan data of 14.55 square inches for ribeye area, 3.37% IMF, and .28 inches of back fat.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,000 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Champions Named at NWSS Junior Gelbvieh and Balancer® Heifer Show
The Junior Gelbvieh and Balancer® Heifer Show at the National Western Stock Show was held on Saturday, January 12, 2019, in Denver, Colorado. Judge Brad Bennett, Cooksville, Tennessee, evaluated the 11 Gelbvieh heifers and 39 Balancer heifers.
Grand champion Gelbvieh heifer was HIGH MS Emma 9E100 ET owned by Jacie Carroll, Raymore, Missouri. This heifer is the September 13, 2017 daughter of JRI Pop A Top 197T83 and first claimed the senior heifer calf division.
JRI Ms Queen Of Hearts 148E4, owned by Lily Judd, Pomona, Kansas, won reserve grand champion Gelbvieh heifer. This heifer was sired by JRI Pop A Top 197T83 and was born February 4, 2017. She first won the junior yearling heifer division.
Grand champion Balancer heifer was CBLG Six E Firefly 700E owned by Abigail Schrader, Columbia City, Indiana. First claiming the junior yearling heifer division, this heifer is sired by PZCT PZC TMAS Firestorm 1800 ET and was born April 15, 2017.
EGL Lass E3200, owned by JW LeDoux, Ree Heights, South Dakota, won reserve grand champion Balancer heifer. She is the February 15, 2017 daughter of EGL Lifeline B101 and was the reserve champion in the junior yearling heifer division.
2019 NWSS Junior Gelbvieh and Balancer® Heifer Show
January 12, 2019
Judge: Brad Bennett, Cooksville, Tennessee
Denver, Colorado
Division Champion and Reserves:
Gelbvieh Heifers
Gelbvieh Champion Heifer Calf: DCSF Post Rock Wilma 93F8 ET; Kyle Cavalli, Lincoln, KS; Sire: VLK Young Gun C503
Gelbvieh Reserve Champion Heifer Calf: BARG Marley 878F; Jacob Barwick, Orleans, NE; Sire: PLA Big Dog 101Y
Gelbvieh Champion Senior Heifer Calf: HIGH MS Emma 9E100 ET; Jacie Carroll, Raymore, MO; Sire: JRI Pop A Top 197T83
Gelbvieh Reserve Champion Senior Heifer Calf: BCFG Butlers MS Esmerelda 134E; Karley Rumfelt, Phillipsburg, MO; Sire: BCFG Butlers Hillbilly Hero 71
Gelbvieh Champion Summer Yearling Heifer: SEPT RCO No Tan Lines E273; Kaid Sasse, Athol, KS; Sire: JRI Next Step 285X72
Gelbvieh Champion Junior Yearling Heifer: JRI Ms Queen Of Hearts 148E4; Lily Judd, Pomona, KS; Sire: JRI Pop A Top 197T83
Gelbvieh Reserve Champion Yearling Heifer: PHS Prohart Empress 714E; Porsha Binning, McDonald, KS; Sire: BDCG DC 401A4 ET
Gelbvieh Champion Cow-Calf Pair: JRI MS Petrina 270D45; Lily Grace Judd, Pomona, KS; Sire: JRI Pop A Top 197T83
Gelbvieh Grand Champion Female: HIGH MS Emma 9E100 ET; Jacie Carroll, Raymore, MO; Sire: JRI Pop A Top ET
Gelbvieh Reserve Grand Champion Female: JRI Ms Queen Of Hearts 148E4; Lily Grace Judd, Pamona, KS; Sire: JRI Pop A Top 197T83
Balancer Heifers
Balancer Champion Heifer Calf: EGL Mercedes F401; Jady LeDoux, Ree Heights, SD; Sire: EGL Doc Holliday D100 ET
Balancer Reserve Champion Heifer Calf: GDV T BAR S Ciara 503F; Karly Rumfelt, Phillipsburg, MO; Sire: R4RA Conquest 254
Balancer Champion Senior Heifer Calf: XXB Miss Lifeline 802E; Cody Brown, Dwight, KS; Sire: EGL Lifeline B101
Balancer Reserve Champion Senior Heifer Calf: HTFG Ms Echo E1715 ET; Kyler Camerer, Asbury, MO; Sire: Silveiras Style 9303
Balancer Champion Junior Yearling Heifer: CBLG Six E Firefly 700E; Abigail Schrader, Columbia City, IN; Sire: PZCT PZC TMAS Firestorm 1800 ET
Balancer Reserve Champion Junior Yearling Heifer: EGL Lass E3200; J W LeDoux, Ree Heights, SD; Sire: EGL Lifeline B101
Balancer Grand Champion Female: CBLG Six E Firefly 700E; Abigail Schrader, Columbia City, IN; Sire: PZCT PCX TMAS Firestorm 1800 ET
Balancer Reserve Grand Champion Female: EGL Lass E3200; JW LeDoux, Ree Heights, SD; Sire: EGL Lifeline B101
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,000 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Docility EPD Added to the Suite of Gelbvieh and Balancer® EPDs
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) released the BOLT-powered docility expected progeny difference (EPD) in January 2019. This is the latest update to the extensive suite of EPDs used to accurately describe registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle.
“The AGA is excited to be able to add docility to the line up of EPDs we offer to help cattlemen and women make selection decisions when utilizing Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics,” says Megan Slater, AGA interim executive director. “Docility is one of the many AGA EPDs produced through the multi-breed genetic evaluation powered by BOLT, and therefore is directly comparable to several breeds who also participate within the evaluation.”
Docility is an important trait that impacts beef operations’ bottom lines in each sector of the industry. Studies have shown that animals with calmer dispositions are more productive both on the ranch as well as in the feedyard and ultimately exhibit higher carcass values and greater tenderness, among other advantages.
Higher docility EPD values for Gelbvieh and Balancer animals indicate a more favorable temperament. Over the past 20 years, the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed has gained favorable progress in docility on top of a solid foundation of historically docile cattle. However, the range of docility EPDs of active sires proves that there is genetic diversity, which means further progress can be made. It’s also important to note that in herds where temperament is not currently a concern, differences will not be as intensely realized.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,000 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Rippey Named Gelbvieh Association Commercial Producer of the Year
Photo caption: The American Gelbvieh Association named Gale Rippey of Rippey Farm the AGA Commercial Producer of the Year for 2018. Gale Rippey (middle) stands with his wife Gena (left) after receiving the award presented by Doug Hughes (right), AGA member and friend.
Gale Rippey, Rippey Farm, Galax, Virginia, was honored as the American Gelbvieh Association’s (AGA) Commercial Producer of the Year for 2018 during the awards banquet held at the 48th Annual AGA National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
Gale and his wife Gena were present at the AGA awards banquet to accept the award. Doug Hughes, owner of Little Windy Hill Farms, Max Meadows, Virginia, and the family’s longtime friend presented the Rippey couple with the award.
The AGA Commercial Producer of the Year Award honors individuals who use Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics in progressive commercial cattle operations and are proactive in their promotion of the Gelbvieh and Balancer breed.
Rippey has worked hard to promote Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle over the past 20 plus years. He bought his first Gelbvieh bull in the early 1990s and immediately saw an increase in weaning weight and improved disposition. Rippey took over the family farming operation in 1998 and now has over 300 cows and has added an 500 head stocker calf division.
Rippey has built a reputation of selling replacement heifers that are second to none. Rippey’s investment in genetics has paid huge dividends. Roughly 75 to 80 percent of Rippey’s heifers are either retained in the herd or sold as replacement heifers to an ever-growing and loyal customer base. The strong demand for the bred heifers he sells in the fall can be attributed to Rippey’s progressive mindset and the Gelbvieh breed’s positive influence on maternal traits and cowherd efficiency.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,000 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system.
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Note to Editors: High-resolution press quality photo is available by contacting Kelsi Christian, American Gelbvieh Association multimedia coordinator, at Kelsi@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.