MADAM PRESIDENT

BY MEGAN UNDERWOOD, M.S.

At the 2022 American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) National Convention, Lori Maude of CJ&L Livestock was elected to serve as the association’s second-ever female president.

Maude didn’t grow up in the Gelbvieh breed however, she was quickly impressed with the Gelbvieh breed through her work as editor for Gelbvieh World back in 1997. After purchasing their first Gelbvieh bulls, her family was quickly sold on their genetics and never looked back.

“My dad was a skeptic about using Gelbvieh bulls after being in an Angus/ Hereford rotation most of his life,” says Maude. “But the extra 50 pounds of weaning weight on the first calf crop sold him on continuing with Gelbvieh and Balancer® bulls.”

Maude is active in the production aspects of her family’s ranch near Hermosa, South Dakota. She makes the majority of the breeding decisions, develops the marketing plan and manages all of the paperwork for the registered cattle. She also works with her niece to halter break any cattle they plan to exhibit at local and regional shows.

“We often joke with my dad that he is the herd manager and my niece Jayden is the assistant herd manager, while the rest of us are just the manual labor. It truly is a family operation and it is always exciting every spring to see those new calves arriving,” says Maude.

Maude is looking forward to her remaining years of service on the board of directors, having previously served in other capacities on the board and as an employee of the AGA, she knows the future is bright and looks forward to what she and the board will accomplish.

“The Association is in the best financial position it has been in many years thanks to strong association leadership and a focused fiscal approach by previous board of directors,” said Maude. “The five-year strategic plan we approved last year is taking the proactive steps to position the Gelbviehinfluenced female as sustainable genetics for the beef industry. We can’t count only on staff to carry this initiative, so my goal is to inform and inspire our members to help us move the breed forward.”