THOMAS WEGENER Reporting for Duty

by Lindsey Broek

Like many of us, Tom Wegener’s start in the cattle business has a similar story to most of ours. Tom grew up in a small Iowa farming community and had a love for both livestock and the land, but specifically the cattle. Born and raised in Tipton, Iowa, Tom spent his early years working on his family farm and attending livestock shows whenever he was able. After graduating high school, Tom spent two years in the army before returning home to farm.

“I have always loved animals, but I really loved the livestock and cattle shows,” said Tom. Upon his completion in the army, Tom spent time farming on his family’s operation and working for the Iowa Athletic Union. Knowing Tom, I can just picture him at the front row for every local game, cheering the athletes on as they competed in their respective sports. Tom also had a knack for working the ring at sales, and was a featured ringman throughout the Midwest in his early years. It was through that work he became friends with past

American Maine-Anjou Association (AMAA) Executive Vice President, John Boddicker, as well as folks like Stanley Stout, and Wayne Collette.

I (Lindsey) first met Tom in my early years of working for the AMAA. At that time, I simply knew him as the gentleman who was always “there” in Denver. Every year, without fail, when we started our pen show activities down in the Pepsi Arena there were two familiar faces – Ronnie Miller and Thomas Wegener. For years, those two gentlemen helped execute the Maine-Anjou Pen-of-Three shows at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS). Tom’s job was specifically to work the gate and give directions in the ring. “Since I was in the Army, I was able to give directions and the exhibitors liked that,” remarked Tom, “that way they knew exactly where to go.” Through his work at the NWSS he got to know many of the Maine-Anjou breeders and still speaks fondly of those relationships.

In 2020 the unthinkable happened and the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the livestock industry. That year the National Western Stock Show was unable to hold their activities and the Cattlemen’s Congress was erected in its place. I can’t help but remember thinking “What will Tom do? And “will Tom will make it to Oklahoma City”? Not soon after the announcement I received the call that Tom had his plane ticket booked and he was ready and willing to “report for duty” at the Cattlemen’s Congress Pen-of-Three Show to work the gate. And sure enough, just like the 13-years prior, he was there the morning of the show, without fail, to help AMAA staff as he had done so many years prior.

Tom has a servant heart, and it’s a big one. He receives great joy in rewarding those around him who he feels works hard.

Usually just observing and watching is how Tom deems someone a hard worker. It was at the Cattlemen’s Congress that Tom observed American Junior MaineAnjou Association (AJMAA) members Grady & Hudson Carter working on their projects. One day not long after that particular Cattlemen’s Congress, Tom called the office and asked for their address. A few short weeks later new belt buckles were sent to both boys for their job well done. When I asked Tom what he needed their address for, he simply told me “they worked hard and he wanted to send them something.”

Over the years Tom went from being “the guy at the gate” at the National Western Stock Show to a true friend of the AMAA. Each AMAA staff member probably has a different story, but I guarantee each one starts and ends with a smile on our face. To know Tom is to love Tom and the AMAA has been fortunate for so many years to have him work the gate. If you ever get the opportunity to visit with Tom, he’s an interesting guy with a heck of a story and always has a joke or two up his sleeve. Whether it be Oklahoma City or Denver, we look forward to many more years of Tom working the gate at the pen show.