Commercial Connection, Josh Cribbs

MAINE-ANJOU Commercial Connection

JOSHUA CRIBBS

BREED IMPROVEMENT DIRECTOR

Finishing up with Thanksgiving and headed toward Christmas brings about a time of year that is centered around gathering with family, friends and neighbors. It is a time that focuses on reflection of the year gone by. Like most of you, I was extremely happy to start 2021 and put 2020 and the change in lifestyle behind me. I was ready to focus on what this year would be for Maine-Anjou. 2021 brought about a new scenery for the Bright Light’s bull sale at Cattleman’s Congress, as well as the chance to have a junior national – an event that Lindsey was not only looking forward to, but one that we can write in the books as our best to date. She puts so much focus and dedication toward the junior program within the MaineAnjou family. For her to be able to use the new year to put on a show at full speed – that was something she was excited to do, and we were happy to support in any way we could – well, it showcased that we have the best youth director in the industry.

The year only continued to get better for Maine-Anjou, especially when you look at the tremendous Fall calf sale season we witnessed. Those sales led us into the Fall major show run, which was stacked with quality and fresh pedigrees. And now, we are quickly approaching deadlines for The Voice and the Bright Lights sale, along with pictures and videos for the sales at both Cattleman’s Congress and the National Western.

It seems that the hype and excitement is continuing to build and we are extremely excited to offer a deep set of cattle in both the Bright Lights and Power In the Pens sales. This year, more than the previous couple, families and breeders alike are actively searching for high quality livestock. Looking through the entries and seeing cattle this Fall on my travels, I’m confident we are going to be able to answer that request for quality. And it is thanks to the breeders of our Association and their dedication to make the cattle both palatable and powerful.

In the spirit of reflecting on this year gone by, I’m excited to continue to have the opportunity to work for you all, as a part of a group of employees that are dedicated to the breed and believe in what it can do. Looking ahead, I believe we are positioning ourselves to grow in belief of the breed and the quality of the cattle.

In today’s beef cattle market, especially on the seedstock side, a true measure of breeder dedication is the active search for new and outcross Maine-Anjou bull genetics. So many times, it seems that the best females in one’s herd are dedicated to female production, in turn slowing genetic progress and never getting a chance to find the male progeny that are needed to make strides. Since the beginning of my time at the American Maine-Anjou Association, I don’t recall a bull show at the North American that was as deep in quality or numbers as it was this year. The 2021 show was one that someone sitting in the stands could easily say, “I could use a number of these bulls to enhance my program and move forward.”

It is said surround yourself with people smarter than you and look to them for guidance. I am fortunate enough to have many of those people in my life, and in particular my best friend in life. Ben and I had a conversation two weeks back where he made a statement that I believe speaks true to progress. He said, “Find high quality bulls you like and breed to them. Then cull hard, and you’ll make progress.” I’m extremely excited to think that we are moving to a point where we will have the opportunity to allow our breeders to make those decisions.

As you and your families look toward Christmas and the New Year, I hope you find the time to reflect on the meaning of the season we are entering. I am truly grateful that you, as cattlemen and breed enthusiasts, continue to be dedicated to Maine-Anjou. Your support allows us the opportunity to be the people leading the charge forward into 2022.

It’s Powerful. It’s Progressive. It’s modern Maine-Anjou!

Your Source for Maine-Anjou Herd Sires BEAUPREZ

LAND & CATTLE

- LOT 5 SIRED BY DONE DEAL - 50% - LOT 4 SIRED BY BSC FREEDOM - PB

- LOT 3 SIRED BY BSC FREEDOM - PB

- LOT 2 - SIRED BY GARTH - PB

FULL SIB TO BOE FAME, OWNED BY SCHRAG 605 - LOT 1 BPF KINGMAKER 162C - PB

- LOT 6 SIRED BY BSC FREEDOM - 50%

Be sure to check out these lots selling in the 2022 Power In the Pens Maine-Anjou Sale at the National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colo.. Some of the very best bulls we have ever offered will sell through this sale! Come by and see us in the Yards, January 11-14! MARK, LISA, NICK & MEGAN - BYERS, CO Mark (303) 378-0718 Nick (303) 880-7827