CGA Scholarship Winner Avary Hickman

Ihave been involved with the Gelbvieh breed since I was born. I am part of the third generation in my family to own and breed Gelbvieh’s. Helping to take care of the cattle, market, and pick the genetics for every animal on the farm. As my herd starts to grow, I also grow my skills and abilities for marketing, and picking genetics.

Growing up I showed with my parents starting when I was only 6 years old. From the time I was a young girl I have been working with cows at home, as well as at the shows. Early mornings, and late nights have been spent feeding cows, checking cows, and working cows all for the dream of owning my own farm once I return home from Oklahoma; from school. Even at the young age of 17 I have been fortunate enough to have started my own small herd of 8 females. Showing with my parents was a great way to start into the business for showing. I have now gone to Farmfair International as my own exhibitor, even paying for the trip myself in 2019 when I was lucky to also win Senior Champion Aggregate. Not only have I shown at the larger industry shows across Canada and the US, but I have also shown in 4-H for 9 years only having Gelbvieh and Balancers in my strings.

Although the showing and networking is a lot of fun, it is not the most important part. In order to have successful marketing ability you must have something people want. Genetics are not always an easy thing to decipher and chose. Helping my parents at a young age decide what to breed which cows to was often a hard thing, but also something that could have great reward. I was unaware just what my parents were teaching me, in helping pick which cows went with which bull’s verses who we AI’ed. Picking genetics is not an easy thing, it has lasting impacts on what the calves will look like, and who will want to buy them. Marketing is a skill that takes time to master. I am nowhere near a master, however I am slowly learning and getting better at making the decisions.

Even after the genetic decisions have been made and the calves are born, they have to be marketed properly to gain their highest level of profit; you must go out and market each and every calf. This past year I posted all the photos of our bulls and helped market the yearlings for sale. I have always had an interest in marketing and a pretty good hand for anything technology. This is coming in handy as time goes on and marketing is moving from newspaper to digital. I have helped with the digital but also the face-to-face marketing of talking to people. Sometimes the best marketing is taking calves out to have the public eye see them.

Over the years of helping on the farm I have been able to help take care of the cows. I have been helping my parents every step of the way. Working with my parents has taught me how to take care of mine when the day comes, I can go out and start my own farm separate from my parents. This is also the reasoning all tying into why I chose the major of Animal Science and Communications.