History, Economics, and Wisdom

—A conversation with AHA Hall of Fame Inductee Billy Ashe

By Kathryn Ingram

The Ashe family: pictured (l to r) Will David and Patti (Ashe) Ashe, and Stratton Coleman, Billy and Joyce Ashe, April and Wes Ashe

Billy Ashe, of Selmer, Tennessee, was inducted into the Hereford Hall of Fame at the American Hereford Association annual meeting in Kansas City, Missouri last October. This honor is bestowed on breeders who have made significant contributions to the promotion and advancement of the Hereford industry.

Billy currently owns and operates Ashewood Farms in West Tennessee. His parents W.C. and Addillia Ashe started the farm with Polled Herefords in the 1950s. Billy returned to the farm after graduating from Oklahoma State University and serving in the Korean War. Billy is married to Joyce Ashe and has two children, Wes Ashe and Patti Ashe Coleman. Wes has joined his father in operating Ashewood Farms, where their focus is producing functional and genetically superior Hereford and Angus cattle.

Billy contributes his desire to raise Herefords to many experiences and people from his youth. He thinks he chose Herefords because they were the breed he was familiar with and had an affinity for the purebred industry. Billy grew up around several prominent Hereford herds in West Tennessee. He mentioned that Troy Hair (Uncle of current THA Secretary Glenda Rickman) was a strong influence. He worked at Circle M Ranch after graduating high school and at Hull Dobbs Ranch in Walls, Mississippi, and Ft. Worth, Texas. Billy also gained a lot of exposure to many large-scale cattle operations in the southwest during his time at OSU.

Billy knew they had to have a competitive product with top genetics to attract customers when starting the herd. He purchased the best females he could afford and took advantage of new technology. Artificial insemination was in its infancy at the time Ashewood Farms was developing its new herd. His connections with the Hull Dobbs Ranch allowed him to get semen from top-end Hereford bulls. He believes this played a large part in “getting off to a relatively good start”.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the show ring dominated the industry. Billy exhibited cattle at shows throughout West Tennessee and the southeast region. He used these shows to make contacts and develop a clientele. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he transferred emphasis to data-based information instead of just the top winning show bulls. Billy says his priorities changed from “the bull of the month club” to researching potential sires based on meaningful data. He puts a great deal of emphasis on bulls with high accuracies. He believes data provided by the National Reference Sire Program is one of the most useful tools a breeder can rely on. This population test helps him select bulls to improve carcass traits and calving ease in his herd.

Billy feels his greatest challenge was carving out market demand for the farm. There were 2,700 breeders in the region, according to then AHA field man Gary Nichols, when Billy started his herd. It was a challenge for a family of modest means to compete in a crowded field. Eventually, the local sale barns recognized the quality of their feeder calves. The sale barn’s

manager recommended Ashewood bulls to local commercial cattlemen. This helped establish a commercial bull market for the farm.

Billy Ashe has accomplished much in the cattle industry. He has had success on the farm, in the show ring, and in serving as a leader for local, state, and national associations. One of his most treasured awards was the 2018 John Bartee Distinguished Service Award from the Tennessee Cattlemen Association. Billy said John Bartee was a great friend, making this award special.

In 1963, while still in his 20s, Billy was named the Herdsman of the Year at the Bluegrass National Hereford Show. In 1976 Ashewood Farms bred and showed the champion pen of 3 bulls at the Dixie National. He also had the 1980 Tennessee State Champion Bull and had a southeast show heifer of the year.

Billy has served as a Tennessee voting delegate for the AHA Board of Directors for many years. He is proud that Tennessee has had two members serve as Chairman of the AHA Board during his tenure as a delegate and that the southeast quadrant is well-represented on the board.

Billy played a role in the development of the Tennessee Hereford Marketing Program. This feeder calf sale, hosted by Tennessee Livestock Producers (TLP), gained national attention

while Billy served as President of the Tennessee Polled Hereford Association. At that time feeder calves were being shipped from multiple states to TLP on sale day. The sale grew to near 1,300 head, almost filling the sale barn to capacity.

Billy has worked to promote Certified Hereford Beef (CHB). He convinced Dusty Turner, manager of Supreme feeders in Kansas, to speak with National Packing Company about taking Hereford cattle during the early stages of CHB. This conversation led to contact with Greg Huffines, and the National Packing Company became contractors for CHB. Billy feels this is a great accomplishment because it benefited everyone with Herefords.

Billy spoke about four men who served as mentors for him in the industry. He believes Robert Totusek, his livestock judging coach at OSU, helped him create the mindset to succeed. George Kleier, general manager of Hull Dobbs Ranch, went out of his way to help Billy learn about the cattle business. Odell Gelven, former manager of Ogeechee Farms and a National Polled Hereford Show judge, has been a friend to him since the early 1960s. Odell has served as an inspiration and guiding force. At 92 years old, he still calls Billy every six weeks to check-in. Finally, he says that Neil Trask’s breeding management practices have been an integral part of his approach to making decisions throughout the years.

At the close of our conversation, I asked Billy if he had any words of wisdom for the upcoming generation of Hereford breeds to have success and longevity in this business. He recommended that you determine what kind of program you plan to pursue (producing commercial bulls, show stock, etc.). He said “you can’t be everything to everything. Jack of all trades and master of none, those purebred breeders usually fade out.”

He says not to expect instant prosperity. Building a brand and reputation takes time. He encouraged young breeders to get involved and stay informed. Be active in your breed association along with the local and state cattlemen’s association. Don’t get caught up in tunnel vision.

Billy said the most important factor a new producer needs to focus on is profitability. He has noticed over the years that a lot of operations failed because they did not watch the cash flow. In the end, he says it all comes down to one thing “Sell them for more than it cost to raise them”.