17 - National Angus Heifer Calf Sale, in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition, Louisville, KY
30 - Blue & Gray/Gragg Farms Angus Production Sale, Gore, VA
DECEMBER
7 - Bonanza Angus Sale, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
14 - Wheeler Angus Production Sale, Paris, MO
On the Cover:
As the dust settles a little bit from a busy summer and the last month of events, the Nebraska Angus Association is looking forward to a new season and a new year! With that we thank all of our members and those who stick with us throughout the year and during the summer when it is so busy. Your support continues to fuel the future of the Angus breed in Nebraska.
Before a new year comes though there are fall female and production sales approaching. Please refer to this issue for more information on those sales and take a look at all the quality being offered by our Nebraska Angus Association members. Also, yet to come this year, is the National Angus Convention in Fort Worth. Angus enthusiasts from all over the country gather for this great event to reconnect with friends and make new connections, learn what’s new in the Angus breed or being offered, and a chance to visit with several vendors that offer services to the cattle industry. More information can be found at www.angusconvention.com. Make this trip a family affair and hit up some great attractions in Fort Worth while you are there!
NE Angus Ass. Events....................14
NE Angus News Ad Costs..............14
NE Angus Tour Spotlight......16,18,20
NE Angus Tour Sponsors................17
NE Auxiliary Speaks..........................8
NE Auxiliary Membership Form........9
NE Angus Heifer Raffle..................27
NE Angus Membership Form..........34
NE Junior Angus Royalty..........19,38
NE Junior Angus Winter Show........11
NE State Fair Results......................22
National Western Stock Show........32
Our Angus Family Obituary............24 Past President Speaks......................6
Moving forward into the holiday/winter season many will be prepping for Christmas, New Years, calving, and spring production sales. The Nebraska Angus Association wants to remind breeders that the next publication will be here before you know it and is set to be mailed out at the end of December. Therefore, advertisement space reservation is due by December 1st with final advertisement submission by December 7th. This issue will be taken to Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City, and the National Western Stock Show in Denver. If you want more bang for your buck this issue will definitely fit those needs and will get in the hands of even more people. As a reminder our mailing list consists of over 5,500 addresses including registered seedstock breeders, commercial cattlemen, and various cattle-based industries and companies throughout several states. Call or visit our website www.nebraskaangus.org for more information today!
As the holiday season approaches, I hope you are able to take time to slow down for a few days to enjoy family, friends, and holiday activities. I would also say move that turkey over to the side and celebrate with beef! From the board of directors and myself, we wish you a happy holiday season and hope you have a safe rest of the year!
Sincerely,
Margo Lehn NAA, Secretary/Manager
(402) 760-0386 info@nebraskaangus.org
Photo by Matt Lowery • Burwell, NE Inside this issue
Past President Speaks
By: Brian Stoller, NAA President
Ihave officially served the shortest term as the Nebraska Angus President, since we moved our annual meeting up in the year to coincide with the Fall Tour. Thanks to the invaluable help of Margo, we accomplished a lot. She truly keeps our state association moving forward. Initially, we were uncertain about how the meeting's rescheduling would go, but I’m confident we made a good decision. While I don’t have the exact numbers, it appeared that attendance at both the meeting and banquet was on par with previous years, and I believe that number will continue to grow and establish this schedule. We are also close to establishing a state Angus associationsponsored sale alongside the tour, so if you're interested in participating, please let a board member know.
The tour itself was a tremendous success. Breeders from the Southeast showcased an excellent set of Angus cattle and extended warm hospitality, making for an incredibly enjoyable weekend.
I’m pleased to announce that Adam Sawyer has been elected as your next President for the Nebraska Angus Association. Having been involved in the Angus business his entire life, Adam and his family rely on it as their sole source of income. He will undoubtedly prioritize the best interests of our breed and understand how our state association needs to operate.
It has been a tremendous honor to serve on the board and as your President this past year. I thank my parents for getting me started in this amazing business, and my wife Tiffany and daughters Reagan and Mckinley for being at my side on our ranch and in this journey. I appreciate all the friends who we have connected with through Angus activities. We’ve had a lot of fun! Looking ahead, I am optimistic about the bright future that awaits our state association and the Angus breed we are all so passionate about. In closing, I’d like to share the wise words of Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Let us continue our collective efforts to showcase this remarkable breed and the incredible individuals who are part of our Angus family.
Sincerely,
Brian Stoller
NAA President (308) 737-6213 bearmtnangus@msn.com
Nebraska Angus Association
President
Adam Sawyer, Bassett 402/760-2623 abcattle@gmail.com
Vice President Adam Sellman, Crawford 308/430-3742 ajsellman@bbc.net
Secretary/Manager
Margo Lehn, Long Pine 402/760-0386 info@nebraskaangus.org
Past President
Brian Stoller, Palisade 308/737-6213 bearmtnangus@msn.com
Commercial Director (Term Expires 12/25) Arlan Paxton, Stapleton 308/530-4497 arlanpaxton1969@gmail.com
West Director (Term Expires 12/25) Mike Pilakowski 308/249-0885 mikepilakow@gmail.com
North Director (Term Expires 12/26) Landon Miller, Cody 402/389-0216 milleranguscattle@gmail.com
Central Director (Term Expires 12/25) Cody Sitz, Ord 402/750-4598 csitz36@outlook.com
South Director (Term Expires 12/26) Grant Jones, Haigler 308/883-0565 gdjones1020@gmail.com
Northeast Director (Term Expires 12/25) Eric Frese, Columbus 402/276-4086 freseangus@gmail.com
Southeast Director (Term Expires 12/26) Mike Bredemeier, Stella 402/883-7113 breddiescrew@sentco.net
Material appearing in this issue may be reprinted only with written permission of the Nebraska Angus Association. The Nebraska Angus News and the Nebraska Angus Association is obligated and reserves the right to reject any request for advertising space which would not serve the best interest of our membership. Any rejection is not intended as a reflection upon the subject of the advertisement.
NE Auxilary President Speaks
By: Aliesha Meusch, NE Angus Aux President
Hello Angus Family,
This season of Fall is full of a lot of things – football, harvest, finding the next year’s show calves – but most importantly – being thankful. There are so many things in life to be thankful for – but one that comes to mind is being a part of the Angus industry. I am a 4th generation Angus producer and had the chance to exhibit and sell our cattle at the local, state and national level. I am thankful. Through my passion for showing cattle – I found a career in agriculture and I am thankful. Being a part of the Angus industry is a family affair. My dad showed, my sisters and I showed and now my daughter has formed the passion – being in the show ring eight times before the age of four. I am thankful.
As an Auxiliary – we have a lot to be thankful for this season! At the conclusion of this year’s Nebraska Angus Tour, we had the opportunity to host our silent auction fundraiser alongside the annual meeting and banquet of the Nebraska Angus Association. We are thankful to Margo for the opportunity to raise funds to give back to our Angus breeders and Angus juniors. We are thankful to all of our item donors. We had only twelve items this year – but the quality was unmatched! Our highselling item was donated by Suzy Hebbert and purchased by Kevin Keyes. Suzy was gracious enough to donate one of her late husbands, Clint, favorite pencil drawings – a cowboy on a horse roping a calf. Thank you, Suzy, and to everyone else who donated items! We are also thankful to everyone who bid on an item. Your willingness to support our Nebraska Angus Auxiliary helps to provide scholarships and goodies to Nebraska Angus Association members.
Looking ahead to the rest of this year will bring even more thanks! In December, we will be hosting the 2025 Nebraska Angus Queen and Princess competition. We are so very thankful for Addi Crouse and McKinley Stoller for their representation of the Angus breed and willingness to put
themselves out there at various events. We are also thankful for Nebraska Auxiliary Member and Queen Committee Chair, Kortney Tarnik. She shares her talents and works to put together a great contest for our candidates! This contest will be held on Saturday, December 7 in Kearney, Nebraska. Crowning will be that evening at the Nebraska Junior Angus Association supper. Applications for candidates are due October 15 and can be found on the Nebraska Angus website!
We are thankful for the opportunity to have met new women involved in the Angus breed at the banquet. Anyone is always welcome to join our organization – no matter your level of involvement in the Angus breed! We hope to have our annual meeting soon – so be on the lookout for that. As an Auxiliary, we strive to find a central location to meet in person, while also including a fun activity. We would love for you to join us as we grow and serve our Nebraska Angus Association and Nebraska Junior Angus Association!
In this season of thanks – I hope you all remember to never take anything for granted. Be thankful for the opportunities you have all been given to be a part of the Angus industry, raising cattle and families together. I am immensely thankful for my involvement in the Angus breed and look forward to continuing the legacy with my daughter and son, Etta Kate and Reilly.
Wishing you all the best this fall season!
Aliasha Meusch
Neb Angus Auxiliary President (308) 660-3510
aliesha24@gmail.com
Nebraska Angus Auxillary
State President
Aliesha Meusch
871 40 Rd, Bellwood, NE 68624 308/660-3510
aliesha24@gmail.com
State Vice President
Lisa Brown
22160 Antelope Rd, Pleasanton, NE 68866 308/440-0393
number1schulte@hotmail.com
State Secretary
Emily Johnson 45066 Cumco Rd, Mason City, NE 68855 308/660-4865
emkay305@gmail.com
2023 State Treasurer
Lynnette Nelson
11402 W. Fletcher Ave., Lincoln NE 68524 402/450-5478
lnelson@pinnbank.com
2023 State Advisor
Laurie Dethlefs
514 Milan Ave, Ravenna NE 68869 308/530-4391
dethlefsangusranch@gmail.com
Nebraska Junior Angus Association
2024-2025
Officers & Directors
President Kasey Meyer Blue Hill, NE • 402/519-0566
1st Vice President
Addi Crouse Belgrade, NE • 308/550-2817
2nd Vice President
Payton Scott Gordon, NE • 308/360-3801
Secretary/Treasurer
Julia Wolfe Raymond, NE • 402/405-2164
Communications Director
Loganne Barta Yutan, NE • 402/443-6587
Communications Director McKinley Stoller Palisade, NE • 308/737-0210
Membership Director Addison Dalrymple Arnold, NE • 308/650-2304
Membership Director
Zoey Malander Belgrade, NE • 308/550-0348
Advisors:
Jake & Kami Scott
7026 State Hwy 27• Gordon, NE 69343
308/360-3801
Matt & Jennifer Dalrymple
80191 Devils Gulch Rd• Arnold, NE 69120
308/650-2304
Dan & Cassie Malander
22275 State Hwy 52 • Belgrade, NE68623
308/550-0348
Junior Viewpoint
By: Kasey Meyer, NJAA President
Hello everyone!
These past few months have been busy and exciting for many juniors. We just recently had our State Fair where many junior members exhibited cattle. I would like to congratulate all juniors with the successes they had! Along with the State Fair this year we had a junior meetingon Friday, August 23rd. We started our meeting introducing everyone and talking about our favorite fair food! A recap from the National Junior Angus Show was given along with a new investment update that was provided to our juniors. Next up we talked about our upcoming Winter Show and the new ideas we had as this year's Winter Show and banquet will look a little different. Members gave great ideas of doing a casino night and other fun ideas that we will incorporate into our family fun/banquet night. Winter show committees were made and we can’t wait to put our minds together to come up with fun and new ideas!
Our queen and princess represented us well at the Angus Tour that was held in the southeast region. Throughout the tour they visited breeders, participated in fun events, and attended the annual meeting. As the fall season approaches so does a season for new showheifers and projects! Many juniors will be busy breaking new calves or searching for them through sales. This is a fun and exciting time filled with new opportunities for the upcoming year. I wish everyone a great sale and fall season!
Kindest regards,
Kasey Meyer kaseymeyer22@gmail.com (402 )519-0566
UPCOMING EVENTS
November 1st - 4th : National Angus Convention, Ft. Worth, TX
December 7th: Royalty Competition, Kearney
December 7th: NeJAA Supper and Awards, Kearney
December 8th: NeJAA Winter Show, Kearney
Page
1/2 Page $290 $400
1/4 Page $190 $250
Business $60 Issue $125 Issue Card or 4 Issues for $180
5%-20% Discounts are available for consecutive issue advertising!
COLOR RATES FULL & 2/3 PAGE
$50 per color with max of $150 1/2 & 1/4 PAGE
$30 per color with max of $90 Business card ads can have color added for no additional cost
Dec. 1
Spring Issue • Deadline: Feb 1 Fall Issue • Deadline: July 1 Holiday Issue • Deadline: Oct 1
2024 Nebraska Angus Tour Recap
NE ANgus Tour
Nebraska Angus Association
The Nebraska Angus Association hosted the 2024 Nebraska Angus Tour on September 20th and 21st in the southeastern district with Crete being the headquarters. Angus enthusiasts were able to enjoy ranch tours, several cattle displays, great food, door prizes, special interest stops, take part in the annual heifer raffle, and hear from sponsors.
The tour kicked off Friday morning with a round of golf at Tecumseh Country Club and a craft event at the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Crete. For lunch the tour moved to Bredemeier Angus to see displays from Bredemeier Angus, Shrock Angus, T-10 Angus, RCA Cattle Co, and MGM Angus. During the afternoon tours and discussion were conducted at Neogen and the UNL-Engler program. To round out the evening Lienetics Ranch hosted dinner and Hollman Angus Farm
displayed cattle at their stop. Husker football was on the agenda as well and was watched by all attending that night.
On Saturday, the tour started at Lylester Ranch near Martell with breakfast and cattle on display from Lylester Ranch, Hollman Angus, Stastny Angus, and CattleRack Angus. A wonderful breakfast and drinks were enjoyed along with a presentation by sponsors. Following the breakfast stop the tour moved to HeatSiecker for a special tour. This tour allowed tour goers to see where the HeatSiecker patch is made and learn how it functions. Also, during this stop attendees were able to see a unique irrigation system they use to water their pastures. After HeatSiecker the tour traveled to Henderson, Nebraska for the lunch stop at S Diamond Angus. Here tour participants were able to see cattle on display from BGee Angus, S Diamond Angus, and MJF Cattle. A steak lunch was enjoyed at this
stop and Kim Siebert with S Diamond Angus offered a judging contest of their cattle for tour participants and the ones chosen they would take to Denver in January to show. Middle of the afternoon the tour ventured to Clay Center to tour the US Meat Animal Research facility. Fun fact learned during the tour is this facility is the largest meat animal research center in the world! Following the USMARC tour, tour goers made their way back to Crete to Tuxedo Park to see cattle on display from Double D Angus, take part in the Nebraska Angus Association Annual Meeting, and Banquet.
The Nebraska Angus Association thanks all the producers who participated, everyone who attended the tour or helped, and all those who sponsored this great event this year. Check us out next year for the Nebraska Angus Tour scheduled to be held in north central Nebraska!
2024 Nebraska Angus Tour Sponsors
Auburn State Bank
Herd Report- Scott Beck
2024 Nebraska Angus Tour Recap
2024 Nebraska State Fair
Nebraska State Fair was held in Grand Island, NE.
1104 - EARLY JUNIOR HEIFER CALVES
JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 29, 2024
1st - Tuttle Cattle Company - Dorchester, NE
2nd - Circle B Livestock LLC - Albion, NE
1108 - LATE SENIOR HEIFER CALVES
NOVEMBER 1 – DECEMBER 31, 2023
1st - Kasey Meyer - Blue Hill, NE
2nd - Andrew Bowman - York, NE
3rd - Andrew Bowman - York, NE
4th - ODea Cattle - Indianola, NE
1110 - EARLY SENIOR HEIFER CALVES
SEPTEMBER 1 – OCTOBER 31, 2023
RESERVE CHAMPION
1st - Addi Crouse - Belgrade, NE
2nd - Frank Cattle & Genetics - Chappell, NE
3rd - Braxon Rynearson - Broken Bow, NE
4th - Frank Cattle & Genetics - Chappell, NE
5th - Clara Stump - Saint John, KS
6th - Breken Rynearson - Broken Bow, NE
1112 - LATE SUMMER YEARLING HEIFERS
JULY 1 – AUGUST 31, 2023
1st - Albert Moeller - Grand Island, NE
2nd - Tuttle Cattle Company - Dorchester, NE
1114 - EARLY SUMMER YEARLING HEIFERS
MAY 1 – JUNE 30, 2023
1st - Wyatt Smith - Osceola, NE
1116 - LATE JUNIOR YEARLING HEIFER
MARCH 1 - APRIL 30, 2023
GRAND CHAMPION
1st - Trauernicht Simmentals - Wymore, NE
2nd - Kasey Meyer - Blue Hill, NE
3rd - Ryan Brenner - Mapleton, Ia
4th - Hadley Dunklau - Wayne, NE
5th - Braxon Rynearson - Broken Bow, NE
6th - Tuttle Cattle Company - Dorchester, NE
7th - Circle B Livestock LLC - Albion, NE
1120 - EARLY JUNIOR YEARLING HEIFERS
JANUARY 1 - FEBRUARY 28, 2023
1st - Prime Genetics - Kearney, Ne
2nd - Kim Siebert - Henderson, NE 3rd - ODea Cattle - Indianola, NE
1134 - EARLY JUNIOR BULL CALVES
JANUARY 1 – FEBRUARY 29, 2024 GRAND CHAMPION
1st - Kasey Meyer - Blue Hill, NE 2nd - Cooper Elsen - Miller, NE
3rd & 4th - Kim Siebert - Henderson, NE
1140 - LATE SUMMER YEARLING BULLS
JULY 1 – AUGUST 31, 2023 RESERVE CHAMPION
1st - Wendell Custer - Cushing, OK
1144 - LATE JUNIOR YEARLING BULLS
APRIL 1 – 30, 2023
1st - Wendell Custer - Cushing, OK
2nd - Brianna Brown - Pleasanton, NE
3rd - Braden Schulte - Kearney, NE
1148 - EARLY JUNIOR YEARLING BULLS
JANUARY 1 – FEBRUARY 28, 2023
1st - Brianna Brown - Pleasanton, NE
RESERVE CHAMPION BULL
GRAND CHAMPION BULL
Kasey Meyer • Blue Hill, NE
GRAND CHAMPION FEMALE
Trauernicht Simmentals • Wymore, NE
RESERVE CHAMPION FEMALE
Addi Crouse • Belgrade, NE
Wendell Custer • Cushing, OK
Our Angus Family Obituary & News
TErEsA s. KEyEs age 56, of Springfield, Nebraska died Saturday, August 24 surrounded by her family at home.
Teresa was born January 22, 1968 to Robert and Carolyn (Knapp) Wiese.
She was baptized and confirmed at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield, choosing Psalm 23 as her confirmation verse; a fitting passage for her future as a farm wife.
Teresa grew up on the family farm just west of Springfield with her parents Robert and Carolyn, sister Tiffany and brother Jon. She attended Springfield Elementary and Platteview Junior-Senior High School, later earning a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Peru State College and Bellevue University.
Summers were spent walking beans and throwing square bales. The best part of the year was always the Sarpy County Fair, a place where her oldest friendships were formed and she met the love of her life, Kevin. Teresa was active in 4-H and the county fair was one of the few times her dad would hand out $20 bills and say, “Go get yourself something to eat.”
Teresa married Kevin on June 25, 1988 and they raised three wonderful daughters who blessed them with three dear sons-in-law and eight cherished grandchildren.
She was grateful to have been able to work with Kevin on the farm, and later the ranch, and raise her daughters–her most noble work. She
dedicated herself to being present as they grew, teaching Sunday School and leading their 4-H clubs, both for over 15 years. Teresa never missed a room party or a field trip and greatly enjoyed the girls’ friends who they brought home from school and college. She and Kevin also served as Nebraska Junior Angus Association Advisors and were honored with the Nebraska Outstanding Young Farmer Award in 2000. She was in the bleachers for every sporting event, ringside at every cattle show and at everything else Melissa, Jenny and Michelle ever did.
Teresa went to work only after the girls were older. She had spent several years as a temp in the Sarpy County Election Office before becoming a permanent part of that office for 13 years. When the girls were married, with families of their own, she left the Election Office in 2020 to help Kevin full-time and enjoy those grandchildren.
Teresa taught her daughters many things, including the importance of citizenship. A natural rule follower, Teresa made sure her girls knew the difference between right and wrong and the importance of doing the right thing. Her work in the election office in the years after the girls went to school provided the opportunity for her to have them participate in the operation of local and federal elections. She loved her time volunteering for the local Legion Auxiliary and Girls State conference, the county fair, church, fire department and other community efforts throughout the years. She was always quick to donate her time, talent and treasures to a good cause. It’s these values that earned Teresa and her three girls citizenship awards through their grade school years.
In the final years of her life, she bravely battled cancer. She fought a good, hard fight and she is so greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Teresa is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Kevin; daughters, Melissa (Mark) Nelson of Correctionville, IA, Jennifer (Jared)
Wiese of Papillion, NE, and Michelle (Garrett) Swanson of Mason City, IL; grandchildren, Roy, Charlie and Jeannie Sue Nelson of Correctionville, Minnie, Co and Laddie Wiese of Papillion, Mae and Ellie Swanson of Mason City; mother, Carolyn Wiese (Knapp); siblings Tiffany (Mike) Herzog and Jon (Lindsay) Wiese; niece Carli Wiese; many friends and extended family.
Teresa was preceded in death by her father, Robert Wiese.
Funeral Services were at 10:30 AM Wednesday (8/28/24) at Springfield First United Methodist Church 480 Main Street Springfield, NE, Interment Springfield Memorial Cemetery. Memorials to the family to be determined later.
Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - Gretna Chapel 11710 Standing Stone - Gretna, NE www.RoederMortuary.com
From Our Mailbox
Dear Nebraska Angus Association, Thank you for sponsoring the Nebraska bred winners at the State Fair open show! Your support to breeders and exhibitors is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Kasey Meyer
Customer First Mentality
Connealy Angus recognized by Certified Angus Beef for commitment to excellence.
By Morgan Boecker
When potential buyers fill the Connealy Angus sale barn, they’re not just there for the genetics but the customer service guarantee.
The Connealys could easily go unnoticed if not for their customers. Their remote location paired with their quiet demeanor doesn’t draw attention, but their character does.
“Your reputation is paramount,” Jerry says. “You can’t cut corners, you can’t be shortsighted.” Not if you want repeat customers, the family’s measure of success.
For getting that and a lot more right, Connealy Angus was recognized with the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Seedstock Commitment to Excellence award at the brand’s Annual Conference in September.
A Place to Thrive - In one of the toughest economic times for the cattle business, Jerry and his new bride Sharon moved back to his family’s ranch.
“We’ve gone from survival mode in the ’80s to making the right decisions so we can pass this on to the next generation and our customers,” Jerry says. “We’re now in a place where everybody can, not just survive, but thrive and make the land
and everything we touch better.”
Sharon, once a city girl, now manages accounting, payroll, data entry, purebred registry and sale catalog creation for two annual Angus bull sales.
Three of four children work full-time at the ranch.
Oldest son Jed’s passion for merchandising spurred the creation of Connealy Marketing. He works with commercial customers daily to buy or place feeder calves with feedyards, and offers artificial insemination (AI) services for their herd and customers. His wife Jais is the ranch veterinarian.
Jed passes performance and carcass information back to Jerry and youngest son Gabriel, who followed his father’s footsteps in caring for the cattle and an interest in genetics. His wife Becca is a nurse, but also actively assists with sale prep, event coordination, data entry and customer gifts.
Daughter Hannah’s primary role is managing social media, data entry, event planning and Connealy Angus Meat Market. She also helps when an extra hand is needed moving cows or processing cattle.
“The kids returning home has been key to our ability to grow and to meet customer needs on a more personal level,” Sharon says.
Simple Strategy - Angus have roamed Connealy pastures since 1961 when Jerry’s dad first unloaded them there.
“Now, I look at my counterparts who have other breeds and wonder how they overcome their obstacles and compete against the Angus cow,” Jerry says.
His ideal cow is the one he doesn’t notice. It’s the female that calves unassisted, raises a big calf and gets bred at the same time every year.
Preparing for breeding season, Jerry and Gabriel compare strengths and weaknesses of their chosen sires. Sharon exports custom reports from Angus Information Management Software comparing expected progeny differences (EPDs) and phenotypic scores. They also ask: What’s changing in the marketplace and what direction do the cattle need to go?
“Not to sound too simplistic, but it all comes down to our commercial bull customer,” Jerry says. “What traits each bull brings to the table that are ultimately going to make our commercial customers profitable.”
Rather than positioning the herd as maternal or terminal, “we think we can do both within the same line of cattle,” Gabriel says.
They pay attention to each of the EPDs and indexes offered through the American Angus Association® but evaluate some more than others. Their first focus is on the maternal side through calving ease direct (CED); then they look at growth via yearling weight. Finally, pressure is applied to the carcass through marbling, ribeye area and carcass weight.
They also DNA test each calf for an added measure of trust, Gabriel says.
Each animal gets an electronic identification (EID) tag for quick and accurate records. Using available technology allows them to make faster progress and avoid mistakes, Jerry says. It’s an imperative investment as the cost of doing business rises.
Customers First - “For our customers’ calves to ultimately be profitable, they need to ring the bells and whistles that bring back greater bonuses by performing at a higher level to get off the commodity list and into premium territory,” Jerry says.
Through Connealy Marketing, Jed acts as broker to place groups of calves that match a feeder’s goals. His
Caption: (from left) John Stika, CAB, Sharon, Hannah, Jerry Connealy, Bruce Cobb, CAB
relationship with feedyards allows him to share information with his family and their customers to make informed management decisions.
“There’s undeniable pull-through demand for cattle genetically geared to make Certified Angus Beef,” Jed says. “They demand a premium. If that premium’s on the feeder cattle side, that guy sees it and he can take that premium and reinvest it to get even better.”
M & M Feeders, Lexington, Neb., fills a lot of pens with Connealy genetics because co-owner and manager Daron Huyser knows what to expect.
“They put more energy into intramuscular fat [marbling] than external backfat, so we don’t get discounted for yield grade fours and fives,” Huyser says. Consistently, truckloads average 50 percent CAB and $100 per head premiums.
Knowing there’s a higher chance to earn a payback drives confidence to make improvements at the ranch. If it was Connealy genetics that got them there, the same customers will be back
the next time they need bulls or replacement females.
Passing It On - Even as the cattle business continues to evolve, they’re evolving, too. Through genetics, using the available tools and technology and managing the cattle well, their product keeps getting better and better.
But their kindness and character remain why their reputation precedes them.
“How you define success isn't necessarily in your checkbook,” Jerry says. Success is moving the industry forward, going to bed at night knowing you did the right thing and providing a service that keeps your customers in business.
