COMMERCIAL PRODUCER AWARD
Conservation, sustainability
integral part of Seibert Livestock’s operation Story & Photos by Amy Beth Graves Innovation, sustainability and conservation have deep roots in the Seibert family in western Ohio. Ben and Daniel’s great-great-grandfather, John Wright, was a master farmer and their grandfather’s uncle, Harmon Wright, was instrumental in helping start up the soil and water conservation district. They said Auglaize County’s first maintained ditch runs through the back of the family’s property as part of a soil and water conservation effort decades ago. “John was in the first master farmer class and they pick farmers who do everything correctly and are progressive. These farmers weren’t afraid to take chances and used the newest technology and grew their farms with it,” Ben said. “Back then the family was trying to be progressive before it was popular, and that’s why the Seiberts and Wrights have been so successful over the years.” 22 | Ohio Cattleman | Winter Issue 2022
The foundation laid down by their forefathers was solid enough that the Seiberts still use the barn and other facilities today. “We’re unique in that we’ve saved the old and are just now in the process after 100 years of trying to expand and build new facilities,” Ben said. Sitting around the family table, Ben and Daniel share the history of the farm and their livelihood as their father, Richard, pipes in while holding a sleeping grandson. The three work side by side on Seibert Livestock, a commercial Holstein operation located near St. Marys in western Ohio. The Seiberts were recently named OCA’s Commercial Producer of the Year, an honor that surprised them. “We were very excited and humbled,” Daniel said. “It’s neat because our history goes back to prior generations winning awards and being successful in the industry.”
The Seibert family runs just under 1,000 head of commercial cattle in their three main cattle lots and 3,500 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay spread out over four counties. Ben and Daniel help manage the cattle along with their father while their brother, Michael, is in charge of the grain side. About 15 years ago, the family switched from Angus to Holsteins and are at the point where they raise everything themselves from birth to harvest. They’ve also recently started buying calves from dairy farms who breed Holsteins cows with Angus bulls, also known as beef on dairy, driven by increased demand for less expensive beef. “We’ve been trying that for five or six years. Some of the genetics have been good and some have been awful,” Richard said. “As time goes on the genetics will probably start getting better. There just aren’t that many
