The Showtimes | Greenhorn Cattle Company

YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST LOVE

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

4 GENERATIONS OF GREENHORNS HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO THE SHORTHORN BREED AND LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY.

BY: DAVID GREENHORN, OH

Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country. If at first you don’t succeed; try, try again. No pain, no gain. Life is like a box of chocolates...Everyone has a famous quote or inspirational message which they have always remembered or tried to use to guide their life. In fact, if you Google famous quotes on the Internet, the results come up with 3.4 million matches. That’s a lot of life lessons...

You never forget your first love! This may just be the ideal quote to explain David Greenhorn’s love for and dedication to the Shorthorn breed; but there’s nothing cliche about it.

“My dad, Alvin, was a colonel in the military and bought the farm in 1960 to raise ponies,” David says. Unfortunately, right after he purchased the farm, the pony business went ‘bottoms up.’

The Greenhorns sold the ponies and purchased six Hereford cows which were suppose to be bred to Hereford bulls. They all had black baldie calves. “I guess we were typical ‘Greenhorns’,” David laughs.

“Then I received two Shorthorn heifers from my dad as a Christmas present in 1962,” David shares. “My folks knew I loved cows and pets and my Dad gave me a poem explaining

how to find the gift.” Today the poem is framed and hangs on David’s wall. The heifers, named Holly and Noel, became the foundation for David’s love of Shorthorn cattle and ‘the start of the Shorthorn deal.’

“I was involved in 4-H and showed Shorthorn heifers,” David says adding he always concentrated on Shorthorn breeding stock. “At the time, Ohio was home to some of the breed’s most famous Shorthorn herds - Oakwood, Acadia, Bob-Lee. They all had annual sales.”

Even with premier Shorthorn genetics right in his backyard, David already at the young age of 12 saw the value in expanding his horizons. In June 1970, David cashed in savings bonds given to him by his grandmother and headed north across the Canadian border.

“I went to the Thomas-DraperGordon Sale in Manitoba, Canada,” David explains. “I purchased what I thought was one of the greatest

Shorthorn heifers ever and payed $2,000 for her.”

David already had an eye for quality. The heifer’s name was Kenmar Myrtle 17A. She was part of the infamous Murtle cow family and came from Harvey Fulton and the also famous Kenmar herd. “After I purchased her, they kept the show rights,” David comments. “She was undefeated in Canada.”

David ‘stayed the course’ during his high school and college years. He expanded his cattle operation to about 18-20 head before graduating from the University of Kentucky in 1973 with a degree in animal science and business. He was a member of the livestock judging team under coach Bill Angell who is currently with the Nebraska State Fair and placed 4th in the National Collegiate contest in Chicago, Illinois.

career as the manager of KBJ Ranch, one of the premier Simmental operations in the country which was also located right in his backyard.

After the Greenhorn’s home farm sat empty for nearly 20 years, David decided to get back into the Shorthorn business. He quit working for the ranch in the late 1990’s.

You know the old saying - Absence makes the heart grow fonder. When David’s son, Josh, was ready to carry on his father’s passion, Shorthorn was the natural choice and he’s trying to pass on another old adage to Josh. Do what you love and love what you do.

David, Josh and Josh’s son Kolten now own and operate Greenhorn Cattle Company (GCC) in Waynesville, Ohio. GCC recently held their 14th annual Production Sale, Where Great Females Make a Difference” at the farm. To build their program, they have adhered to the old saying - you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.

Building friendship through the years has been an important part for the Greenhorns. “I enjoy the cattle, but I enjoy the people first,” David says. “We believe we have surrounded ourselves with some of the best people in the business.”

You never know who you are going to meet at a cattle show and that is why the Greenhorns continue to attend many junior preview shows to promote Shorthorns and merchandise show heifers and embryos. “It’s good to compete in the events, but the friends you make, the people you meet and the connections you make are really important.”

Kolten is the 4th generation of GCC. He now does the majority of the showing and has been Champion Shorthorn at Shorthorn Junior Nationals, Champion at the Ohio State Fair and the Ohio Best Program. He showed for the first time on the green shavings at the NAILE last fall where he exhibited the National Champion SimAngus heifer along with the Grand Champion Shorthorn Heifer in the Junior Show. Kolten loves showing and is currently exhibiting his Shorthorn heifer and steer on the Southern Ohio Showdown Circuit.

One of the highlights of Dave’s career was winning Reserve National Champion Female with her bull calf, Omaha, at her side in Denver 2017. “I still relive this moment many times as it represents all the work, tears and smiles over the last 57 years. But most of all, sharing that moment with my son, Josh, who is the backbone of the operation,” David explains. “Not many fathers have an opportunity to work with their son on a daily basis. It is a great partnership and friendship that we have developed. Josh’s

ability to evaluate cattle is second to none. He has that natural ability and it is a gift from Him. Josh has picked out all of the donors to purchase over the years. Josh, along with his best friend and partner, Luke Turner, from Illinois have made a huge impact in the Shorthorn progression.” He was named Herdsman of the Year by his coworkers in 2010 at the NAILE.”

Although based in Ohio, the Greenhorns have shown throughout the country and have earned Grand Champion titles at eight State Fairs, the National Western, the North American and Fort Worth. Working day and night for the cattle they love. •