Exec. Secretary Dean Summerbell presented the 2008 Heartland Commercial Producer award to Damon, Janette & Brian Stauffer.  Mike Smith of Liberty Ranch nominated the Stauffer's

Damon and Brian Stauffer named KLBA Commercial Producer for 2008

 

    Damon and Brain Stauffer of Arlington, Ks were named the 2008 Commercial Producers of the year by the Kansas Limousin Breeders Association.  The Stauffer's received their recognition at the KLBA annual banquet in Salina, Ks. April 5th.  The Stauffer's were nominated by Liberty Ranch of Plainville, Ks for this honor. 

    The Stauffer brothers run a 400 head Angus based spring calving herd as well as a small fall calving program.  Their father, Craig, purchased his first Limousin bull in 1995 on his way to an Angus bull sale.  he did not make it to the sale: instead, he purchased Limousin bulls after viewing the bull crop at Liberty Ranch.

    they were impressed with their purchased Limousin crossed calves they were running on wheat pasture and decided to use the Limousin genetics on their own herd.  The Stauffer's liked the calf crop and they have continued to use Limousin genetics on their commercial herd ever since.  According to Brian, "Hybrid vigor and performance work very well for them."

    the Stauffer's continue to background their calves on wheat pasture and market them at sale barns in southwestern Kansas as well as northwestern Oklahoma.  They utilize the Pratt, Ks livestock exchange on a consistent basis.

    In addition to their cow/calf operation, the Stauffer's farm 7,000 acres of wheat and corn.  They also operate a livestock hauling company called Stauffer Trucking. 

    Congratulations to Damon and Brian Stauffer.

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Leland Richards named 2007 KLBA Commercial Producer

 

      Leland Richards and his wife, Nancee and their son, Doyle were honored as the 2007 Kansas Commercial “Producer of the Year”.  They were presented a plaque before the Kansas Limousin Breeders Association Spring Sale in Salina on April 1st.

       The Richards farm over 10,000 acres just west of Salina in the Brookville area.  They have used Limousin bulls for 20 years, and every bull they have purchased has come from the state of Kansas.  They run a commercial herd with 500 momma cows and 20 plus Limousin bulls.

       Leland said that he likes the calving ease of Limousin bulls and their longevity.  He also appreciates the calf vigor and performance of the Limousin-crossed calves.

       In addition to their cattle operation, the Richards also farm 1,000 acres of wheat, 900 acres of prairie hay, 200 acres of milo, 150 acres of alfalfa, and 100 acres of sudan.  The also do custom haying and combining.

       Leland and Nancee have two sons and four grandchildren.  Doyle works on the family farm and their other son, Darin, lives in the area and also raises cattle.  Congratulations to the Richards family!

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Shilling Brothers of Westphalia KLBA 2006 Commercial Producer of the Year

 

            Greg and Ron Shilling of Westphalia, Ks. were named KLBA 2006 Commercial Producer of the year in April.  They have a commercial herd of 300 high-percentage cows.  They are one of a few producers who have a calf-to-finish operation.

            The Shilling Brothers started in the late 70’s with an Angus-Holstein crossed-herd of cows and ten Charolais from their father Willard.  They began using Limousin bulls on their herd in 1979.  They purchased bulls from Ratliff’s Cherry Creek and Bill Pracht.  All of their cows are naturally serviced. The Shillings retain their heifers for use in the herd.  Their herd is two-thirds red and one-third black.

            Greg absolutely despised yield grade 4’s He is happy with the Limousin influenced calves, which he and Ron sell to Tyson at Emporia.  They average around 45% choice and will yield 65.5% carcass.  Those figures guarantee them a premium in the mainstream market.  They feed corn to finish a 900 lb. Hanging carcass.  When asked why they like Limousin calves, Greg responded, “Our cattle yield keeps us in Limousin.”

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KLBA Selects Frohberg Family 2005 Commercial Producer of the Year

 


 Left to right  Dean Summerbell, Exec./Secretary Heartland Limousin Association, Kelma, Don, Doug Frohberg, Waterville, Ks., Ed Slusher, Osage City, Ks

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    Don and Kelma Frohberg, Waterville, KS along with their son, Doug have been selected as the 2005 recipient of the Commercial Producer of the Year, awarded by the Kansas Limousin Breeders Association. Ed Slusher of Osage City nominated them for this award. Dean Summerbell, Executive Secretary of the Heartland Limousin Association presented them with a plaque at the annual meeting and banquet in Salina, KS on April 2, 2005.  Frohberg has purchased Limousin bulls for over 20 years. He calves in the spring, then backgrounds the calves and sells them as yearlings in Manhattan. The goal is to produce good lean beef, sell a quality

product and one that is in demand when it is ready for the finishing lots.

    Don synchronizes the heifers and splits them in different bull pens. He always pelvic checks heifers for replacement. When selecting sires, Don utilizes the advice of Ed Slusher to match the bull for his herd and one that will make the most improvement. Don stresses that a bull must have good feet and also be a calving ease bull. Since using Ed’s bulls, Frohberg’s weaning weights and calving ease has increased significantly. The assistance for heifers has been reduced. In addition, he also purchased a foundation cow from Slusher and now has about 25 cows in his herd that go back to those early genetics. Major improvements have been made in yearling weights and feed efficiency. Don particularly likes the meatiness and thickness of the Limousin cross calves. As an added bonus, he has found that the salvage value of Limousin bulls is higher than other breeds.

    Don has been a member of the local Co-Op board, county Soil Conservation District and the KLA.  Congratulations to the Frohberg family! Their name will be submitted for the National Commercial Producer of the Year award. It is presented during the Pen and Carload show in Denver in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show in January by the North American Limousin Foundation.

2004 KLBA Commercial Producer of the Year

Mike Becker of the Diamond B Ranch, Russell, Ks. was named by the Kansas Limousin Breeders Association the 2004 Commercial Producer of the Year. The award was presented on April 3 at the annual Kansas Limousin breeders Association Banquet in Salina. Dean Summerbell, Heartland Executive Secretary, gave the award.   Mike has used Limousin bulls since 1972 to breed a set of half-blood heifers that he got from South Dakota.  He has raised and sold many Limousin crossed club calves. He owned the old Colonel bull that was shown in Denver on the Red Carpet.   He runs approximately 600 cows, mainly calving in the spring. He used Cutler Cattle Co. of Scott City to feed his claves. He markets his calves in the fall using the Pfizer Select Vac program to precondition his cattle. Mike Smith, Liberty Ranch nominated Diamond B Ranch for the award.

2003 KLBA Commercial Producer of the Year

The KLBA 2003 Commercial Producer of the Year was presented to John and Donna Tersinar of Farlington, Ks. The plaque was presented to them at the KLBA Annual Banquet in Salina; Ks. by Dean Summerbell of the Heartland Limousin Association.  They purchased their first Limousin bull in 1978 from Earl McColm. Currently they run a commercial herd of 130 cows using six Limousin bulls. The calves are backgrounded and sold as yearling at the Fort Scott or Parsons livestock sales and usually top the market. Of the 720 acres of land that they own, 120 acres are used for raising wheat and soybeans, and the rest is in pasture or hay.  The Tersinar Farms began in 1875 by John’s great-grandfather. Today John and his son, John Allen and his wife, Lori and their sons Drew and Tanner operate the farm. The received the Farm Bureau Century Farm award in 2001.  John and Donna were nominated by Phil Shipman of Shipman Cattle Company of Girard, Ks.