During the 2019 National Western Stock Show (NWSS), Hereford exhibitors will submit their votes for the 2019 American Hereford Association (AHA) Herdsman of the Year via an online survey. Exhibitors are allowed one (1) vote per email and votes must be submitted by 11:59 p.m., Friday, Jan. 18. Exhibitors are highly encouraged to submit their votes early. The winner will be announced prior to the selection of the supreme champion Hereford on Saturday, Jan. 19. Here are the five 2019 Herdsman candidates:
Alyssa Fee Copeland and Sons Herefords LLC
Holding the title of herdsman for more than four years at Copeland and Sons Herefords LLC, Nara Visa, N.M., Alyssa Fee has been instrumental in the operation’s success. Alyssa came on board at Copeland and Sons after graduating from Tennessee Technological University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and a concentration in animal science. She has since managed and helped with numerous division winners and reserve champions at the NWSS, Fort Worth Stock Show (FWSS) and Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE). Her skills in managing and fitting show cattle were made evident by the outfit being named premier breeder at both the NWSS and FWSS in 2015 and again in 2018.
Jeff Koch ShowTime Cattle Co.
Jeff Koch is the co-owner of ShowTime Cattle Co. located in Mooreland, Ind. He and Jill Blake started ShowTime Cattle Company in 2006. Jeff is involved in all aspects of the business — making breeding decisions, traveling to shows across the country, marketing cattle, providing one-on-one educational sessions to customers, finding the next great investment and even completing daily chores. Jeff grew up on a Hereford farm and showed Hereford cattle competitively. After attending Purdue University he returned to work on his family farm. He strives to breed cattle that are equally as competitive in the show ring as they are valuable donor cows and herd sires. Just as important to Jeff is developing and educating youth, and his teachings, support and encouragement to juniors are unparalleled.
Matt Scasta Buck Cattle Co.
Matt Scasta has been with the Buck Cattle Company, Madill, Okla., for more than 22 years and is considered part of the Buck family. Not only is Matt talented at preparing show cattle, but he is also a great cowman and is quite skilled in construction and mechanics, as well. Much of Buck Cattle Company’s success can be attributed to Matt. He takes pride in everything he does, whether it be clipping cattle, fitting for a show or building a fence. On a typical show day, he can be found working nonstop at the stalls — and many times he never sees the show ring. He is humble when it comes to his accomplishments; still, Buck Cattle Company is proud to say Matt has worked on almost 90 grand or reserve champions at national shows including the NWSS, FWSS, American Royal, North American International Livestock Expo (NAILE), National Junior Maine-Anjou Show and the JNHE.
Zach Wells Hoffman Ranch
While black may run in his blood, Zach Wells of Thedford, Neb., has broadened his horizon and has taken to the Hereford breed in a big way. Now working on his sixth year with Hoffman Ranch, this Texas native was a natural in the show barn, learning from his father, Tom, a past Angus and Chianina herdsman of the Year. Starting with his first Angus Junior National in Tulsa, Okla., in 1999, Zach exhibited Angus and Red Angus heifers at Texas majors as well as at national events throughout his junior career. In 2004 Zach’s bred-and-owned heifer was selected champion Angus female at the NWSS. An expansive program, Hoffman Ranch has exhibited many national champions with Zach’s assistance, including the 2018 national champion carload and the 2018 national junior show polled Hereford champion female.
Jacob Wolfrey Grimmel Girls Show Cattle
Jacob Wolfrey of Jarrettsville, Md., owns and operates Grimmel Girls Show Cattle with his wife, Michelle, and sister-in-law, Melissa Grimmel Schaake. He grew up raising and showing Angus cattle and went on to assist many large Angus and Hereford outfits before joining Grimmel Girls in 2010. Jacob has a keen eye for selecting sound and functional cattle that perform throughout all areas of the country. He has led the Grimmel Girls program to claiming many national titles including those at the NWSS, NAILE, JNHE and Keystone International Livestock Expo (KILE). Most notably, Jacob played an integral part in taking the 2016 NWSS grand champion polled female honor, along with several show heifer and show bull of the year awards.