#289 FRIENDS AND FANCIES
by Bob Moreland
Herefords, “The Proud Breed with the White Face,” predominately took the place of, first the Longhorns, and then the Shorthorn breed, in Cattle Country U.S.A., during the second and third quarters of the 20th Century. Then the Angus breed gained popularity as they got larger framed and more efficient in reproduction and gain ability. The breed changed rapidly. In fact, sometimes, a few scurs and horns along with a white spot or two turned up on purebred Angus!
I floated with the tide my last few years of ranching and went “Black” but never had the pride of ownership with them that I had with photogenic Herefords. We raised commercial and registered Herefords and had nine consecutive “Country Music” bull sales from 1973 to 1981 besides selling bulls at several association sales including the Northwest Nebraska Hereford Bull Sale at Valentine of which I became an enthusiastic director. This I presented at an annual meeting in about 1980:
“The Northwest Nebraska Hereford show and sale has probably been responsible for more of the early promotion and improvement of the breed than has any other organization in Nebraska, It was founded and made famous by some of the great breeders of their time and it has undoubtedly been copied by many other association sales throughout the state and nation.
“As a present director of the organization who probably hasn’t earned the privilege of being critical but as one who can look at it through the eyes of both a registered and a commercial breeder, I would like to suggest that it has now become just another association sale and I see a need to once again place it out of the realm of the ordinary, making it unique and setting it apart from the rank and file of Hereford events.
“I believe this could be accomplished in a way which would be a terrific opportunity for the members of the association to promote their herd bulls and to compare their progeny with that of the great sires of the area. It would have a tremendous appeal for the commercial cattleman who would have an opportunity to buy uniform half brothers that had been selected and earmarked from calf hood for the occasion.
“The basic policy of this plan would require that each consignment would consist of 3 bulls by one sire. A member’s initial consignment would consist of 3 bulls born between January 1 and June l, making them two or nearly two years old at the time of the sale. This initial consignment would entitle the member to consign another get-of-sire group of three bulls, any age, if there is room in the sale and more groups of three according to the number needed to fill the sale.
“An ideal but perhaps impossible situation would be for a standard ration to be fed to all sale bulls so they would be in like condition at the time of the show and sale.
“Judging of the pre-sale show would be simple and conducted as follows: Each consigner would enter his choice from his get-of-sire group in a class. Top bull of this class would be Grand Champion of the show. The consigner would then add his second choice bull from each group to the class. From this line up the best pair of bulls would be selected; also Reserve Champion of the show. The third bull would then be entered from each group. The get-of-sire class would then be placed which would determine the sale order. Three bulls would enter the ring together. High bidder would have the option of taking one, two or three bulls.
“It wouldn’t take much stretch of the imagination to anticipate and visualize the impressive exhibition that would come out of the display of three top sons, all in the final class, from famous sires that are owned by members of this organization.
“This sale should have a new name (something like ‘Northwest Nebraska Get-of-Sire Classic).’ It probably had just as well have a new date, a new design on the catalog cover and a brand new image. The sale barn should be remodeled with new ceiling and paneling on the inside, the auction block in a corner or on one end in view of all the bidders. The barn should provide an elegant atmosphere, the décor done with much planning. Improvements could be financed by a tax of $100 per bull until they were paid for.
“These random thoughts haven’t scratched the surface. Let’s put this Northwest Nebraska Hereford Association back on the map and give it some features that will elevate it above every other association sale. Let’s give it a position of prestige that will give it national prominence and publicity and make competition so keen that we will reserve our best for this show and sale and rightfully expect the results to be rewarding.”
My enthusiasm wasn’t as contagious as I had hoped for and probably for the best. Most of the breeders were getting up in years with energy dwindling. It wasn’t much later that many commercial ranchers started cross breeding programs. Probably three fourths of the cows on the range were Herefords allowing the demand for bulls to go to other breeds.
I still have a feeling of sentiment for Herefords. I have many years of Hereford Journals which came every month. The Herd Bull edition came once a year, the dimensions of a Sears Roebuck catalog. It was a genuine thrill to go to the Denver Stock Show and meet the people and see the herds that were publicized in the Journal.
From Charles Belden, famous photographer from the Pitchfork Ranch in Wyoming, to the present photographers and artists who paint the West, Herefords, “The Proud Breed with the White Face” is the most beautiful, picturesque breed of cattle and will always be symbolic of Western heritage and tradition.