South Dakota Angus breeder honored for historic herd

The American Angus Association recognizes Goodfellow Angus, Bruce, S.D.

The Historic Angus Herd Award is presented to Angus breeders or immediate families who have been in continuous production of registered Angus cattle for 50 years or more. The American Angus Association is honored to recognize Goodfellow Angus, Bruce, S.D., as a Historic Angus Herd.

Steven Goodfellow fell in love with Angus cattle at the “Little International” livestock show at South Dakota State University in Brookings. He was in college at the time, studying agriculture. After showing an Angus heifer, he knew that he wanted to be involved with the business breed.

In 1956, Goodfellow purchased seven, registered Angus heifers from Benno Stark in Madison, S.D. The foundation cow, Pride 886 S D G, was sired by Baldridge Oscar and had a heifer calf that won honors at the 1994 National Junior Angus Show in Des Moines, Iowa. Goodfellow Angus has also had several cows receive Pathfinder recognition through the Association, which is awarded to superior performing females.

The first Goodfellow Angus bull was Dor Macs Bardoliermere 425. Other bulls used throughout the operation’s history were GW Farcear, LCR Precision, Mytty in Focus and Connealy Onward. The Goodfellow Angus herd grew to about 150 head in the mid 1970s. Drought years in 1975 and 1976 forced them to disperse a majority of the herd; however, they kept back a few older cows and have slowly continued to build. Currently, Goodfellow Angus consists of 15 cows.

Steven Goodfellow has belonged to the South Dakota Angus Association since 1957 and is a life member of the American Angus Association. Through the years, he has shown cattle at the Black Hills Stock Show, Rapid City; the Sioux Empire Farm Show, Sioux Falls; and the Farm Show in Watertown.

Goodfellow Angus joins nine other historical Angus operations recognized by the American Angus Association in 2012: Walter D. Shealy III, Black Grove, Newberry, S.C.; William B. and Nancy S. Byars, Fortuna, Mo.; Sam and Doris Lefevre, Lefevre Angus Farm, Butler, Mo.; Dennis Lopez, Diablo Valley Angus, Byron, Calif.; Bobby Aldridge, Oakview Angus, Yanceyville, N.C.; Weiker Angus Ranch, Fayette, Mo.; Tracy and Mark Pedretti, Prairie Du Chien, Wis.; Randy Kessler, Milton-Freewater, Ore.; and Coulter Angus, Congerville, Ill.