Cutting Edge sale raises $81,600 for hereford research

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A total of $86,700 was raised during the Cutting Edge Sale Sept. 5 aboard the Showboat Branson Belle. The 15 donated lots generated an abundance of excitement from charitable bidders for the benefit of the Hereford Research Foundation (HRF) and the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA).

Fourteen lots generated $81,600 for HRF and one lot raised $5,100 for HYFA’s “Growing a Lasting Legacy” campaign to support future Junior National Hereford Expos and leadership events for Hereford youth.

Hereford enthusiasts gathered for an evening aboard the Branson Belle on Table Rock Lake after wrapping up the Hereford Genetic Summit in nearby Springfield, Mo. The focus of the Summit was genetics: how the Hereford breed can position itself to continually succeed and increase market share and how the breed can continue its relevance to the commercial cow-calf industry and the consumer.

“Thanks to the supporters of the Hereford Research Foundation the AHA is able to continue to invest in industry leading research that will help us meet the demands we discussed at the Summit and keep the Hereford breed on the ‘cutting edge,’” says Jack Ward, American Hereford Association (AHA) chief operating officer and director of breed improvement. “HRF supports projects like the calving ease research at Simplot, the GrowSafe system built at Olsen Ranch, Harrisburg, Neb., to collect feed intake data, and the work done to DNA sequence 15 Hereford legacy sires.”

Two lots tied as the high-selling lots. Lot 6 — four KCF Bennett Encore Z311 ET x KCF Miss Revolution Y91 embryos — donated by James Bennett and family of Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, Va. Joe and Cyndi Van Newkirk of Van Newkirk Herefords, Oshkosh, Neb., purchased the lot for $12,000.

Also selling for $12,000 was Lot 1 — one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture of a bull or cow, with brand included on base and made by world-renowned artist John David Rule, Minco, Okla. Purchasing the lot was the owners of C Miles McKee 2103 ET — Colyer Herefords, Bruneau, Idaho; Sullivan Farms, Dunlap, Iowa; Curtis and Jackie Castle, Crawford, Okla.; and Iron Lake Ranch, Athens, Texas.

The second high-selling lot was Lot 5 — three KCF Bennett Encore Z311 ET X KCF Miss 732T Z109 ET embryos — also donated by Knoll Crest Farms. Churchill Cattle Co., Manhattan, Mont., purchased the package for $9,300.

Another embryo package was the third high seller. Lot 15 — two C Miles McKee X STAR KKH SSF Olivia 15U ET female embryos — donated by Sullivan Farms, Dunlap, Iowa. Buck Cattle Co., Madill, Okla., purchased the two embryos for $8,600.

The AHA staff and HRF board members wish to thank all those who donated and purchased items and those who placed bids to support the future of Hereford research. Since its inception, the HRF has raised more than $300,000 to support breed improvement projects.