2026 Golden Book Awards

by Lilly Platts
 
Two longtime Simmental breeders have received the Association’s highest honor. 
 

John B. Collier, Stephenville, Texas

 
John and Metta Collier with their Grandchildren
 
John B. Collier was instrumental in the establishment of the Simmental breed in the United States. His family’s Collier Diamond C Ranch was an early adopter of whole-herd AI and embryo transfer. 
 
Using whole-herd AI and embryo transfer positioned the operation to be at the vanguard of the industry early on. Imported semen was becoming available at the time, and after trying a Simmental bull in the herd, the Collier family saw a new opportunity. Their Simmental calves were weaning at a significantly higher weight. John recalls selling a group of Simmental calves in the Fort Worth Stock Show, and receiving a premium. The Simmental calves were markedly heavier than their counterparts, and people took notice.
  
Part of this success was thanks to John’s ability to talk to people, and market his cattle. Simmental cattle, which looked very different from the standard Hereford or Angus of the time, stood out. John knew that for producers to buy them and see the benefit, he needed to be out talking to people. After his father died in a car accident, John became the lead at the ranch. He moved back home to Stephenville, and continued his efforts promoting their Simmental cattle. 
 
John became a member of the ASA Board of Trustees, and in 1982, was elected as chairman. He recalls being one of the younger people in the room, but that didn’t stop him from sharing ideas. He was instrumental in the formation of a junior program, which became the American Junior Simmental Association. Youth was central to the promotion of his cattle at home, with Collier Diamond C organizing programs for young people to pick out and show a Simmental heifer. 
 
John also published a national magazine focused on Simmental cattle called The North American Simmental. This publication was the precursor to the Simmental Shield, and eventually, the Register. John still has copies of these early publications, which helped solidify the importance of Simmental cattle in North America. 
 
Collier took over management of his family’s ranch shortly after college
 
John served as the chairman of the ASA Board of Trustees in 1982, and was involved in many key decisions that still guide the breed today. He was especially focused on encouraging youth to become involved, and was at the forefront of establishing the American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA). After convincing his fellow Board members of the importance of a youth organization, he also guided the implementation of the educational contests that are still at the forefront of the AJSA. 
Collier exhibited Simmental cattle at many events, winning many awards during his time in the show ring.
 
John remains active in breeding SimGenetic and Red Angus cattle, and is known for being a wealth of information about the history of the Simmental breed, which he shares on Facebook. John and his wife, Metta, still reside near Stephenville, Texas. In addition to cattle, John is a lifelong, passionate golfer and big-game hunter. 
 

Gibbs Farms, Ranburne, Alabama

Wendell (R) with his son, Doug (L); grandson, Bradley (middle); and great-grandsons, Swayze and Sadler.

The Gibbs family has been raising SimGenetics  cattle since 1972, when they transitioned their herd from polled Herefords. As the industry shifted toward black-hided cattle, Gibbs Farms was at the forefront, adding Angus to their program before SimAngus became an industryleading cross.

Wendell grew up on a farm that raised cotton, and his father owned a feed mill and raised poultry. This instilled a lifelong interest in agriculture, which he has passed on to generations. Gibbs Farms started with a small plot of land, which has grown into a significant operation, raising seedstock and farming both crops and timber. Wendell worked as a bank executive before going full-time for the operation in 1988 following retirement. Alongside his wife, Nan, Wendell and his family have continually improved and grown their cow herd.

After first experimenting with breeding Angus cows to Simmental, Wendell planned to market these crossbred cattle as commercial feeder calves. Seeing the growth and other positive traits of this cross, he quickly realized an opportunity to do something entirely new. They started selling SimAngus seedstock, marketing the maternal strength of the females and the wide array of benefits commercial producers could get from hybrid vigor. After seeing success with SimAngus females, their customers started asking for crossbred bulls as well. This kickstarted what is now a decades-long focus on raising sought-afterSimAngus genetics.

Above: The Gibbs family started breeding their Angus cows to Simmental
bulls years before the term SimAngus was coined. Right: Producers travel
from throughout the country to attend the annual Gibbs Farms sale.

In 2005, Gibbs Farms decided to accelerate their already successful SimAngus seedstock business by purchasing the entire Simmental and Angus herd from Optimal Beef Genetics, Bell Farms, and Pineview Farms. This expansion allowed the Gibbs family to meet the demand for their SimAngus bulls.

Today, Gibbs Farms continues this commitment. Wendell and Nan’s son, Doug, and grandson, Bradley, lead the operation. Data collection — from carcass records to cow herd records — are meticulously kept and submitted to the Association. The family has been recognized as a Performance Advocate by ASA many times, and have participated in a range of whole-herd data collection programs. The Gibbs prefix appears in influential pedigrees throughout the breed, and their annual sale draws in seedstock and commercial producers from across the country. AI and ET technology are utilized throughout the operation.

Each generation of the Gibbs family has held leadership positions in the industry, including through the Alabama Cattleman’s Association, Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association, and both the Alabama and Georgia Simmental Associations. Beyond being stewards of their cow herd, the Gibbs family prioritizes the health of their land — rotational grazing, riparian area fencing, and more are utilized.

Doug and his wife, Lucretia, have three children: Whitney, Toni, and Bradley. Wendell and Nan’s daughter, Lorie, and her husband, Chad, have four children: Trey, Nancy, Grace, and Ella. Wendell and Nan’s daughter, Wendy, and her husband, Chad, have three children: Clayton, Samuel, and Madison.

 

Golden Book Award Recipients 1982 to Present

Jerry Moore, ’82, Canton, OH
Dr. Horst Leipold, ’82, Manhattan, KS
Dr. Harry Furgeson, ’82, Anaconda, MT
Don Vaniman, ’85, Bozeman, MT
Dr. Ray Woodward, ’86, Miles City, MT
Lou Chesnut, ’86, Spokane, WA
Jess Kilgore, ’87, Three Forks, MT
Arnold Brothers, ’87, McIntosh, SD
Rob Brown, ’88, Throckmorton, TX
Bob Dickinson, ’88, Gorham, KS
Tom Abell, ’89, Wharton, TX
Ron Baker, ’89, Hermiston, OR
Albert West, III, ’90, San Antonio, TX
Miles Davies, ’92, Deer Trail, CO
Henry Fields, ’92, Claude, TX
Dr. Earl Peterson, ’92, Littleton, CO
Colville Jackson, ’92, Gloster, MS
Ancel Armstrong, ’93, Manhattan, KS
Javier Villarreal, ’94, Acuna Coah, Mexico
Dr. Harlan Ritchie, ’94, East Lansing, MI
Bud Wentz, ’94, Olmito, TX
Kay Thayer, ’95, Bozeman, MT
Walt Browarny, ’95, Calgary, AB
Steve McGuire, ’96, Bozeman, MT
H.W. Fausset, ’96, Worland, WY
Hugh Karsteter, ’97, Cushing, OK
Nina Lundgren, ’97, Eltopia, WA
Don Burnham, ’99, Helena, MT
Dr. Bob Schalles, ’99, Manhattan, KS
Tom Risinger, ’99, Crockett, TX
Bill Spiry, ’00, Britton, SD
Bob Christensen, ’00, Malvern, IA
Kay Klompien, ’01, Bozeman, MT
Robert Haralson, ’01, Adkins, AR
Dr. John Pollak, ’02, Ithaca, NY
Dr. Dick Quaas, ’02, Ithaca, NY
Dr. Jerry Lipsey, ’03, Bozeman, MT
Marty Ropp, ’03, Bozeman, MT
Jim Taylor, ’03, Wallace, KS
Dr. Joe & Mary Prud’homme, ’04, Tyler, TX
Dr. Bob Walton, ’05, DeForest, WI
Sam Smith, ’05, Prague, OK
Emmons Ranch, ’05, Olive, MT
Hudson Pines Farms, ’06, Sleepy Hollow, NY
Dan Rieder, ’06, Bozeman, MT
Silver Towne Farms, ’07, Winchester, IN
Gateway Simmental, ’07, Lewistown, MT
Dr. Larry Cundiff, ’07, Clay Center, NE
Reese Richman, ’08, Tooele, UT

Clifford “Bud” Sloan, ’08, Hamilton, MO
Sally Buxkemper, ’09, Ballinger, TX
Nichols Farms, ’09, Bridgewater, IA
Triple C Farms, ’09, Maple Plain, MN
Linda Kesler, ’10, Bozeman, MT
Stuart Land & Cattle, ’10, Rosedale, VA
Powder Creek Simmentals, ’10, Molena, GA
Tom Clark, ’11, Wytheville, VA
Harrell Watts, ’11, Sardis, AL
Frank Bell, ’12, Burlington, NC
John Christensen, ’12, Wessington, SD
Bob Finch, ’12, Ames, IA
Willie Altenburg, ’13, Fort Collins, CO
Tommy Brown, ’13, Clanton, AL
Roger Kenner, ’13, Leeds, ND
Dr. Michael Dikeman, ’14, Manhattan, KS
Val & Lori Eberspacher, ’14, Marshall, MN
Hounshell Farms, ’14, Wytheville, VA
Verlouis Forster, ’15, Smithfield, NE
Jennie Rucker, ’15, Hamptonville, NC
Dr. Mike Tess, ’15, Bozeman, MT
Bill Couch, ’16, Owensville, IN
Billy Moss, ’16, McCormick, SC
Pine Ridge Ranch, ’17, Dallas & Athens, TX
Dr. Calvin Drake, ’17, Manhattan, KS
Jim Berry, ’17, Scales Mound, IL
Reflected R Ranch, ’18, Sugar City, CO
Swain Select Simmental, ’18, Louisville, KY
J.W. Brune, ’19, Overbrook, KS
Doug Parke, ’20, Paris, KY
Bob Volk, ’20, Arlington, NE
Gordon Hodges, ’21, Hamptonville, NC
Steve Reimer, ’21, Chamberlain, SD
Fred Schuetze, ’21, Granbury, TX
Tom Hook, ’21, Tracy, MN
Kevin Thompson , ’21, Almont, ND
Parke & Nina Vehslage, ’21, Brownstown, IN
Scott Riddle, ’22, Hubbard, TX
Wade Shafer, PhD, ’22, Bozeman, MT
Gib Yardley, ’22, Beaver, UT
Hart Simmentals, ’23, Frederick, SD
Neil Martin, ’23, Lyles, TN
Cynthia Conner, ’23, Bozeman, MT
Jim Largess, ’23, Bozeman, MT
Cow Camp Ranch, ’24, Lost Springs, KS
Dr. Henry Allen, ’24, Versailles, KY
Erroll and Gayle Cook, ’25, Walsh, CO
Darrell Stiles, ’25, Cushing, OK

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