by Mia Bayer, Director, Youth Programs and Foundation Manager
The American Simmental-Simbrah Foundation has had an exciting start to 2026, with a busy calendar of successful fundraising efforts.
The year kicked off at the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City, where several items were auctioned, including a fishing trip, advertising opportunities, and the highly anticipated Foundation Female during the Bricktown National sale. The sale of the Foundation Female is a highlight each year, marking the beginning of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts. Proceeds from this sale directly benefit the Merit Scholarship Program. This year, STCC Pays To Prove 104N, donated by Trennepohl Farms of Indiana, was the featured female. A consortium of nearly 50 breeders came together and purchased the female for over $45,000. The donors were placed into a rafflestyle drawing to take home the female, and Innovation AgMarketing was selected as the winner. Innovation AgMarketing graciously donated the heifer back and she sold for an additional $7,000 to Golden J Farms of Mississippi. Including the funds raised this year, the annual sale of the Foundation Female has raised a total of $817,100 since its inception.
The next major fundraising event took place in Denver, Colorado, during the National Western Stock Show. A highlight
of the event was the popular gun and liquor raffle held during The One and Only sale. This year, Circle M Farms donated a Marlin 70478 gun, while Steve and Cathy Eichacker and Eberspacher Enterprises contributed bottles of liquor and etched glassware. Ten bottles of liquor were auctioned off, and at the end of the sale, Randy Moody emerged as the lucky winner of the rifle. The raffle raised close to $13,000 for the Foundation.
The fundraising continued with a silent auction at the final PTP show of the season—the Dixie National in Jackson, Mississippi. This year, the silent auction was held in conjunction with the Mississippi Simmental Association’s meet-and-greet and their bid board auction. Donated items included a turkey and pheasant hunt, unique handmade items, and the always-popular pedal tractor. The sale brought in an additional $3,600 to benefit the Foundation.
The beginning of 2026 has been a whirlwind of excitement for the Foundation. Many more fundraising opportunities will take place later this summer. The American Simmental-Simbrah Foundation is incredibly grateful for the generous support of breeders, donors, and contributors. A special thanks also goes out to the Foundation board members who work tirelessly to secure donations, ensuring that Foundation programs continue to thrive year after year. For more information or to get involved, please contact me, or any board member. .
