by Chad Cook, Western Region
As my American Simmental Association trustee term enters into the final months, I feel this is the best time to thank the people who have made my six-year journey possible.
I believe past and present board members would agree with me when I say the commitment to serve on the board is greater than one might expect. There is a great amount of time spent traveling and in meetings conducting the business of the ASA.
Before I made the decision to run for a trustee position, I asked my wife, Kristi, my dad, Erroll, my brothers, Brent and Brad, and our herdsman, Rachel, if the day-to-day operations of Bridle Bit Simmentals could continue as we all know if I were to be gone from time to time to serve as an ASA Trustee. They all said, “We can handle it.” It was also refreshing to know that our youngest son, Austin, was planning on returning home after college to work in the family business. I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to serve two terms on the ASA board.
The first time I traveled to Bozeman for a meeting at the headquarters, I was not only amazed by the beautiful building with the scenic mountains surrounding it, but also the people who work there. It wasn’t long before I realized the staff was the absolute backbone of this organization. I would like to mention a few staff members who I not only enjoyed getting to know, but have also developed a deep respect for.
I need to start at the top with Dr. Wade Shafer and Linda Kesler. Our organization was truly fortunate to have the knowledge and dedication of these two people. Wade’s quiet leadership, science background, and his involvement in the development of IGS has changed many aspects of the cattle business.
Serving as treasurer gave me the opportunity to work closely with Linda. What a wealth of ASA knowledge she has! Linda is one of the hardest-working people I have ever met, and I admire her for giving 44 years of service to the Association.
Serving as Growth and Development committee chair gave me the opportunity to work alongside Chip Kemp. My reports from this committee were among the best and most detailed due to his input and guidance. If you are in the cattle business you know Chip Kemp. What an asset he was to the ASA.
As the Breed Improvement Chair, this gave me the chance to work closely with Dr. Jackie Atkins. Her dedication and passion, along with her warm, welcoming personality gives her the ability to communicate with those in the beef industry.
At about the same time I began my first term as an ASA trustee, Molly Diefenbach began working in DNA services, at a time when the pandemic took over our lives. Covid stacked the cards against the DNA department as everything related to it stalled. The postal service and lab limitations were just two of many things that affected DNA services. Molly, with her strong leadership, and her team worked their way through difficult times and have become one of our largest assets.
Three other people who must be mentioned are Jannine Story, Sheldon Ross, and Jordan Bowman. Jannine is the voice of data management, and as an ASA member, she is the one I communicate with the most regarding questions about THE, ultrasound, and carcass data collection. If she is tasked with a project, I am confident in her ability to get it done in a timely fashion.
One of the most interesting experiences I had at the headquarters was seeing the IGS computer system and listening to Jordan talk about the functions of all the computers. The work that Jordan and Sheldon do for the ASA is essential to the success of our organization.
In closing, I would like to give a big thank you to all the ASA and ASA Publication staff. It has been a pleasure watching you lead this breed association, and I have enjoyed getting to know you all. Best of luck to Dr. Jon DeClerk and the rest of the new staff and board members as they continue to lead our organization into the future.
