Troy Marple, North Central Region
What a start to a great 2025. As we approach the halfway point of the year we are experiencing record highs in nearly every sector of the cattle industry.
The spring sale season was amazing with increasing demand for SimGenetics. We have seen an increased acceptance of SimGenetics at nearly every level as well — whether you are selling seedstock to commercial producers or show stock, Simmental cattle are in high demand.
Hopefully, spring calving season is either over or winding down for most of you, and the breeding season is in full force. As the grass greens up, we look forward to getting them sent out to pasture and the bulls turned out so we can settle into summer.
As we head for the summer months, I would encourage you to take part in some awesome activities that the Association is putting on. The SimGenetics Training for Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs (STYLE) program will be held in Bozeman, Montana, from June 23–25. This program has received rave reviews from those who have participated, and I would encourage you to give it a try in the future. On July 6–12 we are hosting the AJSA National Classic in Madison, Wisconsin. There will be an amazing set of cattle and an even better set of youth taking part. After that, please join us August 22–26 in Columbia, Missouri, for the annual Fall Focus, which will be co-hosted by the Missouri Simmental Association. This event will be jam-packed with useful
information about all things Simmental, issues that our beef industry is dealing with, and time for fun and networking.
As you read this, we are at the end of an era at the ASA. Effective June 30, Dr. Wade Shafer retired as the EVP. I’m not sure there are words out there that can describe what Wade has meant to the Simmental breed and the cattle industry over his career at ASA. He has helped position our breed as one of the most popular and most commercially acceptable in the industry. Over his career, we have watched our market share grow, and he was instrumental in developing what is known today as International Genetic Solutions (IGS) — the largest genetic evaluation in the beef industry. I know it isn’t enough, but we all owe Wade a big “Thank You” for his dedication, leadership, and incredible vision he has provided as the EVP of ASA.
We started a new chapter as Dr. Jon DeClerck took over on July 1. I believe he knows he has some big shoes to fill, but I know he is up to the challenge. It will be exciting to see where he can lead us in the future. If you haven’t had a chance to meet or talk to Jon, I encourage you to reach out and say hi and get to know him. He has a passion and a desire that is overwhelming for all things Simmental and the cattle industry. In closing, I hope the ponds are full, the streams are running, and the grass is green. I hope your calves will gain well and let’s all cross our fingers and hope that summer and fall are as good or better than spring was. If there is anything I can do for you as your voice in Bozeman don’t hesitate to reach out. .
