Summer at Genex Hawkeye West - Billings, Montana

I have the privilege of calling Genex Hawkeye West, located in Billings, Montana, my "Genex Home."  Throughout the fall, winter and spring it is a bustling place, full of both Genex Beef and custom collection bulls that customers have brought in for us to produce high quality semen.  In fact, for most of March, April, and May the facility was full to capacity, housing nearly 180 bulls on the property! During the summer months a majority of our usual residents leave Hawkeye West to spend a couple of months out on pasture breeding cows.  During this time the staff at Hawkeye West spends a lot of time performing maintenance projects, cleaning bull pens and runs, and mowing grass.  In general, preparing for bulls to start arriving back at Hawkeye West in just a few short weeks.

However, in the last couple of weeks we have had the opportunity to showcase our facility to three awesome tour groups!

First, we hosted the 2013 National Red Angus Junior Association Round-up.  It was so exciting to get the chance to meet nearly 60 youth from across the USA that are so passionate about the beef industry.  The group joined us for lunch and then had the opportunity to see our semen processing routine from bull collection to the lab.

 Next, we hosted groups of beef producers from Argentina and Brazil.  Nearly 45 Argentines and 35 Brazilians had boarded tour buses nearly two weeks before and had spent several days touring farms and ranches across the west, viewing many popular bulls from the Genex Beef line-up and their progeny.  One of the last stops for both tour groups was Genex Hawkeye West.  Highlight bulls that both groups were extremely excited to see included Cole Creek CEDAR RIDGE 1V (1AN01224) and Trotters STRONGHOLD 156 (1AR00948).

 

Now that the tours are over, things have returned back to normal here at Hawkeye West.

If you are ever in the Billings area and would like a tour, please stop by, we love to have visitors!

If you would like to learn more about the services that we offer at Genex Hawkeye West, and at our other custom collection facilites (Genex Alabama - Fort Payne, Alabama, Genex Baton Rouge - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Genex Dakota Sire Service - Mitchell, South Dakota, Genex Strafford - Strafford, Missouri) please take a minute to view this short video.

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Author, Sarah Thorson, is our Beef Education Manager.  Sarah grew up in Eastern Montana on her family's ranch.  She is a graduate of Montana State University and has been a member of the Genex team since 2004.  Sarah works closely with the Genex Beef Marketing Staff, providing training to the cooperative's nearly 200 Independent Contractors.  She also provides Artificial Insemination training for Genex members and customers and reproductive consulting.