On the road with Genex Independent Contractors

A big part of my role at Genex/CRI is providing training and support to the nearly 200 Independent Contractors that sell beef semen and breed cows for Genex all over the U.S. and Canada.  Last week was our annual Genex Progeny Tour/IC Graduate School.  This event is the result of a lot of hard work and planning.  It's always fun to see it come together, but also a relief when you can look back and say it was successful event.  This year I was lucky to have a lot of help planning the tour, as two of our Genex Territory Sales Managers, Darcy Warren and Ryan Ollerich, took charge of planning the tour stops.  The truly helped make this one of our best events ever!

On October 1-3, 2013, nearly 75 Genex Independent Contractors and Beef Marketing and Genetics staff gathered in Sioux Falls, S.D.  This group represented 22 different states and one Canadian province.  I can't tell you how exciting it is when you get on a bus filled with cattle enthusiasts to spend a couple of days looking at Genex progeny and learning more about what our beef line-up has to offer.

On the first day of our tour we were privileged to have the opportunity to view Genex progeny on display at Mohnen Angus, Varilek Angus and Koupal Angus.   We stopped at Genex Dakota Sire Service in Mitchell, SD to view Genex bulls that are there on collections.  Two bulls that I was extremely impressed with were 1AN01240  Schiefelbein EFFECTIVE 61 and 1AN01302 Connealy WESTERN CUT.  While we were at Genex Dakota Sire Service we also had the opportunity to take in the Genex Progeny Showcase, as several producers brought progeny for us to view.

Genex Independent Contractors, Duke Warren and Clarence Schumcher, catch a ride while viewing cattle at Mohnen Angus.

View of the Genex Progeny Showcase at Genex Dakota Sire Service.

On our second tour day we made stops at Eugene Rapp's, Ogren Brother's, Penrhos Farms and Goodwin Heritage Feedlot.  Penrhos Farms, Britton, S.D., is owned by the Owen Jones family.  They have been a progeny test herd for Genex for nearly two decades!  This was a favorite stop for nearly everyone on the tour.  It was really exciting to see generations of Genex A.I. sired cattle stacked on top of each other.  While we were there we had an opportunity to view some of the first progeny on several of Genex's up and coming bulls such as 1AN01238 SAV RESOURCE 1441 and 1AN01214 WRA WALKER X3.  

ICs, Steve Lund and Donovan Dirks, study the 1AN01233 Flag CROSS COUNTRY 90052, progeny on display at Varilek Angus.

 

The group taking in the view at Koupal Angus.

After two exciting days of viewing Genex sired progeny we settled in for a day of learning.  Dr. George Perry from South Dakota State University was kind enough to meet with our group and discuss management considerations for getting the most out of our reproduction programs.  Dr. Tonya Amen from Angus Genetics, Inc. lead us in a discussion on Angus 50k, the incorporation of DNA into EPDs and what' s new on the horizon.

I would like to thank all of our tour stop hosts for their extreme hospitality!  Your willingness to open your farms and ranches to our group is invaluable.  Your enthusiasm for good cattle is electrifying. The experience that we were able to gain will help us to continue to give sound genetic and reproductive advice to Genex members and customers all over North America.

October 1-3, 2013 nearly 75 Genex Independent Contractors, Beef Marketing and Genetics staff gathered in Sioux Falls, S.D. for the annual Genex Beef Progeny Tour/IC Graduate School.

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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.