Nestled in the mountains of Sewanee, Tenn., a group of Hereford breeders gathered for fellowship, food and learning opportunities at the 5th annual Hereford on the Mountain event.

This year’s event garnered the attention of more than 135 Hereford breeders from 11 states in the Southeastern region including Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.

“When I first started as a fieldman for the American Hereford Association, I realized there was not a national event in my territory and my breeders had no chance to interact with each other or AHA staff,” said AHA field representative Tommy Coley. “I started having this event to bring someone from the AHA staff to talk to my breeders about what is going on – but it has grown into much more than that.”

Hereford on the Mountain began in 2012 at a restaurant that served Certified Hereford Beef. However, as word spread about the event, more space was needed.

This year’s event was hosted at the home of Tommy and Kim Coley. The event kicked off with a panel discussion about marketing bulls.

“I was very impressed with the crowd and how they were focused and involved in the panel discussion,” said Tommy Mead, AHA board of director’s member, panel presenter and Georgia Hereford breeder. “We were up there talking about how to market bulls, and the crowd was focused on our discussion and asking questions – they were there to take something home. Even after the discussion was over, people were coming to ask me questions and continue the discussion. It was evident that people came to learn.”

The panel discussion covered numerous topics, including selling bulls through private treaty, in production and consignment sales and through test stations.

“I thought the Hereford on the Mountain event was awesome,” said Denny Hoffman, panel presenter and Nebraska Hereford breeder. “I don’t know many places you could go and get 130 people from the distance some people came to participate in an event of this nature. We had a diverse panel driven by different marketing methods, but we are all trying to sell Hereford bulls.

AHA president Terri Barber and AHA executive vice president Jack Ward also addressed the group.

“This was my first opportunity to participate in a masterfully planned social marketing event in such a picturesque setting,” Barber said. “Attendees were treated to a dynamic panel discussion, AHA update and CHB dinner. Hereford enthusiasts were enlightened on various marketing options during the interactive session that allowed for plenty of fellowship and enjoyment.”

Aside from food, fellowship and learning, Hereford breeders also raised money for the Brinkley School and Orphanage in India.

“We are involved with a group called Gospel Partners,” Coley said. We have raised about $20,000 over the past five years for this group and that money has built an orphanage and school in India. There are more than 1,000 kids at the school who are now getting a Christian education. This year we raised about $2,000 through cow-chip bingo to donate back to the cause.”

In the future, Coley hopes to involve as many breeders as he can in Hereford on the Mountain.

“This is a great way for Hereford breeders to get together to have social activities without cattle being physically involved,” Coley said. “They can discuss breeding programs, bulls, marketing and whatever they want on their own. The biggest challenge in the future will be to top the previous year’s event!”