Laura Loschke, American Hereford Association (AHA) assistant records supervisor, has a long history with the Hereford breed. Loschke celebrated a two-year anniversary with the AHA customer service department this past April, and she puts her passion for the Hereford industry to work every day.

When did you first join the American Hereford Association team?

I joined the team in April of 2015. After graduating from Kansas State University in 2008, I worked for the K-State Foundation. I grew up in Osage City, Kan., which is about an hour and half from Kansas City. When I heard of the opening, I thought it would be a natural fit because of my history and passion for the Hereford breed.

I grew up showing polled Herefords with my two older brothers. Herefords mean a lot to me and my family, so it is very cool to be involved in the progression of the breed. It’s also great to talk to people I have met through showing and raising cattle. Some of my friends I showed with are now having kids, and their kids are now involved in the breed. It’s really fun to watch the next generation of Hereford breeders grow up.

As the Assistant Supervisor, what responsibilities do you hold?

A typical day in the customer service department involves a lot of correspondence through emails and phone calls with breeders, along with some data entry. We regularly get the ladies in the records department together to go over reminders, new updates and any relevant issues that come up. We have different reminders and complications during certain times of the year, so we always make sure everyone is on the same page. Right now, we are reminding everyone about the July 15 non-compliance deadline and what to expect when they come in.

Toni Shapiro and I also handle the DNA work for AHA members by sorting through the DNA results and requests. Whenever issues arise with parentage, we work with breeders to correct those issues and get the animal’s pedigree updated. Working with the DNA has definitely been fascinating and always keeps me on my toes.

Do you have a favorite memory or event from your time at the AHA?

I really enjoy when breeders are in town for the Annual Meeting. The National Western Stock Show is a lot of fun as well. It’s neat to get away from the office and mingle with the breeders that we talk to all the time. We know not everyone is involved in the show ring, so we may not see them at the Royal or in Denver. We love when we get to see them in Kansas City for the Annual Meeting because they are interested in staying up-to-date with what’s going on here at the AHA.