KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The American Hereford Association (AHA) recognized Olsen Ranch, Harrisburg, Neb., and Stahly Ranch, Cavour, S.D., for their commitment and service of 20 years to the Hereford breed during the 2019 Hereford Honorees awards ceremony Oct. 25, 2019.

These two outfits have provided a platform to validate and track the genetic progress of the breed.

“I’m confident in saying that without the support of the Olsen and Stahly operations, the influence of Hereford genetics in the commercial industry would not be where it is today,” says Shane Bedwell, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement.

The National Reference Sire Program began in 1999 as a collaboration with the National Beef Tenderness project. This program has captured several key economically relevant traits and genomic data through all aspects of production. More than 425 bulls have been tested since the program’s inception and several ranches have participated as test herds. This year the NRSP reached a milestone of its own, celebrating its 20th anniversary.

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The American Hereford Association (AHA), with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI) and American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers, while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth and research. For more information about the Association, visit Hereford.org. For pictures and additional news releases, visit www.hereford.org/media.

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