With more than 60 years of experience, John Loewen got his start in the registered business after receiving his first registered female as a wedding gift from his father-in-law and long-time Hereford breeder, Harold V. Hunter. The two worked together running the HVH herd in Waukomis, Okla., for many years.

John and his wife, Mona, now operate the ranch under Loewen Herefords and have stayed true to raising “curve-bending cattle with carcass merit.” John is regarded as a disciplined breeder and a mentor by his peers and is recognized for his “preservation and advancement” of the breed.

His dedication to breeding Hereford cattle that fit the needs of the commercial industry is only outshined by his passion for service. John was a member of the AHA board of directors and served as chairman of the Certified Hereford Beef® Board and also served on the Hereford Youth Foundation of America Board. He currently chairs the Hereford Legacy Fund LLC Board. John has been an integral leader in the Oklahoma Hereford Association, serving as its president several times.

As AHA Vice President Joel Birdwell states in his letter of recommendation, “More important than all of John’s accomplishments professionally and in his cattle operation, John is a man of faith, integrity and honesty.”