Colorado Simmental Association  •  24614 Road G.  •  Sugar City, CO  •  81076-9514

   
Home
Membership
National Western Stock Show
People's Choice Power Simm
Sales
Events Highlights
Juniors
About CSA
About Breed
Join CSA
A Look Back
Contact Us






 

  Follow Us

Colorado Simmental Association
 C/O Sec. Susan Russell
 24614 Road G
 Sugar City, Co 81076-9514
 Phone: 719-469-0020
 Email: [email protected]


Event Highlights

Pioneer Award to Oran Cunning

Colorado Simmental members recognized a charter member, current active leaders, and outstanding youth during its annual meeting on Nov. 9, 2023.

Oran K. Cunning was recognized with the CSA Pioneer Award. Cunning was one of Colorado Simmental’s 13 founding members who created the association on August 22, 1970, in Denver. Cunning was also one of the initial board members and an early officer.

“We were primarily dairymen and created Colorado Simmental from scratch,” he said. Cunning and his brother, Myron, were numbers 6 & 7 of CSA’s 28 charter members and held membership number 243 with American Simmental.

Membership took its task of developing and promoting Simmentals in Colorado seriously. Cunning, who saw benefits of the Continental breed, was among those immersed in the Simmental activities right from the start.

Despite being only five months old, CSA helped American Simmental host the 1971 American Simmental Association convention in Denver during National Western Stock Show events. Files show that CSA members helped manage the ASA convention for many years.

Colorado also hosted the first “national” all-Simmental sale on Jan. 16, 1971, with 300 head of half-blood or greater Simmental cattle being auctioned in Denver. Cunning said OK Farms had a heifer in that sale, and his OK Farms Inc. shows up as a buyer of a ¾-blood heifer in 1972, and a volume buyer in 1973, for example.

Cunning was a CSA director from 1970-1979 and he was CSA secretary/treasurer from 1973-1979. He, with the help of his wife Joy, coordinated and recorded the association’s business, advertising and activities in its formative years.

The Cunning brothers were in the Holstein business, but their OK Farms also included a cow/calf beef operation and a farrow-to-finish hog operation near Brighton. They initially used Simmental semen to artificially inseminate their Holsteins to make crossbreds. “We had a few half-bloods and ¾ bloods then,” he explained. “We had several crossbred Holstein-Simmental cows in our milking string. We had 130 to 140 head, which was large at the time.”

They also raised alfalfa, corn, wheat, milo, and sugar beets from their Brighton headquarters east to Wiggins, plus farming south toward Denver, southeast to Byers clear to Last Chance.

His brand, matching the OK of Oran K., is an O stacked atop a reverse K. His brand is still listed as active in the Colorado Brand Book.

Cunning, now 87, said he was in the Holstein business until about 40 years ago. The OK Farms partnership was dissolved in 1998. Myron lives in Arizona. Oran and Joy now live in Thornton, CO.

CSA's Pioneer Award recognizes long-term leadership from our Simmental founders, whose foresight blazed the trail for the association. CSA is grateful for the efforts and formally recognized the leadership of Oran Cunning with its 2023 Pioneer Award in a presentation prior to the Zoom meeting.

Hills, Russell receive President's Award

Pres. Willie Altenburg announced President's Awards to Paul & Nia Hill and Susan Russell during the CSA annual meeting. Paul & Nia Hill of Nunn are active Colorado Junior Simmental advisors, instrumental in the annual multi-breed Breed Bash youth event and assisted in preparing American Simmental Foundation's bred heifer lot sold at National Western. They were recognized for their extra 2023 efforts with a clock plaque. Susan Russell of Sugar City has served in the pivotal role of CSA secretary/treasurer for 25 years, coordinating all the association's business, finances, marketing, social media, membership, and events. Her 25th milestone was commemorated with a custom silver brand necklace presented at Fall Focus.

Youth scholarships, honors

CSA recognized outstanding youth with scholarships during the Nov. 9 Zoom meeting

Jason Dias received CSA's Herd Builder Grant and one of two CSA Youth Education Grants . The Herd Builder's $1500 stipend is designed to supplement Dias' establishment or enhancement of his cowherd. The second $500 grant will be used for expenses as he pursues college.

Dias, who will graduate from Fort Morgan High School in May, was lauded by Greg Ditter, his FFA advisor, who wrote that “Jason has exhibited great leadership skills and has guided our younger members using his past experiences. He has been a vital part of not only our chapter membership, but also assisting when we have hosted district contests.”

Ditter and Heath Deway, a USDA ag market reporter, also commended Dias' community activities, 4-H, baseball, and National Honor Society involvement in addition to being a fourth-generation rancher. He is the son of Chris Dias and Raychel Dias of Fort Morgan.

CSA gave its congratulations to Bradie Midcap, who also was a $500 Youth Education Grant recipient. Midcap, who will graduate from Butler Community College in May, is the daughter of Nate and Jolynn Midcap of Wray. She is competing on the college's livestock judging team. Upon earning her associate degree, she plans to pursue a bachelor's in animal science and accounting.

“Bradie is an incredible people person,” wrote Travis Taylor, a CSU livestock extension specialist. “Her passion for livestock, especially her own Simmental herd, has allowed her to become a strong businesswoman.” Midcap has many successes with her cattle and swine and in livestock judging. She has excelled scholastically, in addition to community involvement and leadership roles.

CSA also provided awards to County Fair winners who have shown their registered SimGenetic animals into the Supreme multi-breed winner's circle. During the Zoom annual meeting, CSA recognized Easton Hill for his two Supremes at the Weld County Fair. Applications for county fair prizes, as well as both the grants, may be found on here.

Elections, reports part of CSA annual meeting

Colorado Simmental Association elected its leadership, heard reports, and discussed issues during its Nov. 9, 2023, meeting.

Outgoing director Ron Mari of Holyoke was thanked for his long-time service. He chose not to seek re-election to the seven-member board of directors. The membership elected Cody Pitt of Hotchkiss to the three-year director seat.

Willie Altenburg of Fort Collins was re-elected president, Jolynn Midcap of Wray, vice-president, and Susan Russell of Sugar City, secretary/treasurer. Rounding out the board are Pitt, Jay Hill of Sterling, Paul Hill of Nunn, and Mitchell Jergensen of Ramah.

The membership heard highlights of the Fall Focus, which drew participants from 28 states and three Canadian providences to Denver when Colorado Simmental, Colorado Cattlemen’s and American Simmental associations co-hosted the annual beef industry educational event.

The 2023 National Western Stock Show activities were reviewed and details for the 2024 National Western were finalized. Simmental’s breed shows in Denver are Jan. 13-16, with The One & Only sale on Jan. 14 in the state-of-the-art yards auction facilities.

Chad Cook, an American Simmental trustee and board treasurer from Walsh, CO, gave an update on the national activities.

CSA co-hosts Fall Focus

Fall Focus 2023 brought about 200 eager-to-learn cattlemen to Denver. Simmental enthusiasts and commercial cattlemen, representing 28 states and 3 provinces, attended the successful gathering on August 25-29, 2023.

The event featured a “Ranch Gathering” with live cattle demonstrations and displays; a day-long educational symposium; a celebration of the Lifetime Promoter and Golden Book recipients; interactive committee meetings; and a productive American Simmental Association board meeting.

Colorado Simmental and Colorado Cattlemen's associations co-hosted the kickoff event on Friday, Aug. 25.

The “Ranch Gathering” kickoff included live cattle demonstrations for pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) testing by Dr. Tim Holt and feet and leg scoring by Lane Giess. Willie Altenburg, Jake Owens, and Ben Elliott provided cattle for the two demonstrations. CSA members Bridle Bit Simmentals, Hill Brothers Livestock and Reflected R Ranch provided display cattle in the new National Western's Stock Yards Events Center.

Despite the rain, a few participants enjoyed exploring the nearby CSU Spur campus's educational displays. The evening concluded with tri-tip steaks.

A huge thank you to the sponsors who helped CSA: Farm Credit of Southern Colorado, TransOva, Elanco, Merck Animal Health, MultiMin, Select Sires Inc., Baty Livestock, Bridle Bit Simmentals, Reflected R Ranch, VitaLix, Ag Risk Advisors, ABS Global, Altenburg Super Baldy Ranch, Rocky Mountain Financial Group, Rocky Mountain Sire Services, St. Vrain Simmentals, and Jay Hill family.

On Saturday, Aug. 26, education became the focus, showcasing a snapshot of issues important to the entire beef industry. An attentive audience quizzed the speakers and panelists on PAP, Congestive Heart Failure and on Sustainability.

Breed-specific awards and meetings finished out the annual Fall Focus event, which rotates around the U.S.

CSA was honored to be picked to host the 2023 event. Thank you to planning team of Curt, Susan, Willie, Chad. Thank you sponsors, hard-working volunteers, and the livestock crew from National Western Stock Show.

CSA leaders at SimSTYLE

Two CSA members served as mentors at ASA SimSTYLE (SimGenetics Training for Young Leaders & Entrepreneurs), held June 9-11, 2023, at Oklahoma City. Curt and Susan Russell of Colorado and Jimmy Holliman of Alabama, all three former ASA trustees, served as mentors for the diverse group of participants, ages 25-45. Speakers included Oklahoma's Secretary of Ag, Meyer Natural Foods and Cargill reps, and UNL's Dr. Matt Spangler.

 Colorado Simmental Association  � Colorado Simmental Association  �  Colorado Simmental Association  �  Colorado Simmental Association 

Cattle Site Design by EDJE | Visit EDJE Cattle |