DENVER, Colo. – Canadian Hereford breeders celebrated Jan. 13 after Alberta breeders won reserve grand champion bull, senior champion bull and reserve junior bull calf banners during the National Western Stock Show in Denver.
Grant and Annette Hirsche of High River and their partners, Mike and Debbie Trefiak of Edgerton, were awarded Horned Hereford reserve grand champion honours for a nine-month- old bull calf named GH Adams Nitro Design ET 377X. This is the first big win for the Hirsches at the prestigious international show in more than 10 years.
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While it is unusual for an unproven calf to win such a big prize, judge Wes Hudson of Arkansas praised the youngster for its muscle development, carriage and potential to be a strong, beef producing bull.
“It is difficult to come down here with a Hereford and win,” said a beaming Grant Hirsche.
“It’s a big accomplishment, especially with a calf. He was on the hunt to win.”
Canadian Herefords are often seen as having a different style compared to their U.S. counterparts, although the Hirsches have focused much of their purebred program on servicing the American market.
“We developed a huge relationship with a lot of Americans. They have probably been our greatest supporters,” he said.
Even when Canadian cattle were banned at the international event for five years because of BSE restrictions, the Hirsches still attended the show with a display and videos so customers would not forget them.
Blaine Brost understands that sentiment.
Brost Bros. Land and Cattle Co. at Irvine, Alta., also had American customers, which he feared he had lost for good when the border was closed after BSE was found in Canada in 2003.
As a result, he quit trying to market in the United States.
Within 15 minutes of winning the Polled Hereford senior championship banner, he and his partner, Howard Crittendon of Imperial, Sask., were approached to sell semen from GHC Taboo Coalition 52U, which is also owned by Gary and Norma Jean Boose of Nobleton, Ont.
“It is a dream you have to come to Denver and stand out,” said Brost, who last won recognition at the stock show in 1981.
“It is tough as Canadians to win down here,” said Crittendon, who described this show as the Super Bowl of livestock events.
While Brost confesses to being a nervous showman, he felt calm at the end of the show as Hudson singled out his big two-year-old bull for special praise in the ring.
“I was really happy with the job he did. He picked the kind of cattle we can all appreciate,” said Brost.
As for his champion, the bull is retiring from the show ring and will return to Canada to breed cows.
Ian Harvie of Olds, Alta., won the reserve polled junior bull calf award.
The overall grand champion Horned Hereford went to Delhawk Cattle of Earlville, Illinois.
The grand champion Polled Hereford award went to Starlake Cattle Ranch of Skiatook, Oklahoma, and reserve was Cory Wood of Maysville, Missouri, and Hoffman Herefords of Thedford, Nebraska.
