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At the age of 13, with the help from
my dad, I purchased 14 head of grade
Hereford, fall calving cows, along
with their 15 calves. It was an
exciting time indeed as I would
spend
the majority of time everyday after
school with my new cattle project.
Then, as a freshman in high school, I
came across a “Polled Hereford
World” in the Ag classroom and fell
in love with registered Polled Hereford cattle. I then purchased my first
registered polled Herefords in
the spring of 1974 from Hickory Ridge Farms in Ortonville, MN from
John & Sally Schults.
In the spring of 1975, I purchased another 13 head of yearling heifers
from Elton Erickson, Kensington, MN.
Then to take my herd even farther in
numbers and quality, I was able to
purchase an additional 25 head of
yearling heifers each from Endres
Farms & the Tesch Farms in SD, in
the spring of 1977.
Through the years, cattle were purchased
both private treaty and at
production sales from a number of
progressive breeders in the upper
Midwest until I reached the number
of 120 head of registered polled
Herefords and 60 head of grade
Hereford cattle as well.
In the early 1980’s, through the
selection of better herd bulls and A.I. sires, I was able to make giant
strides in the genetic strength of
my herd. As our family farm grew to
4200 tillable acres and as interest
rates rose to 21 ½ percent and
cattle prices fell, I made the
decision
to sell off all of my grade Hereford
cattle and to cut my registered polled
Hereford herd in half
to 60 head.
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It was during this time that the
consistency, production and eye
appeal greatly improved
in my herd. It was obvious to me, as
a result of my culling process, that
the genetic strength of my herd was
uniquely woven together by the hands
of God. The results were a reality of a lifetime of prayers and dreams all
nestled into a few more great years
of raising registered
polled Hereford cattle for me. |
In the mid 1980s, I was privileged
to exhibit many MN bred and owned
champions, many State Fair
champions (MN, SD, ND, WI, IA), as
well as Champions at the largest
Livestock show in the World - the
Denver National. I have memories to
last me a lifetime, all given to me
from the good Lord, who owns the
cattle on a thousand hills. All of
this was indeed a true blessing to
me within a few short years as a
first generation Polled Hereford breeder. I was
truly an abundantly blessed Hereford
breeder.
In 1985 I went through some personal challenges that caused me to seek my creator and to desire to live more for Him. In June of that summer the good Lord watched over me and spared my life from a terrible truck accident that could have easily taken my life, It was also about the same time that I was looking for a good riding horse to help work cattle with. As well a deacon from an area church by the name of Jerry Amdahl had been praying every day during his devortional time for the Lord to send him someone to witness to that would impact a whole family. Only by God's grace could we have met, but we did when Jerry advertized a horse for sale! While we met Jerry invited my family to attend a church service with him that coming weekend. Tami and I attended, along with our 2 daughters and it was during the service that God's love and presence touched our hearts in a significant way. It was there at Calvary Assembly of God that I opened my heart & life to Jesus Christ and His word and I allowed the Holy Spirit to change my life. In the next two years I fell deeper in Love woth Jesus Christ than ever before and He became first in life..He became LORD!. My search for true meaning in life had come to an end. God's Kingdom became more importnat to me than anything in my life. In the fall of 1987, while combining soybeans I sensed the Lord's calling into full-time ministry. After a very long winter of prayer, the decision was made to disperse my herd and to enter into full-time ministry. I selected a date in August of 1989 to sell out. Yes, it was a hard decision but one that brought the Lord's grace and peace to my heart.
The Lord opened another tremendous
door of opportunity for me during
this time to sell my ¼ interest in my prize herd bull,
JR Nick the Butler in the OpryLand
Hotel in 1988, along with one of his
daughters, JPH Butler Bonanza 12T.
Nick had sired many champions, many
bull test station winners and
females with gorgeous udders. Semen
had sold into 45 states and all of
Canada. It was a time I will never
forget as I personally led Nick
around in the sale auction ring as
Dale Stith brought the sale of the
bull to $58,000.00 for my ¼
interest. And if that wasn’t enough
for one day for this young breeder,
an hour later I was able to
lead 12T around and see her sell for $25,000.00
- both selling to Big T
Ranch in Ohio.
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So it was that the excitement had
started for Nick the Butler and his
progeny. So as August
of 1989 came closer, I had not
second thoughts of my decision to
sell my childhood dream, to start life all over and to
enter ministry, which I knew nothing
about at the age of 30. With the result of my sale,
it was obvious that the good Lord’s
will had been accomplished. Cattle
sold into 19 sates, with a sale
average of $3017.00 a lot.
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I have been both privileged
and blessed to meet many
wonderful Hereford breeders
from all across the United
States - many of which are
still my close friends. |
Donn & Tami
Hard work and a team
effort
pays big rewards! |
In late August of 1989, I loaded up my
wife and three kids and headed off
to full-time
ministry training at Bible College.
Here I am 20 years later, still
following my Lord & Savior,
volunteering servant leadership at
Gateway Church here in Southlake, TX
and still enjoying friendships with
many cattle friends across the
Nation. |
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