MEET THE NALF
BOARD OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
T
he North American Limousin Foundation nominating
committee has selected the candidates for the 2020 board of
directors’ election. The nominating committee had no others express
interest in serving by the August 15 deadline. As a result, the three
slated by the nominating committee will run uncontested this year
on the ballot. The nominating committee also recommended to re-up
Dan Hunt and Joe Moore for a second term. All have accepted.
Jay Wilder, Texas (first term)
Bart Mitchell, Wisconsin (first term)
Austin Hager, North Dakota (third term)
JAY WILDER
Snook, Texas
Jay Wilder is a 1993 graduate of Texas A&M
University, getting his bachelor’s degree in animal
science. Jay and his wife, Molly, reside on their family
farm near Snook, Texas. They have twin boys, Jayce
and Spencer, who are 23 years old.
The Wilder family farm began in 1912 and Jay represents the fourth
generation. Cotton and cattle have been the mainstays for the operation.
The cattle side started as a stocker operation but has been transitioned
to a cow/calf herd. Jay and his dad run about 450 commercial cows and
Jay, Molly, Jayce, and Spencer run about 75 registered Limousin cows.
In 2004, Jay graduated from TALL VIII. TALL (Texas Agricultural
Lifetime Leadership Program) is an intensive program that spans over
two years. While in TALL, he learned you must be willing to tell your
own story. Do not rely on others to do so. Jay took this to heart and
began to serve on boards that dealt with farming and ranching issues.
Some of the boards Jay currently serves on include:
* President Brazos County Farm Bureau
* Chairman Burleson County FSA Committee
* President Texas Grain Sorghum Association
* Director Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District
Jay has also served as the President of the Texas Limousin Association;
Director of Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce; and as a
Texas Farm Bureau Young Farmer/Rancher.
“It is an honor to be nominated by my fellow peers to serve on
the NALF board. I will do my best to represent all aspects of the
Limousin cattle industry while serving,” Jay said.
BART MITCHELL
Wauzeka, Wisconsin
Bart Mitchell owns and operates Spring Creeks
Cattle Co. with this father, Bob, and two brothers,
Matt and Scott. Spring Creeks Cattle Co. was
established in the 1990s in Southwest Wisconsin.
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The farm consists of 800-1000 acres of corn and beans and 500-600
acres of hay.
Bart manages the cow herd of Limousin, Angus and Lim-Flex
cattle. He exhibits and sells bulls at National Western Stock Show,
Black Hills Stock Show and other shows and sales. The family
hosts a female production sale in the fall and an annual bull sale
in the winter.
Bart’s dad was a 10-year North American Limousin Foundation
board member including terms as president. Bart serves on the
Wisconsin State Angus Board, the Limousin Association of Wisconsin
and the Heartland Limousin Association Board.
Bart, his wife Amy, and children, Lily, Brooke, Violet and Reid,
enjoy showing cattle at the local, regional and national level.
AUSTIN HAGER
Karlsruhe, North Dakota
Hager Cattle Co. (HCC) is a fourth-generation
farming and ranching operation. Their crops and
cattle, both registered and commercial, pay the bills
for the Hager family. Austin, along with his wife,
Leah, and their four children, Bailee, Pitch, Tripp
and Remmi, all have active roles and work together at the ranch.
HCC runs more than 750 cows with half of the cattle producing
registered seedstock and the remainder being commercial cattle. They
also background feeder cattle at the home ranch and sell approximately
400 feeder cattle on an annual basis.
The North Dakota winters are long and hard, which mean the
cattle on this operation have to be built tough to thrive in the
environment. HCC has worked diligently to breed more rib shape,
capacity and fleshing ability into their Limousin cattle. At the same
time, they work hard to increase performance levels, while holding
birth weights modest and keeping maternal traits high. Hager
Cattle Co. heavily utilizes genomic testing and is a strong supporter
of single-step EPD utilization with the switch to the IGS BOLT
National Cattle Evaluations.
The commitment to bring positive results to the membership of
NALF serves as the goal for Hager’s third term as a NALF Board
of Director. “The Limousin breed is positioned to take advantage
of the rebuilding of the nation’s cow herd. New programs have
been initiated that give breeders and commercial users of Limousin
the tools to build genetics and market product in this competitive
business,” says Hager.
Austin is a member of the North American Limousin Foundation,
North Dakota Limousin Association, North Dakota Farm Bureau,
and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
• JANUARY 2020