Kathy served as the National Limousin queen in 1973. At the time,
Don O’Brien was a member of the NALF board, so Kathy was able to
travel with her father to shows and sales.
“It was really something special,” Kathy remembered. “Not only
was I able to promote the breed I grew up in, I was able to spend time
with Dad while doing it.”
While Kristy Sanders, Kathy’s oldest daughter, served on the North
American Limousin Junior Association (NALJA) board of directors,
Don O’Brien still held a place on the NALF board.
“I remember how much he valued the junior board,” Kristy said. “There
was a seamlessness between his respect for the juniors and how that translated
to the NALF board. Our input was always taken into consideration.”
Kristy said she believes Don’s insistence to listen to feedback is part
of the reason her grandfather is remembered as so instrumental in the
growth and development of the Limousin breed.
The O’Brien family has impacted the breed so significantly, the
most prestigious award given at the National Junior Limousin Show
& Congress, the Dick O’Brien Memorial Herdsman award, bears the
name of Don’s third eldest son.
Of Don O’Brien’s eight children, all played a part in the success of
O’Brien Farms, Kathy said, even though not all eight showed cattle.
• APRIL 2020
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