HERMAN SYMENS November 27 , 1939 - July 16 , 2022
Herman Symens , 82 , of Sisseton , South Dakota , passed away July 16 , 2022 , after a long illness . He was a pioneer in the Limousin breed and a true friend of Limousin breeders , spending four decades breeding , feeding and promoting the cattle he loved .
He started with Limousin in 1970 when he and his brothers Irwin , Paul and John , began raising this new breed of cattle , Limousin , at Symens Brothers near Amherst , South Dakota . They were leaders in Limousin genetics , exhibiting many grand champion Limousin bulls at shows like the National Western Stock Show , the Black Hills Stock Show , and the South Dakota State Fair .
Herman , his wife , Judy , and their sons , moved from Amherst to Sisseton , South Dakota , in 1993 where they raised cattle at Symens Hills Ranch . They also owned and operated LIMI-Gene , Inc ., a semen distribution company created in 1989 with the vision of providing the Limousin breed with a source of quality genetics .
Herman was not only actively involved raising Limousin cattle , but he also played a major role in the growth and acceptance of the breed . He served on the North American Limousin Foundation ( NALF ) Board of Directors from 1978 to 1984 , serving as president of the association for two years in 1983-1984 . He was held in high esteem by nearly all the seedstock producers of the Limousin breed . He was also a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the Heartland Limousin Association for many years . Herman was also on the South Dakota Limousin Board of Directors , serving as president for several years . He also judged many national junior and open shows in the United States and Canada .
He was a great supporter of all breeders , both young and old . He traveled across the country as well as internationally , buying and
selling cattle as well as exhibiting in many prestigious shows . Breeders sought out Herman for his opinion and advice on Limousin cattle . Mark Anderson , NALF Executive Director , said at his “ Hall of Fame ” induction , “ Herman is considered a true friend of Limousin breeders , and he is a committed promoter of the breed . He has had a love of the breed and the people for more than 40 years , and he is passionate about the attributes of Limousin cattle .”
Herman has received many honors over the years . In 2015 , he was inducted into the North American Limousin Foundation “ Hall of Fame ”, becoming the fifth Limousin breeder / promoter to achieve that high honor . At his induction ceremony , several Limousin producers from South Dakota , Minnesota and North Dakota spoke to his true dedication to agriculture and the Limousin breed . Dean Summerbell , Executive Secretary of the Heartland Limousin Association , said he thought Herman Symens forgot more about Limousin cattle than most producers will ever know .
In 2019 Herman retired due to ill health , and he and Judy moved from the ranch into Sisseton .
Herman is survived by his wife of 59 years , Judy ; sons Jim ( Laura ) of Claresholm , Alberta ; and Joel ( Gerlyn ) of the Philippines ; daughters Julie Symens of Sisseton ; and Janelle ( Brett ) Symens of Aberdeen , South Dakota ; and seven grandchildren ; Leah ( Justin ) Hanson , Lexi ( James ) and Dillon ( Annalesha ) Bohlander , Colton , Cheyenne , and Colby Symens and John Symens ; one great-grandson , Jhett Hanson ; brothers David Symens , Paul ( Faye ) Symens , John ( Shirley ) Symens ; sisters Aletha Prouty , Karen ( Darrel ) Jongeling , Doris Armstrong ; sisters-inlaw Cleo Symens , Betty ( John ) Kendall , Nancy Herzog ; brother-in-law Craig Schmidle ; and many other relatives and friends .
34 • OCTOBER 2022