old and latched onto the lead of his first show heifer .
Though his enthusiasm and mind for cattle made him an admirable young showman , it was the females Bret said he chose to lead around the ring that truly made a splash .
“ We were showing black cattle when black cattle weren ’ t cool ,” Bret jokes . He led the first black Limousin heifer into the Texas State Fair showring in 1981 , where she won her class . The next year , Bret brought home the title of Grand Champion Limousin Heifer with one of his black-hided females .
While it may have appeared to those outside the show ring like the Begerts were taking a stand , Bret said he and his father have just always been passionate about black-hided , purebred Limousin cattle .
Hiram said the color of their cattle is just a reflection of their preference . Homozygous black , polled cattle are the phenotype Hiram is drawn too , and his fondness to the look has been a commitment that has paid off for their ranch .
“ We ’ ve never flinched in our love for the breed ,” Bret said . “ We ’ ve stayed with purebred Limousin cattle . Over the years , that ’ s become what our customers want and expect .”
Hiram said while he and Bret never viewed the show industry as their top priority , they were blown away by all they gained from the seedstock side of the business . From a look into new genetics to friendships capable of lasting a lifetime , Hiram said he is grateful for every moment he has spent at youth livestock events .
His own days in the show ring may be over , but Bret said he and his father consistently work to be improving not only their herd but also the overall perception of the breed . Through consistently breeding for cattle with gentle dispositions and desirable phenotypes , Bret believes the Begert Ranch has made their mark on the industry .
“ We try to breed for the best within our own business and our breed as a whole ,” Bret said . “ We ’ re team players and want the best for all of our Limousin family .”
Along with their desire to produce the best cattle possible in their own herd , Hiram said both he and Bret have been drawn to give back to the breed . Their impressive list of accomplishments is fairly similar , as the two have been involved , for several terms , on the North American Limousin Foundation ( NALF ), including serving as president , as well as the Texas Limousin Association . Bret also worked for several years as the NALF director of junior activities .
Their main reason for serving ? It ’ s all about the people and the bigger picture , Hiram explains .
“ It ’ s just a love for the cattle and the producers ,” he said . “ I enjoyed being around fellow board members and trying to make the right decisions for the betterment of the breed . You just come together with one common goal .”
Bret said it was the partnership their ranch was founded on that allowed him and his father to be so heavily involved . First , it was Hiram ’ s own story within the industry that inspired Bret to give back . But , more importantly , Bret said it has been a “ tradeoff through the decades .” One Begert would often be off serving in a leadership position and the other would be at home handling the day-to-day operations . Once the term of the latest leadership position concluded , they would switch roles . That family aspect is the one thing both Hiram and Bret cherish most . “ Everyone has their place in the operation . It ’ s always been a family deal for us ,” Hiram said . From Hiram ’ s wife Darenda being involved in the advertising of their livestock , to Bret ’ s wife Hayley and their children bringing everyone back to the show side of the business , it is evident everyone in the Begert family shares the same love for Limousin cattle .
Bret ’ s two children – McKinley , 19 and Boone , 15 – found their own passion for the Limousin breed and have kept both Hiram and Bret ringside for many more years . McKinley has served a few terms ,
Both bulls and females from the family-run operation are sold primarily to a commercial customer base via private treaty . This marketing practice allows them to truly get to know their customers and provide a guarantee on each animal that leaves the property .
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In addition to being a breed leader in the adaptation of homozygous black and homozygous polled , purebred Limousin cattle , consistently breeding for cattle with gentle dispositions and desirable phenotypes has kept Begert Ranch at the forefront of the industry .
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