There will be many elite Simmental and Simmental influence consignments, as well as several Hereford, Charolais, other breeds, and a number club calves.

Be there, or be left behind! Don’t miss the opportunity!

View Catalog here 

Here is a sample of the Simmental consignments:

The Washington Simmental Association is seeking consignments for the sale to be held on November 10, 2012 at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake, WA. An all breed jackpot show will be held the following morning, Saturday, November 11.

For more information, visit the Events Page.

We are so fortunate to have such a progressive national breed organization as the American Simmental Association. From comprehensive EPD reporting to proactive monitoring for genetic defects, we have a world of resources available to us at the click of a mouse.

The beauty of this is that we can easily plan complementary matings, improve specific traits,  and create a calf crop that is superior to the one from the previous year. As an example, in the last three years I have focused on and selected for low birth weight, high indexes, and carcass traits. In 2011, I did not have to assist a single birth. Also in 2011, I expanded my beef business and began to sell grass fed beef to the local food co-ops and other customers. I found consistently that my Simmental and Sim-influenced cattle had superior marbling over the cattle of other breeds that I had purchased as calves. Several of our WSA members bred winning Market Class steers and Carcass of Merit steers – including one Grand Champion Carcass of Merit steer that was a purebred Simmental. Our Simmental bulls are being used extensively in crossbreeding programs to capitalize on hybrid vigor and the advantages that Simmental offer. Commercial cattlemen are using our hybrid females and bulls in their programs because they know that they work!

Add to the list of opportunities that the price of cattle has likely never been higher. However, if we don’t actively market our cattle,  we aren’t going to make the kind of money we should be getting. If marketing is your weak link, then study how to  improve your marketing skills or find someone who is passionate and skilled in that area. When Carlos Guerra from La Muneca Ranch in South Texas spoke at our WSA field day last May, he said something like “No see, no tell, no sell! (A calf ate my notes – seriously –  so I’m relying on memory here.)The point is, we have to get our cattle seen and tell people about them. We can’t sell them if nobody knows they exist.

The board of the Washington Simmental Association is dedicated to promoting the Simmental breed, providing opportunities for our youth, creating educational events for Jr. and Sr. members as well as potential members, encouraging fellowship among our breeders, and working together to put on a sale that will get our cattle out of our pastures and into the hands of youth, registered breeders, and commercial programs.

I encourage you to get involved in our state association this year. We will be hosting a field day in May and the AJSA Western Regional in June. There will be many youth activities as well as educational opportunities for all. And of course, it’s a chance to get out and meet some new friends and swap a few cattle stories. Oh, and MARKET. In October  we will have our annual Western Harvest Showcase Sale. The consignors and buyers make or break the sale. Help us make this year the best one ever!

So here’s to 2012 – the year of the Simmental and opportunity!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sandra M. Matheson

President

Washington Simmental Association

Congratulations to Jaymee Graves on her recent wins with her Simmental steer “Chinook”. He was the Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer at the Island County Fair and best of all, he was the Grand Champion Carcass of Merit steer and the top gaining steer in the contest. Chinook is a purebred Simmental purchased from Matheson Farms out of well known Legacy bull and a Hart’s Sub Zero Bonina cow . Jaymee, one of our Jr. members, did an excellent job raising and showing her steer. Once again, congratulations Jaymee! Your hard work has paid off.

Congratulations to another of our junior members Quinn McHie on exhibiting the 4-H Grand Champion Market Steer at the 2011 Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. The steer, WGC J45 Stetson 021X out of Ebonys Grandmaster, was purchased from Starling Simmentals/Cambra Livestock in our 2010 Western Harvest Showcase Sale. Stetson posted an average daily gain of 3.76 lbs!

Are you looking for a Market Steer project for 2012? Simmental and Sim influenced genetics are making a positive impact on the Market Steer scene. Please visit our Western Harvest Showcase Sale on October 1, 2011. The Washington Simmental Association has several club calves consigned this year!

The Washington Simmental Association held a field day in May, 2011. Mr. Carlos Guerra of La Muneca Cattle Co. in Texas was our featured speaker. The lesson I took home from his presentation was that if we want to sell our cattle, we must actively promote them and keep promoting them. My favorite quote from Mr. Guerra was:

No See, No Tell, No Sell!

This got me thinking about effective marketing practices. A rancher can produce the best livestock on the planet, but it does little good if no one knows they exist! Promotion means getting them seen. This can be accomplished several ways. For marketing of your livestock — the eight ways to effective promotion are listed below:

1) Exhibit your livestock through the show circuit. Either show your own animals or sell to juniors who are active in the show ring. If you want to attract young showmen, actively support junior activities through prizes, support money, or event sponsorship.

2) Hold a field day or other event on your place and have your livestock on display. This requires the host to clean things up, prep the cattle, and provide excellent hospitality. Don’t make the event all about your operation. Provide an educational speaker and other activities to entice people to attend.

3) Display your livestock at outside activities such as breed sales or other field events. Again, the cattle must be prepped – clipped, worked with, and in good condition.

4) If you have some expertise, become a speaker or judge. Not only do the livestock have to be seen, but so do you!

5) If you don’t want to speak to the public, write for a newsletter, magazine, or blog. Be sure to include your contact information and/or a link to your website.

6) Be active in your state breed association and other related groups. This will keep you up to date in the industry and promote your operation indirectly. It benefits the organization as well. An organization is only as good as its best members.

7) Network and build relationships. People aren’t just buying cattle. They are buying your program and you. I am much more likely to buy from someone I know, admire, and trust than from a stranger. I am also more likely to recommend them to others.

8 )  Develop an internet presence. In this day and age, if someone wants to find you or check you out, they go to the internet. An eye-catching, user-friendly, and search engine optimized website will make a world of difference in your visibility and sales. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own, find some help.

Marketing doesn’t happen unless you actively engage in the process and keep doing it. It also doesn’t happen overnight. It requires time, energy, resources, and commitment. Develop a marketing plan. Work with your family and employees to brainstorm ways to promote your cattle program. For marketing of your livestock — the eight ways to effective promotion can help you reap bountiful rewards.

Sandra M. Matheson, DVM is a rancher, holistic management educator, and retired veterinarian. [http://sustainableagresource.com/]Innovative resources are available to help ranchers and farmers take a [http://mathesonfarms.com/services/]holistic approach to sustainable agriculture.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Marketing-of-Your-Livestock---The-Eight-Ways-to-Effective-Promotion&id=6362282] Marketing of Your Livestock – The Eight Ways to Effective Promotion

Keep Agriculture Sustainable by Cultivating Our Youth

By Sandra Matheson

Farmers get older. Farms get bigger and more industrialized. The economy continues to stumble. What can we do to keep agriculture sustainable? The most valuable crop we can grow is the next generation. Our most important work is to keep agriculture sustainable by cultivating our youth.

Here are some ways to maximize our future production:

Plan the crop. Knowing what you want, where to plant it, and how to grow it is vital. The same thing applies to cultivating youth. Who do you want to mentor? What role will the young person play in the operation? Where do they fit in?

Prepare the field. Think like the seed. What is important to the young person? Where are their interests? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What will keep them engaged? How will it work?

Plant the seed. As the soil protects the seed, you are there to guide and protect your next generation so they will have a chance to grow. Young people want to learn. Be there to facilitate them.

Nourish the seedling. A new crop requires water and fertilizer. A young person requires new knowledge, skills, and experiences to grow. It is the farmer’s role and obligation to provide them.

Give room to grow. As new plants need space, so do young people. Give them responsibility, allow them to make some decisions, and also to make some mistakes. This is how humans grow.

Harvest at the right time. When ready, cut them more freedom. Let them have more responsibility. Young people usually have young, fresh ideas. There is so much adults can learn from them. If we don’t harvest the plant, growth halts. Any new plants will be smothered and there will not be a next crop nor will there be a next generation.

Prepare for the next crop. Once your first crop is started, plan ahead to plant more seeds in the future.

What we sow is what we ultimately reap. For a farmer to not plant and then expect his crop to grow is unreasonable. It’s not a sustainable practice! However, a truly sustainable farmer plans, prepares, plants, nourishes, encourages, harvests, and plans for the next season and for the next generation. For he or she, the rewards will be great. More importantly, there is hope that the farm will continue to flourish for future generations.

Sandra M. Matheson, DVM is a rancher, holistic management educator, and retired veterinarian. Innovative resources are available to help ranchers and farmers take a holistic approach to sustainable agriculture.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Matheson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Keep-Agriculture-Sustainable-by-Cultivating-Our-Youth&id=5088506

We have many opportunities in front of us. Cattle prices at the auction are high. With a cow shortage developing, we should expect the value of our cattle to continue to rise. There is more awareness and demand for grass fed beef. The quality of Simmental cattle continues to improve, thanks to the emphasis on EPDs. The popularity of Sim Genectics is on the rise as well.

The WSA Western Harvest Showcase Sale will be held on October 1, 2011 in Ellensburg, WA. Each year the quality of consignments increases. This is the year to jump on board the Simmental band wagon. Not only will you support the WSA and the Simmental breed by your purchase, but you also will be creating an exciting opportunity for yourself!

See you October 1st!