Page 20 - MWC 08-5-2021s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 5, 2021 · P20
Three Generations

of Gelbvieh Girls
By Brenda Black

“Three generations of Josh is good about weighing
women from the same fam- and tagging. I transport all
ily walk into a sale barn to of the cattle and I'm the cat-
sell weanlings...” While it tle buyer. He trusts my judg-
may sound like the set up ment on that. We do discuss
line for a good-natured pun, breeding planning, pasturing
for Lisa Wolters, Atwood, KS, and feeding a lot, though.”
it's more of a caption to the The pastures they contem-
picture of a dream coming plate are the same rolling
true. Like her mother, Jan- hills that Josh's family home-
ice Claerhout, Lisa and her steaded. He and Lisa live in
daughter Kaitlyn are Gelb- a house that was built by
vieh breeders and ranchers. Josh's great-grandparents in
Sure, there are men in the 1921. In 2009, with the help
picture: Ken Claerhout (Jan- of hydraulic jacks, they relo-
ice's husband), Josh Wolters cated the 69-ton, two-story,
(Lisa's husband) and Ryan farmhouse a half mile away,
(Kaitlyn's brother). The men elsewhere on the property.
are farmers, engineer and Josh's grandmother, Doro-
current company CEO/CFO; thy, who had lived 61 years
and college student pursu- in that solidly crafted home, mentals. Good ones. She
ing a degree in computer en- witnessed the move and the had one bull that was a five
gineering, respectively. For remodel, and watched the EPD trait leader. I grew up
the most part, they leave the next generation build up the beside a woman rancher
cattle business to the ladies. ranch in the middle of a field. who has raised cattle since
Lisa takes the lead on breed- From then on, the ranch the 1970s. She bought my
ing decisions and live cattle bore the name of the Lucky daughter a Gelbvieh heif-
selection, but she and Josh Cross Ranch. A horseshoe er at Easter in 2017, from
divide duties. and cross brand registered Jason Hightower. Mom has
“Josh works full-time in 2005, served as motivation not always stuck with what
during the day as co-owner for seeing such a dream come has always been. She's not
of Surefire Ag Systems and true. afraid of change. That's why
Surefire Electronics,” Lisa “I thought and thought we are here. She wasn't
said. “My job is daily feeding. about how fortunate and afraid of trying a new
blessed we are to be chosen breed.”
children of God,” Lisa said, Granddaughter Kaitlyn
“and how blessed we are initially had Herefords. Now sports competition that year.
to have this land. I like the her pastures are also filled “We were going anyway,
brand we came up with be- with 10 Gelbvieh cows of her to the same town, and we
cause my hope was always own. already had a hotel at the
that we would have land for “My husband and I both same time as the Gelbvieh
a ranch. Which we have now.” enjoy cattle a tremendous nationals,” Lisa said. “We de-
Among the blessed, rising amount,” Lisa said. “We are cided to enter Kaitlyn in the
and falling acres of Buffalo grateful to the Gelbvieh show. One of first people I
grass, wheat, corn and milo, breed, which we credit for ran into was Carolyn Dunn
graze a growing herd of reg- keeping our daughter in the with Sandy Knoll Gelbvieh.
istered Gelbvieh, Gelford and cattle business.” Her brother was in my class
Balancers®. The land may In a turn of events only God in high school. Right off the
have come down the Wolt- could orchestrate, according bat, I saw somebody I knew.
ers line, but to Lisa, a few weeks after The Hammer family helped
it was Lisa's grandma gifted Kaitlyn that us unload, and everybody
mother that Gelbvieh heifer, they learned was so friendly. I came to be
introduced family friends, the Binnings, impressed by the cattle be-
Gelbvieh to were going to Gelbvieh Jr. cause I like that the breed
the family. Nationals – the Big Red was focused more on perfor-
“We got Classic in Grand Island, NE. mance than hair. I liked the
into Gelbvieh That event just happened to heterosis. But, what drew me
on a fluke,” be held the same place and in were the people.”
Lisa said. time where Kaitlyn's broth- In addition to the breeders,
“My mother er, Ryan, would be competing Lisa praises the association
raised Sim- in the 4-H national shooting for its hospitality and help.