Page 20 - MWC 8-20-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 20, 2020 · P20

By Lilly Platts principles through
Steve and Mary Gleason every stage of the
started crossing Angus and Sim- operation, and bred
mental cattle years before “Si- Simmental genetics
mAngus ” became an Associa- that make succeed-
TM
tion designated cross, and prior ing in those princi-
to the beef industry taking full ples possible. Steve
notice of the added heterosis, fer- first became inter-
tility, and longevity of the cows. ested in Simmental
Since 1981, Sunflower Genetics genetics when he The Gleason Family, from left to right: Ben, Jake, Mary, Steve, Becky, Joe, and Sam.
has produced seedstock born was young. His par-
from decisions based on the cus- ents, Maurice and Mary, had a Angus cows. These cows became land has become extremely ex-
tomer. Steve emphasizes an un- small bunch of cows and Steve the focus and the family tran- pensive and cannot justifiably
derstanding that the breeding decided to start weighing the sitioned to raising seedstock. be purchased for running cattle.
decisions they make can affect a calves. Noting the fairly unim- “I think that everyone should Due to this, Sunflower Ge-
customer’s herd for generations pressive results, he encouraged have that if they’re going to netics runs primarily on leased
to come. As an entirely fami- breeding the cows Simmental. raise registered cows. It makes ground. The home place was
ly-run operation, each decision The resulting calves went from you appreciate and realize the originally purchased by Steve’s
also directly affects the future of weaning at 400 pounds to 800, challenges they have,” Steve re- parents, and grazing the rest
the ranch. Highly performance and Steve decided to continue flects. of the leased ground requires
oriented, Sunflower Genetics is down that path. Country hauling and driving cows. The
an ASA Performance Advocate, Steve met Mary at Kansas Sunflower Genetics sits combination of warm and cool
and works diligently each year State University, where they on the productive, oftentimes season grasses allows cattle to
to collect valuable data on each both studied animal science windy, plains of Northeast Kan- graze ten months of the year,
animal. Steve has been sending and business. Much like Steve, sas — from the ranch head- the rest of which they are fed
every steer calf to a local feedlot Mary became independently quarters, a coal fired plant can either corn silage or hay. Steve
for years to collect carcass data interested in her own breed of be seen 20 miles in the distance. notes that they typically sell
and evaluate the end product cattle, Angus, as her parents, As Steve describes, the country hay and feed corn silage. “A lot
of their genetics. Located near Beau and Pat McHenry, were in is open but not necessarily flat, of our ground that is classified
Maple Hill, Kansas, cattle are the nursery business and didn’t located on the eastern edge of as farm ground is actually cool
run on open, productive range- raise cattle. After marrying, the the Flint Hills, southern edge of season grasses, so we joke that
land. Sons Jake and Ben are couple started crossing their the glaciated region, and west- we have a lot of black combines,”
taking on more responsibility as respective breeds, thus begin- ern edge of the Osage Hills. As Steve laughs.
the family looks to the future. ning their SimAngus program. the name suggests, the glaciat- SimAngus, Before it was Cool
A Functional Foundation They soon found themselves in ed region was once covered by The Gleason family started
the midst of running a large
Steve recalls the principles commercial operation, with 750 glaciers, leaving behind unique, crossing Simmental and Angus
his father, Maurice, laid out for cows, and a smaller registered productive soil. The ranch cows years before “SimAngus”
Sunflower Genetics: “You pro- herd. This required employees comes close to wooded areas, es- became an industry buzzword,
vide a product the customer not and more work than Steve could pecially near cities like Topeka, selling their first bull in 1981.
only needs but wants; there are handle with a young family. which the Gleasons are only a Today, a quarter of the cow herd
absolutely no surprises; and the All of the commercial cattle 20-minute drive from. The large is registered purebred Sim-
customer is always right.” sold, leaving behind a group and growing population has mental, a quarter is registered
The family has followed these of registered Simmental and presented several challenges, as Angus, and the remainder con-

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