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A Long History of Shorthorn The Midwest Cattleman · October 21, 2021 · P16

Grazing at Nile Valley

By Brenda Black

Like the great city of Cairo, course.” Alice, has ded-
Egypt, for which the Hen- That epiphany led to the icated a life-
drickson family named its sale of the highest milk pro- time of service
Nile Valley Shorthorns farm, ducers among his herd. Doyle to his commu-
the history of both cattle and kept a few top dry cows and nity and to
producers are an amalgama- heifers and embarked on a his Shorthorn
tion of ancient and modern. new expedition. This last Au- cows.
John Hendrickson and his gust, Doyle & Alice celebrat- About those
sister Julie Carpenter tell a ed 66 years of marriage, with Cows
story of longevity and adapt- the most recent 24 years of Behind the farm-
ability as they speak of their their adventure spent rais- er are those Short-
parents’ remarkable success ing beef Shorthorns. horn females that
with Milking Shorthorns of In June 2020, the Hen- have made Doyle
the past and beef Shorthorns dricksons were acknowl- famous. His son
of the present. Doyle and edged for their long history John explains how
Alice Hendrickson construct- and their success with the particular blood-
ed their herd in pyramid Shorthorn breed when the lines helped take
fashion, from the ground up, Missouri Shorthorn Associ- the Hendricksons
transforming famous milk ation (MSA), during a tour forward.
bloodlines into high perform- of the cow herd at Nile Val- “We want to
ing beef cattle, without for- ley, named Doyle the 2020 maintain great
saking the Shorthorn legacy Breeder of the year. udders and milk
of maternal, milk and docil- “This was truly his great- capabilities in our
ity. est tribute in all the years cow herd,” John
Their current collection in the Shorthorn business,” grade cow herd,” John said,
may not register among the John said. said, “but we have “and dates back to 1903.”
shifted gears some. Because,
Seven Wonders of the Ancient The MSA honor came just if a cow milks too much, they Doyle’s Great-great Grand-
World, but Nile Valley Short- a few months after Doyle suf- milk off weight and they pa H.S. Balcom imported
horns contains its own set of fered serious injuries from a don’t get bred back. Many of five horned Durhams called
treasures far away from the tractor accident, making the our too-fragile cow families Thoro-Breds from England,
Pyramids of Giza. award even more meaning- are gone forever. Beef cows then sold the herd to Doyle’s
The Cairo Connection ful. But, it's not the first of must calve every year, wean Grandfather, Date Hendrick-
In 1972, Doyle & Alice accolades for the 88 year old. heavy calves and gain back son of Nile Valley Farms.
“Over the years, Dad has
moved the family and Short- been blessed and truly hum- body condition in the dry pe- “My dad shadowed Grand-
horn herd from the Hendrick- bled with some awards, se- riod. That is our ideal cow pa Date and tried to learn ev-
son homestead of Cairo, Ne., lected by his peers,” daughter and most any cowman would erything about raising Short-
to the present farm at Seda- Julie said. agree.” horn cows,” John said. “He
lia, Mo. The name Nile Val- From 1983 to 1997, he re- Nile Valley Shorthorns was only six when Grandpa
ley became a play on words ceived the top Quality Milk is home to 28 Performance Date died. After the milk-
that tied the old location to Award 11 times. In 2000 and Awarded cows, offering sev- ing stopped, Dad called his
the new. Once established in 2002, he bred the top gain eral cow families that have older cousins to try to re-in-
the heart of Fescue country heifer and in 2002, 2005 and remained viable contributors vent their grandpa’s linear
where ample grass grows, 2006, Nile Valley earned Pre- through the transition from measuring detail of the beef
Doyle transitioned his cows mier Breeder & Exhibitor milking to beef. cows. This is one of Nile Val-
from bunk line fed to exclu- honors at the National Dual “The Ada cow family came ley's key selection methods
sively grass grazing. Purpose Shows. In 2007, the from Grandpa Hendrickson’s for a uniform working cow
“For 42 years, he and Alice Hendricksons were named
milked those cows,” his son Dual Purpose Breeder of the Located in one of the top cattle feeding counties in the state of Kansas
John said. “Then on his 65th Year; and proclaimed Citizen
Wher
birthday on a cold January of the Year in 2008. Where personal attentione personal attention
morning, Doyle decided to Additionally, the Hen- to every detail to every detail
guarantees thatantees that
not retire, but just change guar
dricksons have faithfully do- YOU & YOUR CATTLE OU & YOUR CATTLE
Y
nated their time to serve and CO
COME FIRST at TMCME FIRST at TMC
promote the Shorthorn breed
in multiple ways, including 3500 Head
3500 Head
Doyle serving three terms on Capacity
Capacity
the American Milking Short-
horn Society (AMSS) board lSteam Flake Ration TMC Feeders LLC
TMC Feeders LLC
of directors. lConsulting Nutritionist 5010 Big Valley Drive
From 4-H leader to church Scott City, KS. 67871
elder to Missouri Cattlemen's lOwner Management lOne-Load Pens Jim Miller
Jim Miller, Manager , Manager
Association official Beef lExcellent Pen & Equipment Maintenance 620-874-0591
House dish washer for many lRisk Management Bob Thompson
Bob Thompson
years; Doyle, with the help of 816-582-8363