26 • www.herefordamerica.com HEREFORD AMERICA • <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> Rausch <strong>Hereford</strong>s: Making A Difference (continued from page 1) would hold – it was to raise <strong>Hereford</strong>s on their north central South Dakota ranch. But interestingly, the early generation has carried that enthusiasm and love for raising cattle and farming the land on to the extensive third and fourth generations, a feat that is not easy in agriculture today. Gene lost his life in the Korean war and Duane passed away nine years ago, but the remaining three brothers along with Duane’s sons (Rick and Gary) and two of Vern’s sons (Shannon and Joel) are the core group in the operation today — four of the seven of the core group are South Dakota State University graduates. These seven men lead the daily efforts around Rausch <strong>Hereford</strong>s, but there is an influence of the entire extended family seen throughout the ranching operation as well. “This is a family operation and we all help where we are needed,” says Jerry. “No matter if the ideas come from young or older family members all ideas are given thoughts by the others, some may get amended before implemented but it is a team approach,” says Harlan. The family is extensive enough that the family members represent many of the occupations found in a typical small South Dakota town including farmers, accountants, lawyers, computer programmers, mechanics, teachers, meat salesmen, doctors and the list goes on. All of these family members play a role in making Rausch <strong>Hereford</strong>s what it is today. For example, on sale day the full team is back in Hoven, filling duties such as clerking the sale, setting up panels, parking cars, serving lunch or whatever duty is needed. In total, 18 family members have cattle on ownership at the ranch. Family gatherings such as baptisms, family reunions and graduations bring most of the group back together but the seven core members are responsible for carrying out the main activities that keep the ranch thriving and thus communication is essential. The management team meets regularly in what they refer to as ‘bull pen sessions’ to sort out the daily, weekly or year long goals of the operation. In order to make an operation of this size work, “you must share the same vision,” says Gary. Shannon sums up the family involvement as, “we all have a commitment to God, family, cattle and our customers. That’s what makes it work.” Joel refers to sale day as “a long day, but not long enough”. With all the work to be done it can be a long, tiring day, but trying to visit with repeat customers, other family members and friends, its just not a long enough day, he describes. The family is bound together by information, work and interest concludes Shannon. The cattle Enduring the times is what Rausch <strong>Hereford</strong>s has done and where they have demonstrated their success. Each decade has brought different cultures and challenges in the industry. Vern describes the times during the ’50s and ’60s, when customers came three weeks ahead of the sale to look at the cattle, then again the week before the sale and again early on sale day. But today with all the technologies at hand, customers come five minutes before the sale, with their animals picked out and performance data already analyzed. Jerry reiterates the changing marketplace in the more recent decades, describing the roaring times for <strong>Hereford</strong>s in the ’70s, the loss of market share in the ’80s due to the Continental influence and the leveling off years in the ’90s. However, from 2000 till now, Rausch’s have witnessed a gradual increase in market share. Marketing changes have also occurred over these decades. The Rausch family now sees many of their bulls sold to black cow herds when just three decades ago most all bulls were sold back into <strong>Hereford</strong> cow herds. “Customers are Jerry, the primary marketer sometimes spends sunup until dark checking cows. His wife Vicki goes along at times to take pictures. CANADIAN COW HERD DISPERSAL by Private Treaty FOR SALE: 200 1-iron, Polled <strong>Hereford</strong> cows. We have decided to reduce our work load so are offering all cows between ages of 2 and 8 years. These cows have been selected based on performance, conformation and udders, 60 day breeding season, have not trimmed feet since 1977. These are ranch cows that work for the purebred cattlemen. 2005 Premier Breeder and Exhibitor at Ag Ex. In 2006 80% of our cows were above average for total maternal in the North <strong>America</strong>n cow herd. This is a life time opportunity as these cows come from a family with 80 years in the <strong>Hereford</strong> business and we have developed the herd for the past 33 years. GUILFORD HEREFORD RANCH Don, Diane & Family Box 100, Clearwater, MB R0K 0M0 Canada Phone: (204) 873-2430 • ghr@mts.net 5 miles north of Clearwater on PR# 342 seeking that hybrid vigor, and this is what we can offer as they cross a <strong>Hereford</strong> bull with their black cowherd,” says Rick. (continued on page 28) Painting, “Good Neighbors” by Tim Cox • www.timcox.com • (505)632-8080
HEREFORD AMERICA • <strong>January</strong> <strong>2008</strong> www.herefordamerica.com • 27
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