THE ANGUS ANGLE - Alberta Angus Association

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AAA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - Contemporary continued Out of one of the early calf crops Geis Sir Baros 36 was born and became the highest selling bull in Canada. Sir Baros sold at the Cross Country sale managed by Lloyd Pickard and was selected by John Frank. From a purebred seedstock perspective, Geis Angus had arrived. From a commercial perspective, however, there was still much work to be done; the next 15 years found Angus bulls a very hard sell to ‘rank and file’ cattlemen. Many of the top cow line’s in today’s Geis Angus herd trace back to the famed and respected Ed Rene cowherd. The Ruby’s, Senta’s, Angel’s and Blackbird’s are just a few cow families that provided such an excellent start in the world of Black Angus. Brian and Kim represent the role Junior Angus play in our Hall of Fame. It was at the Bashaw Junior Angus show that Brian and Kim met… and the attraction would grow stronger through the 1980’s. Kim came from Red Eagle Acres, the Red Angus outfit from Don & Vicky Conway. They had been in the cattle business since 1965, purchasing their first Red Angus in 1969. Indirectly, these two kids seemed to kind of swirl around each other. At the 1985 World Angus Forum Kim was the Red Angus Queen while Geis Angus won the Stall Award. Both Brian and Kim met the Queen Mother at this seminal Angus event, now more than 20 years ago. Brian’s interests were always directed toward the beef cattle, and the decision was made in 1985 to sell the dairy and bring the Angus cow herd numbers up over 100 head of producing cows. Brian’s winters from the mid-1980’s to 1994 were spent feeding cows and working on the entire Geis bull crop that would be halter broke by donkey and hauled to Angus consignment bull sales across Alberta. Brian traveled thousands of miles marketing Geis Angus bulls, building a reputation for both Angus cattle and Geis genetics. As the 1980’s progressed, Brian ceased to be a Junior but had such a strong reputation he was called back to judge at the Alberta Junior Angus Show. What an eye he had… although it is kind of hard, in retrospect, to know if he was really evaluating conformation or showmanship… or just judging that attractive your Eckville lass on the halter. Regardless, Brian and Kim were married in 1989 and along with ‘wedded bliss’ came a herd of Red Angus cows. One might think Brian was making a strategic acquisition of Kim, or to diversity the Geis genetic portfolio to include Red cattle… but conventional wisdom at the time said that Kim married Brian because he had a bale shredder while Brian married Kim for the Lois cow line. As the cow herd grew, so did the Geis family. Brian and Kim welcomed Jenna into their lives in 1992 and Robert in 2000. Jenna is involved with beef and canine 4-H projects, five disciplines of dance and, of course, school. Robert plays hockey and joined a boy’s hip hop and tap club. Until 1991, Geis Angus showed cattle heavily in fairly large numbers, doing very well. The stock trailer was full every time it left the yard for a show and sometimes two trips were required! Highway Trim Lass 564 was haltered at age 5 when her bull calf was Gambler. They were the Champion Female at Farm Fair in 1990, and Gambler sold through the OBI-managed Super Star that year to Denmark. Gambler would become a benchmark bull throughout Europe, becoming famous for not only winning many shows but for siring many winning offspring. As the Geis Angus Farm reputation expanded and Don, Erika, Brian and Kim became more and more noted as one of the top producers in Canada, the ‘circle of life’ would affect the family tremendously, as it does all of us. There is just never a right time for such experiences, nor any means of preparing for them. Don passed away suddenly in 1991. Brian & Kim’s second child, Sarah, was lost in 1996 at 17 months of age. These emotional times made progress at Geis Angus Farm a little quieter, but the remaining family members grew stronger as a result of the grief and hardship, and inspired by the support provided them by family, friends and their community. They realized a lesson we are all lucky to learn: regardless of financial wealth, the emotional foundation provided to the Geis family during their time of need made them realize they were, and are, rich beyond their wildest imagination. After 1991, Geis Angus slowed down a bit on the ‘show road’, only exhibiting bulls in smaller markets to promote bull sales. They would come back hard, however, in 1996. Maybe not hard in the total number of show cattle they brought, but certainly with quality – they showed two bull calves who would be undefeated Bull Calf and Reserve Bull Calf Champion at every show that fall. One of the two bull calves was Red Geis Poundmaker 159G who would experience an illustrious show career that saw him continued…
AAA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - Contemporary continued in the championship drive each of his three eligible show years, 1996-1999. In 1997, Geis Angus decided to take a big step and develop their own bull sale on the farm. The tough decision resulted in one of the best business ventures of their lives and maybe the smartest project ever undertaken at Geis Angus Farm. The Geis family recognizes the tremendous effort and commitment put forth by OBI and many family and friends in making this annual venture such a success. In 1997, Geis Angus was recognized as having the largest Angus herd in Canada. The family, however, felt the stress and fatigue associated with building Canada’s largest herd. At the time, they were breeding close to 500 head and calving 345 cows. In 1998 Geis Angus held a herd reduction sale and liquidated over 200 cows. This sale was hugely influential in the breed, with many new herds starting as a result, or existing herds making purchases that took them to the next level of excellence. Currently, Geis Angus Farm calves around 200 head in January with a further 130 in May, half of which are Black and the other half Red. They farm 13 quarters of land, growing all their own feed and a small amount of cash cropping. Their focus, amid all this hard work and large-scale farming of 1800 acres, is to produce functional cattle the Geis family feels confident in merchandising. And merchandize they do since there are not too many successful herds that do not have at least one Geis-bred animal producing seedstock for them. Erika met her friend, Bill Cook, and both play a huge role in the ever-increasing Geis Angus operations. Erika and Bill help with Jenna and Robert, cooking, errands and watching the farm while Brian & Kim are away. Their support is essential and appreciated. Brian & Kim also turn to Erika & Bill for input on key business decisions and for life advice. It goes without saying that Brian & Kim could not manage their operation without Erika & Bill, not to mention the efforts of family and friends. 2001 was a marquee year for Geis Angus, signifying tremendous commerce, impact on the breed, and raising, yet again, the reputation of one of Canada’s premier Angus herds. 2001 was the year of Red Geis Samarie 234F and Red Geis Knight Hawk 14M. Kim thought great things were possible if Brian could just get the damned 5-year-old brood matron halterbroke! Rob Holowaychuk would not leave Brian & Kim alone until Knight Hawk was entered in the Masterpiece sale held during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, and he became the high selling bull calf that year, selling to the new and increasingly progressive Soo-Line Cattle Co. of Midale, SK. Further, 234F and Knight Hawk would reign triumphant at the RBC All Breeds Supreme Championship held at the completion of Agribition. This is the only cow Geis Angus has exhibited in the past 10+ years, and she won what really is the National All Breeds Supreme Championship. We all dream about this… Brian & Kim peeled a cow out of the pasture and won it all. Don’t they make it look too easy!?!?!? Each member of the Geis family admits there are so many people they admire in the cattle business, many of which we saw in the slideshow, more of which are here tonight. They have made a lifetime of friends and memories in this business, our business. Fortunately for us, Geis Angus has been our friend, giving us countless memories and awesome animals for over 30 years. As great cattlemen, and great people, it is with pleasure we announce our 2006 Alberta Angus Association Hall of Fame Contemporary Breeder inductee, Geis Angus Farm - Brian and Kim Geis, their children Jenna and Robert, Brian’s mother Erika and her friend Bill. The newest member of our Hall of Fame – Geis Angus. L to R: President Rob Smith; Bill Cook, the Geis Family: Erica; Robert; Kim; Jenna and Brian with presenter Dawn Wilson
Page 1 and 2: THE ANGUS ANGLE Canadian Publicatio
Page 3 and 4: How do we measure a year in the lif
Page 5 and 6: LAURIE HUNTER I would like to expre
Page 8 and 9: 2nd Annual Ter-Ron Farms & Redrich
Page 10 and 11: Big Coulee Ranch. As the winds blow
Page 12 and 13: Ed Boake Memorial Award continued H
Page 16 and 17: Tips for Successful Scholarship App
Page 18 and 19: AAA Hall of Fame Induction 'Breed B
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Page 23 and 24: DIRECTIONS TO THE RANCH; 3/4 mi. we
Page 25 and 26: Grand Champion Female Red Six Mile
Page 27 and 28: Champion Senior Yearling Heifer - D
Page 29 and 30: FARMFAIR COMMERCIAL PEN SHOW NOVEMB
Page 31 and 32: Dorothy Banks Memorial Scholarship
Page 33: Rules and Guidelines 1. Entry Fee :
Page 36 and 37: Alberta Junior Angus Association Sc
Page 38 and 39: 8th Annual Canadian Junior Angus Sh
Page 40: “Get “Get Connected” Connecte
Page 43: Comments From C.E.O.… Doug Fee Yo
Page 46 and 47: COMING EVENTS YOU DON’T WANT TO M

THE ANGUS ANGLE - Alberta Angus Association

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