The Hall family from Cookstown, Ontario, was recognized as the 2008 Commercial Breeder of the Year at the Eastern Canadian Gelbvieh Association Annual Meeting in January.

The Hall family has a 130 commercial cow herd, cash crop 2000 acres of wheat, soybeans, and corn, and cut and bale 1000 acres of hay in the New Tecumseth Township in Simcoe County. This is very much a family operation involving John and Brenda Hall and daughters Amanda and Christy, all who work full time on the farm.

The Halls have been involved with Gelbvieh cattle since 2000 when Christy showed a Gelbvieh heifer owned by South Simcoe Gelbvieh, Jeannie and Kim Ellison, as her 4-H project. The family purchased their first Gelbvieh females in 2001. In 2002, a Gelbvieh bull was introduced to the herd. Disposition and fertility were the factors that impressed them about Gelbvieh cattle. Other purchases have followed and today a lot of their herd is Gelbvieh influenced. The Halls have hosted 4-H meetings and school visits enabling them to promote the Gelbvieh breed. In 2003, Christy won Grand Champion showperson at Beeton and Cookstown Fairs with her Gelbvieh heifer and went on to compete at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Christy also participated in the CJGA show at V & V Farms in Alberta.

Congratulations to the HALL family!

Nominations for Commercial Breeder of the Year (2008) will be accepted by Sylvia Londry until December 15, 2008.

The recipient of this award is an individual or group of commercial cow/calf producers who have recently acquired from a member of the ECGA :

a) A registered purebred or fullblood GV male for the purpose of siring mixed breed commercial females.

b) A registered GV female of at least 50% F1 status to be added as a brood cow to a commercial herd.

The purpose of this merit award is to give recognition to cattle producers who have contributed in a measurable way to:

a) Promote GV as a "value adder" in a commercial breeding program.

b) Support the GV breed in our industry thus helping strengthen this breed's market position, by virtue of credible testimonials.

c) Continue to support the GV breed and its producers by acknowledging the breed at every opportunity (i.e. sale barn, 4H projects, exhibitions, etc.).

The nomination must be accompanied by a written profile of the nominee.