The trustee election process continues for those located in the South Central region. Paper ballots were mailed and should be received soon if not already received, and the online voting portal is open.
All active ASA members located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, or Texas have until December 3 at 11:59 PM to vote for 2 trustees they wish to represent the SC region. If you have opted to vote electronically, a paper ballot will not be mailed; however, even if you received a paper ballot, all active members can and are encouraged to vote electronically. To vote online, log in to your Herdbook account and access the voting portal in the “My Account” section. If you have any questions, please contact the ASA office at 406-587-4531.
Get to know the South Central candidates by reading their bios below and clicking on the links to their campaign letters.
Matt Fischer, Saint Joseph, Missouri
Matt Fischer, Saint Joseph, Missouri, owns and operates Oval F Ranch alongside his wife, Andrea, and daughters, Ella and Kate. Fischer has been involved in the Simmental breed since his youth, participating in the AJSA. Today Oval F focuses on quality females that are productive, sound, big-bodied, and fertile. They utilize new technology, including DNA testing, and also use EPD in selection decisions, focusing on improving economically relevant traits and producing females with eye appeal. Bulls are primarily marketed by private treaty and select females are sold through Missouri Simmental Association (MSA) sales. Fischer has worked in the AI industry for over 20 years, giving him valuable insight to the breed and industry. He has been involved in a number of state beef and agricultural organizations, including the MSA board of directors and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Fischer is also involved in organizing the Andrew County Fair as a board member, beef superintendent, and project leader.
Read Matt’s campaign letter here.
Victor Guerra, Linn, Texas
Victor Guerra, Linn, Texas, owns and operates La Muneca Cattle Company (LMC) alongside his parents and siblings; he currently serves on the ASA Board of Trustees. LMC runs 100 Simmental and Simbrah cows, and markets genetics private treaty throughout the year, in addition to a few consignment sales. Supporting youth is important to the Guerra family, and each year, they sponsor the Simmental-Simbrah Super Bowl held in conjunction with the San Antonio Livestock Show, and hold their own LMC Field Day and Futurity. They also hold an annual LMC and Friends Giving THANKS online sale around Thanksgiving where all the proceeds go to various worthy causes, including youth events. Guerra is an active advocate of Simmental and Simbrah genetics, and participates in a number of promotional activities. He currently serves on the Hidalgo County Farm Bureau Board. Guerra also serves on the Texas FFA Foundation Board of Directors, in addition to a number of other agricultural organizations. Guerra holds a B.S. in Agricultural Development with an emphasis in Beef Cattle Production from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX. Guerra also holds a J.D. from St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio and owns Victor G. Guerra, PC.
Read Victor’s campaign letter here.
Buddy Robertson, Shattuck, Oklahoma
Buddy Robertson, Shattuck, Oklahoma, owns and operates B-D Cattle Company, which consists of a registered Simmental herd, as well as Red Angus and crossbred recipient cows that are utilized for client embryo transfer work. Robertson has been a part of the Simmental breed for 40 years, marketing registered seedstock and show animals by private treaty, as well as commercial SimGenetics and Red Angus cattle. He has served as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Simmental-Simbrah Association (OKSSA), and has been involved with the organization of AJSA Regional and National Classics; the Robertson family was named the OKSSA Family of the Year in 2000 for their support of the breed. A strong supporter of youth and agriculture in Oklahoma, Robertson has served as superintendent of the Oklahoma State Fair, Tulsa State Fair, and as the Beef Superintendent for the Ellis County Fair. In addition to operating the family cattle business, Robertson works as a marketing agent/sales consultant, traveling throughout the US and Canada; this work has allowed him to work with SimGenetics breeders and youth across the country. Robertson and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of two grown children, Bryan and Melissa.
Greg Walthall, Windsor, Missouri
A past member of the ASA Board of Trustees, Greg Walthall operates WW Cattle Company near Windsor, Missouri. He has been associated with the Simmental breed for a total of 50 years in one capacity or another. The WW cow herd consists of 35 head of registered cows, plus a 250-head commercial herd of multiple generations dominated by Simmental breeding. Through utilization of in-vitro fertilization, embryo transfer, and AI, breeding focus is primarily on production and development of low-input, forage-utilizing females. Cattle are marketed through a variety of methods, including consignment sales, online contacts, and private treaty. He was originally drawn to Simmental when he saw the positive impact that the breed had on his family’s commercial Angus-based cow herd. Actively involved in the livestock industry, he has served multiple terms on the Missouri Simmental-Simbrah Association Board of Directors. Walthall and his wife, Pearl, who focuses on livestock photography, are the parents of two adult children, Justin Johnson and Cody.
Read Greg’s campaign letter here.
