The American Simmental Association Board of Trustees Chairman, Chris Ivie, reports that the Executive Vice President, Dr. Wade Shafer, announced his retirement at the conclusion of the April board meeting, effective June 30, 2025.
Dr. Shafer’s leadership and vision have been key to positioning the American Simmental Association and International Genetic Solutions (IGS) at the forefront of the beef industry. His unwavering commitment to sound and credible science as the linchpin for commercial success is widely known. This mindset permeates the Simmental business, its breeders, and its staff, and is widely credited for the Simmental resurgence in recent decades. Dr. Shafer’s stewardship of this approach, along with his humility and constant openness to collaborations with other like-minded individuals and organizations, has directly benefited the business at large and personally impacted the lives and futures of innumerable farm and ranch families.
Dr. Shafer often states that “data is our lifeblood”. His institution of policies and approaches have helped establish the largest data pool and the only large-scale, multi-breed genetic evaluation in the global beef business — International Genetic Solutions. A collaborative IGS is crucial to sound science, but even more, is vital to allowing independent beef producers access to the genetic tools needed to ensure success for them and their families. The team that Dr. Shafer has assembled embraces his call to make sound, thoughtful business decisions while using that business to aid the industry at every turn. This commitment well into the future will be Dr. Shafer’s Simmental legacy.
The Executive Committee serves as the search and hiring committee for the Executive Vice President position. Watch for additional details at www.simmental.org.
Founded in 1968, the American Simmental Association is headquartered in Bozeman, MT. ASA is committed to leveraging technology, education, and collaboration to accelerate genetic profitability for the beef industry. In keeping with its commitment, ASA, along with its partners, formed International Genetic Solutions — the world’s largest genetic evaluation of beef cattle. Learn more at www.simmental.org.