SG_USA_October_2020

K MEMBER PROFILE k

By Kate Giess, Contributing Writer

A LEGACY OF

Youth Development, Family Values and Gerts

A legacy of youth development and commitment to the Santa Gertrudis breed is but a small part of the story Curtis and Kathy Fuchs have to tell. The Fuchs family is a familiar face at National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association (NJSGA) events. “Our kids didn’t have to do this, but they saw the value in becoming involved from a very early age,” Christy Moran comments about the Santa Ger- trudis junior program. Christy Fuchs Moran, married to David, and Courtney Fuchs Mason, married to Wes, are the daughters of Curtis and Kathy Fuchs, owners of CF Cattle Company, who have left a legendary legacy investing in the youth of agriculture. All currently reside in the community of Brenham, Texas. Grandchildren Madison Moran, Dawson Moran, Parker Mason and Logan Mason all shown Santa Gertrudis heifers and are involved in the Mid- Coast Santa Gertrudis Association and NJSGA. “It’s the passion we have from Dad and Mom [Curtis and Kathy] that was instilled in us,” Moran says. “Now, we’re instilling the same passion in our kids through the Santa Gertrudis junior program, because it’s such a good platform to allow them and our families to be together to grow, learn and have goals to achieve.” “Many of the life lessons that impact my life today were learned from the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association,” Courtney Mason says. “Ultimately, it’s about me helping ensure things are better for those yet to come.” Leaving a Legacy Curtis Fuchs and his agriculture family were some of the first breed- ers to start raising Red Polls, which is how they originally became involved in the seedstock cattle industry. “My great grandfather would work on the family farm then and also be very involved in the com- munity and on the state level as

a representative in the Texas House for many years,” Moran says. “My dad grew up on the farm, with his father and our grandfather, and was involved in FFA and 4-H while they raised Red Poll cattle as well as many other species of animals and crops.” Fuchs and his wife, Kathy, instilled passion for agriculture in many youth during his career as an FFA advisor. He began teaching agricul- tural science in Cypress at Cy- Fair High School and was an FFA advisor for 11 years before moving to Brenham in 1981 to be closer to family. There he taught ag science for 32 years. After 43 years of dedicated ser- vice as an agricultural science teacher and FFA advisor, Fuchs retired. “He impacted many generations of ag students,” Moran says. “It’s great to still have people who know ‘Mr. Fuchs’ as a very well-respected mentor in their life.” Fuchs taught many different ag classes with a focus on freshman, intro- ducing young students to FFA and the world of agriculture. “When Dad started teaching, Bren- ham had a strong ag department, so he

Curtis Fuchs with his grandkids – Madison Moran, Dawson Moran, Parker Mason and Logan Mason.

was involved helping kids show Santa Gertrudis heifers, and that’s our family history of how we became involved in the breed,” Moran says. “I remember going to my first national Santa Gertrudis junior show,” Moran says. “When I was old enough to show, it was just a natural fit to start showing Gerts.” Moran and Mason both showed regis- tered Santa Gertrudis heifers. Both were involved in the Mid-Coast Junior Santa

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The Fuchs family at the 2014 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with Miss CF Foxxy, exhibited by Parker Mason, Curtis and Kathy's grandson. As a calf, Miss CF Foxxy was named National Champion Best of Polled and, as a yearling, the heifer won every major show in Texas. Unfortunately, she tragically died after giving birth to her first calf.

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SANTA GERTRUDIS USA