SG-USA-April-2020

JOHN FORD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

Curtis Salter – SGBI Past President When John took over as SGBI executive director, he was like a football player. He picked up a fumble, started to run and never looked back. He never thought about things that were behind us, but instead thought ONLY about where we were going. To his credit, he has kept up the pace – and enthusiasm for the Santa Gertrudis breed – for 10 years. John always treated SGBI as a growing business that belonged to all of us instead of an organization that belonged to someone else. He believed that if something helped one, it helped all, and if it helped all, it helped one. He realized early on that we had to have relationships with the commercial cattle industry and other breeds, and he has never stopped working toward that goal. Because John is the type of person who has never met a stranger, when you talked to him for a few minutes, you wanted to do business with him. This trait helped SGBI grow and prosper under his leader - ship and put the name Santa Gertrudis back in the cattle industry. SGBI members and owners of this great breed owe John a debt of gratitude. I am very blessed to be able to call him my friend. Deanna Parker – Past SGBI Treasurer Thanks for allowing me to comment on my friend, John Ford. I was on the search committee that selected John as one of the three candidates who were invited to meet with the board in Tulsa in the fall of 2010. The first thing I noticed about him when he interviewed by phone was his Tennessee twang. He had done his homework and knew exactly where I lived in southern Kentucky. I was also lucky enough to be the one to meet with him in Tulsa and take him around to meet the board and other members who were there for the Tulsa

show. He had very impressive credentials, one being having been responsible for presenting a budget each year when he was a county agent. I liked him right away for his down-home humor and ability to relate to anyone he met. After making his presentation to the board, there was no doubt “he was the one.”  John certainly has not disappointed. We could have looked the world over and could not have come up with a more formidable candidate for executive director. And as Paul Harvey says, “now you know the rest of the story.” My life has certainly been enriched having been a friend of John Ford. John Ford (left) with then SGBI president Wes McDaniel (right) at the NCBA Trade Show, which Ford attended each year on behalf of SGBI during his tenure.

With Sincere Thanks! TO ALL OUR

WE RECOGNIZE  Red Doc Farm, The Sanchez family, Belen, N.M. and Korban Cattle Co., Miller Alexander and John Hall, McAllen, Texas, for purchasing our high-selling lot – the pick of our 2019 gain tested bulls!  Schuster Farm, Fred and Taylor Schuster, San Juan, Texas and Leachman Cattle Co., Lee Leachman, Fort Collins, Colo., for purchasing our pick of the 2019-2020 ET calves.  Briggs Ranches, Bloomington, Texas and Harris Riverbend Farm, Cleburne, Texas for their purchase of our Donor Cow flush, Red Doc 5359.

The Warden

Congratulations to the Nelson family, Bryan, Kasie, Quincy and Wyatt on a great job fitting and exhibiting Quail Valley THE WARDEN 82F1! 2020 NATIONAL CHAMPION BULL 2020 SGBI HIGH POINT BULL

QUAIL VALLEY FARMS Ricky Cleveland, Owner (205) 533-5049 • ricky@xcelmasonry.com Chris Heptinstall • (205) 363-0919

APRIL 2020 • WWW.SANTAGERTRUDIS.COM

35