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June 5-7, 2009 • Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Jefferson, WI
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MGM Polled Herefords
MGM (Marian and Gordon Merry) West in Sun Prairie began in 1956 with 2 cows purchased from Wm Hanley - one of the Founders of the WPHA along with Wm Merry.In the 1960's the herd expanded with cattle from Nebraska,Texas, Illinois, Iowa as well as Wisconsin. Since the 1980's Canadian females joined those from Wyoming, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, North Dakota, and Missisippi. Most of these were females as AI was used almost exclusively since the 1970's. Subsequently cattle were sold to many of these states. Some of the favorite cows were "Miss Canada" - mother to MGM Dr Mega Banner, and Klondike Donna - mother of MGM Renegade Victor. These bulls sold to Select Sires. More recently, MGM Tamara - 1999 World Beef Expo Champion and her grand dam the " Olson Ranch cow " from North Dakota also Champion cow calf at the 1996 WBE have left many descendants at MGM.
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Gordon and his wife, Marian used the MGM acronym for their farm name and had 5 children to show cattle under that prefix with 5 champion females at the Wisconsin Junior State Fair in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Gordon’s string of success had only just begun as he went on to have seven consecutive years with either Champion Bull of Champion Heifer at the WPHA Spring Show and Sale during the 1980's; many of which were the high seller in that sale.
The next decade also proved to be successful for Gordon as he accomplished other achievements including high seller at the 1990 Illinois Beef Expo - MGM Nick Blastoff and Champion Heifer at 1999 World beef Expo- MGM Tamara.
Gordon has had the opportunity to place three different bulls in major AI studs including MGM Grand at ABS, MGM Renegade Victor at Select Sires who sold to Brazil and perhaps the most popular, MGM Dr Mega Banner at Select Sires.
Mega Banner was entered into the Wisconsin - On the Farm Rate of Gain Contest. In those days the weights were done on the farm and supervised by the University. Mega Banner pulled out ahead of all the bulls in the state but when Gordon checked his weight just before the final weighing he had hardly gained anything since the last weighing. This upset him to no end but after a while he discovered some critter had dug under the scale and altered the accuracy. When the scale was corrected and the results were announced, there was a lot of interest in the small calf that grew faster than the others. Select Sires beat a path to Sun Prairie and bought the bull for $15,000, which at the time, in the 1970’s, was no small price.
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He proved to transmit the low birth weight with above average rate of gain and became an all trait leader for several years. He was low birth weight leader for a decade. This bull probably more than any other animal enhanced Gordon Merry's reputation.
Gordon has been instrumental in providing Wisconsin and the surrounding states with 26 years of biannual production sales with the Isabel Brown Family, Ellis Kahn Family and other notable guests- The Family Affair Sale- arguably one of the most successful production sales in Wisconsin.
Recently the Wisconsin Hereford Association met for their annual meeting in Wisconsin Dells and honored one of their life long members with a 50 year-Gold Breeder Award. Gordon Merry got his start in Registered Polled Herefords on his own in 1955 after graduating from University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 1954. However, 1955 was not Gordon’s first start with the Polled Hereford breed. Gordon is second generation of what has become 5 generations of Merry Polled Hereford breeders. The first of the Merry Polled Hereford Breeders was William Merry - the first President of the WPHA.
Gordon at 83 still farms about 50 acres and tends to his cows. Sons Dave ( DVM ) Lebannon ,Ohio and Tim ( DDS ) Germantown, WI help out on "special assignments " as does grandson Matt. Of all the ribbons, titles and trophies that Gordon Merry has earned over his 50+ years as a Gold Breeder, the most satisfying of all his accomplishments is the friendship of fellow breeders and preservation of family tradition and involvement in the breed.
MGM East (Merry’s Green Meadows) in Hartford began in 1982. Many cattle were in partnership with Marian and Gordon. Matt, Ginger, and Dan all showed extensively and were very active in the Junior Association. Matt is a plant manager in Portage and helps out at sales and shows. Ginger is a radiology resident in San Francisco. Dan translates Spanish and lives in Portland, Oregon. Jann greatly enjoys living on the farm and checks the 30 some cows when Steve is at work as a cardiologist.
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MGM East has also partnered with Tod and Sondra Brancel (Next Generation Genetics, Endeavor). Their most successful venture has been with NS Miss Gloria 203 - dam of the 2009 WHA high seller MGM Nex Gen Moler 328. We have 15 calves coming from her this year and the first 3 have been heifers! MGM also had the high selling bull at the 2009 Ohio Beef Expo- MGM Prospect Time 3008 14U. His dam Huth Prospecta J018 has also produced the high selling lot at the 2004 Family Affair Sale and the second high selling bull at the 2006 WPHA sale. More cattle from these cows will be available in the up coming Genetic Selection Sale on Nov 15, 2009 and future Family Affair sales.
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The goals at MGM are to produce cattle with fertility, efficiency, strong maternal traits, as well as emphasis on carcass traits.