Indianhead Polled Hereford Association: Featured Member- Gene and Cheryl Wirth

Gene and Cheryl Wirth

The 2011 Indianhead Hereford Assocation Hall of Fame award was presented to Gene and Cheryl Wirth of New Richmond. Wirth Polled Herefords began in 1968 with a few commercial Herefords on a small hobby farm on Bass Lake near New Richmond. The first 2 registered heifers were purchased on a sale in North Dakota from Tuffy Torgeson and Ed Kalianoff in 1972. A bull was added from the Indianhead sale in the fall of 1973. A group of bred heifers were purchased from Glenkirk Farms in Maysville, Missouri in August of 1978. The commercial cattle were eventually phased out with the purchase of more of registered cattle over the next few years. They usually only keep 12-15 cows because of limited acres.

Over the years, all four of the Wirth children showed cattle through FFA and junior associations on the state and national level. A lot of guidance in the beginning came from the Langness family, that lead to a life long friendship and several partnerships on herdbulls. It’s a good thing they live only 5 miles apart!

In more recent years, the majority of the herd is based from Jensen Brothers in Courtland, Kansas,

one cow family from Klippenstein Family Farm in Maysville, Missouri, and the featured herd matron, and their most recent Dam of Distinction, CPH Miss Radar 11R, from the Carters in North Dakota.

Along the way, the Wirth cattle have had numerous accomplishments in the showring considering the size of the cow herd. They exhibited Champion or Res Champion Heifer or Bull at the Minnesota State Fair from 2003 to 2007 along with the premier exhibitor in 2006 and 2007. Others highlights include a Junior National Res Division Bred and Owned Heifer in 1992, Supreme Champion Hereford Female at the 2000 World Beef Expo, and Champion Cow/Calf at the American Royal 2001

They annually consign to the Indianhead Sale, the North Star Classic in Valley City, North Dakota, the American Royal, and the National Western Sale in Denver.

Gene retired from Cemstone Ready Mix in 2004 after almost 40 years in the concrete business. He took up a new hobby of golf. If you ever want to play 9 holes, you know who to call. In 2006, he went back to work at Anderson Ford in Baldwin and that was the end of his retirement.

Cheryl has always stayed at home. She keeps busy between the house, yard work, garden, and farm chores.
Tracy works as a travel agent for Travel Leaders in New Richmond. She also finds time to help with cattle at several shows and sales.

Matt lives by New Richmond and works as a loader operator for Barton Sand and Gravel in Minnesota. He recently got back into the cattle business by buying a club calf donor cow with Gene along with a herd of recipient cows. He helps with keeping the cow herd fed and the equipment in working order.

Brent works as the assistant herd manager for the Emerald division of Da-Mar Farms. A 1200 head Red Angus, Simmental and commercial cow/calf operation. He also does most of the AI breeding at home.

Lance is the manager of Lamb Brothers in Wilson. Along with the running the 120 cows, crops, and sale cattle of Lambs, he owns 15 cows between the home farm, Lambs, and other partnership animals. He also maintains the show and sale cattle at home.

Over the years of being involved in the cattle business, they have most enjoyed the people they have met and the friendships they have made along the way.