Randy was raised on Howard Ranch in Claypool, Ok, where Herford cattle were not just a part of the ranch, they were a part of the rhythm of everyday life.

 

The operation ran a solid set of momma cows, and from a young age, Randy was in the thick of it. He learned the ropes and developed a deep understanding of what it took to raise excellent cattle.

 

While attending high school in Ringling, Oklahoma, Randy showed Hereford steers through the F.F.A. program. These years taught him a deep appreciation for the breed as well as the discipline required to succeed. His cousin Don Dennis providing the heifers Randy took into the show ring.

 

Randy soon graduated from Ringling High School in 1962 and enrolled at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater Oklahoma. As it turned out, college was not a big part of his story. Bull riding had always been a bit of weekend fun during high school. During college he found that he could earn a little money riding bulls; Randy decided bull riding would become his focus. This, however, did not last long.

 

Randy soon transitioned into the trucking business. He found himself hauling livestock across the country. During those years, Randy mostly hauled Simmental cattle out of Alberta, Canada. One of his most trying experiences came when Gene Weise asked Randy to haul Grand Slam the Denver Grand Champion from Manning Iowa to the Grant Hills Ranch in Texas. Randy was a nervous wreck the whole way because he had never hauled anything so expensive.

 

Over the years, Randy made sure that each of his children and grandchildren were provided with the highest quality Herefords in the show ring.

 

Their excellence is still a prominent fixture in his home, as you can not turn a corner without coming face to face with the images and ribbons they brought home. He is a proud Papa.

 

In 1982 Randy stepped into a new role as ranch foreman at the Don Dennis Ranch, and in 1992 he attended Dr. Foreman’s dispersal sale in Tennessee. By 1999 his efforts paid off in a big way. Randy had raised the Division Champion Hereford bull at Denver Colorado’s National Western Livestock Show. It was a proud moment and a testament to years of dedication.

 

Leaving the show ring behind, Randy began to focus on breeding commercial Hereford heifers and sending them to Southeast Texas. This was another chapter in a life that always found a way to stay connected to the breed he loved. Randy takes deep pride in his Howard Hereford Cattle Co. His deep connection to the breed has remained a constant: a red and white thread woven through the fabric of his life.

 

Randy is so very thankful for the recognition that is being awarded to him tonight. It has been the support of family, friends, and fellow ranchers that has allowed him to succeed in this field. Thank you for this kind acknowledgement of his life’s work.