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Schedule for 2012 PSA Field Day Announced

Pennsylvania Simmental Association

Field Day

July 20-21, 2012  
Mountain View Farm, Gettysburg, PA

Please click here for a printable schedule!

Friday, July 2oth:
*Arrival of junior show cattle and exhibitors.  Tie-out areas will be provided.  Tent and trailer camping is permitted.

Saturday, July 21st:
*  9:00AM – Junior Cattle Show:  Purebred and percentage heifers, cow/calf pairs, and steers
*11:00AM – Show Cattle Fitting Clinic
*12:00-1:00PM – Lunch, courtesy of the PSA
*1:00-3:00PM   – Herd Walk and Educational Speaker, topics to include:
–Understanding ASA’s current genetic status policy
–Bull Selection
–Cross-breeding with Simmental genetics
–The value of heterosis
*4:00-6:30PM – Gettysburg Battlefield Tour conducted by Tom Vossler and Dr. Carol Reardon

All cattlemen are invited to join us!!

 

Ag Progress Days 2010

Thank you to everyone who stopped and visited with us at the Simmental Display at Ag Progress Days this year.  We look forward to seeing cattle breeders with all types of operations, from farmers that finish out a couple steers a year, to large purebred breeders, to juniors looking for show steers and heifers.

Thanks again and we hope to see you at the Keystone International Livestock Expo at the Farm Show Building in Harrisburg, PA.  We will be there September 30th to October 3rd with the Simmental Show being on Friday, October 1st at 8AM.

Ag Progress Days
PVSM Mooey B En and her calf, PVSM Miss Trail Mix.
Ag Progress Days
Pennsylvania Simmental Association's display.
Ag Progress Days
Ag Progress Days -- after the crowds have left.
Ag Progress Days
Enjoying dinner.

2010 Eastern Regionals

2010 Eastern Regional Classic Junior Show

June 15-20, 2010
Meadville, Crawford County, Pa.

Pennsylvania Farm Show

PVSM cattle resting in the morning before the crowds arrive, at 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Despite a typically cold “Farm Show” week, we had a great time at his year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show.  We took 6 head–4 heifers and 2 bulls.  Thursday and Friday consisted of arrival, set-up, and washing and drying very dirty cattle.  Saturday, January 9th, flew by–as soon as washing, drying, and feeding were done, we had the Pennsylvania Simmental Association directors’ meeting, then it was time to feed again; followed by the Pennsylvania Simmental Association annual meeting and banquet.

PVSM Rockets Red Glare, Reserve Champion Simmental Steer at the 2010 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Pictured (from left): Pa. Simmental Association President Greg Stewart, Laurie Fantom, and Bridget Fox (at halter).

On Sunday, January 10th, were the junior breeding cattle and steer shows.  Bridget Fox’s steer, PVSM Rockets Red Glare, which she purchased from us, was Reserve Champion Simmental Steer.  Bridget was awarded $100 for her Reserve Champion Simmental steer by the Pennsylvania Simmental Association, who has a Pennsylvania Farm Show Simmental steer incentive program.  Monday, January 11th, was Open Show day for us.  The show went smoothly and quickly.

Our placings were:

  • January heifer calf — PVSM Twinkle, 2nd place
  • February heifer calf — PVSM Honey Bee, 2nd place
  • February heifer calf — PVSM Miss Mooey, 3rd place
  • Senior yearling heifer — PVSM Honeysuckle, 6th place
  • February bull calf —  PVSM Butternuts, 2nd place
  • Winter bull calf — PVSM Thunderbird, 1st place
  • Champion Senior Bull Calf —  PVSM Thunderbird
  • Junior Get of Sire — 1st place
  • Get of Sire — 1st place
  • Best five head — 3rd place

Our next event is the Pennsylvania Beef Expo Simmental Sale on March 26th, 2010.  Please see our sale consignments on the “Consignments” page!

Bridget Fox walking PVSM Rockets Red Glare before class.
Laurie Fantom (left) and Bridget Fox (at halter), waiting for class to begin.

Another Hot Ag Progress Days!

Ag Progress Days

Rock Springs, Pa., August 18-20, 2009

Pennsylvania Simmental Association Booth
Pennsylvania Simmental Association booth. Left, Pennsylvania Junior Simmental Association member Bridget Fox.

The ninety plus degree heat didn’t discourage attendance at this year’s Ag Progress Days, held August 18th-20th, State College, Pa.  Cattlemen and farmers come to this event to research new products, equipment, and genetics to improve their cattle operations.  We spent all day Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Simmental Association booth talking to many people from all aspects of the cattle industry.  Just about everyone agrees that, although the beef industry and the economy in general are going through some tough times, eventually things will improve.  Cattlemen are looking for ways to improve production and efficiency in their herds–and what better way to do that than to blend Simmental genetics into their breeding programs.

From left: Laurie Fantom, Pa. Simmental Association member and Director; Brent Nice, Pa. Junior Simmental Association member; Greg Stewart, Pa. Simmental Association member and Director.
From left: Laurie Fantom, Pa. Simmental Association member and Director; Brent Nice, Pa. Junior Simmental Association member; Greg Stewart, Pa. Simmental Association member and Director.

We discussed the benefits of Simmental genetics with many breeders, including calving ease, great dispositions, improved feed efficiency and rate of gain, and increased muscling.  Some people still have the misconception that Simmental cattle are too big to be competitive with moderate-framed Angus in today’s market.  We were easily able to disprove that by pointing out our moderate-framed cow/calf pair we had on display.

Ag Progress Days Cattle Display
Powell's Valley Simmentals was pleased to provide the cow/calf pair, PVSM Mooey B En (cow) and PVSM Miss Mooey (calf), for the Pennsylvania Simmental Association display.

As always, Ag Progress Days was very enjoyable and informative–we look forward to seeing you there next year!

Dinner time!
Dinner time!

2009 PSA Field Day

What a great Simmental Field Day!  Our Pennsylvania Simmental Field Day was held June 6-7th, 2009, at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds with absolutely perfect weather.  Saturday was a very relaxing day with plenty of time for talking to friends and fellow breeders, and listening to interesting speakers discussing topics such as EPD’s and nutrition.  The day ended with a meal and Q&A sessions with Bill McDonald, ASA Eastern Region Trustee, and Bill Wehry, Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.  The two subjects most discussed after dinner were the genetic defects most recently appearing in Angus cattle and how to prevent them from becoming a problem in the Simmental breed; and the state budget cuts to agriculture and especially cuts to the fair funding, which could directly affect all our fairs, and even the Pa. Farm Show and K.I.L.E.

Field Day ended with a very well attended Junior Show on Sunday.  The heifer show included purebred Simmental, percentage Simmental, and all other breeds divisions; the steer show included registered Simmental and all other breeds divisions.  In all, over fifty animals were shown.  Click here to see full Junior Show results.

Thank you to Sarah Zimmerman for organizing this event, Joe Messick for assisting Sarah, Les Whitmoyer and Cindy Zimmerman for all their hard work to pull everything together, and every one who volunteered time and donations to have a great Field Day.

Pictures from the 2009 Field Day

2009 Field Day Schedule Announced

2009 PJSA Field Day

June 5-7, 2009
Schuylkill County Fairgrounds

Friday, June 5, 2009

  • 4:00-8:00 PM………Arrival and Set-up
  • 5:00 PM………………Supper:   Pizza

Saturday, June 6, 2009

  • 8:00 AM………………Light Breakfast
  • 12:00 noon…………..Lunch
  • 1:30 PM……………….Speaker: Norman Vincel, Select Sires
    Topic: Breed EPD’s
  • 3:00-3:30 PM……….Steer Weigh-In
  • 3:30 PM……………….Speaker: Brian McCallister, Purina Mills
  • 5:30 PM……………….Banquet: $5.00/person, featuring Bill McDonald, Simmental Eastern Regional Trustee, reservations required ahead of time. Fun auction following banquet; all proceeds benefit Simmental Field Day and PJSA.
  • 8:00-10:30 PM……..Barn Dance
  • 11:00 PM……………..Silence

Sunday, June 7, 2009

  • 7:00 AM………………Church Service
  • 7:00-8:30 AM……….Breakfast
  • 8:00-9:00 AM……….Steer and Heifer Check-In
  • Starting at 10:00 AM, NO FIT Heifer and Steer Show
    Show order as follows:
    1.) Purebred Simmental Heifer Show
    2.) Percentage Simmental Heifer Show
    3.) Registered Simmental Steer Show
    4.) AOB Heifer Show
    5.) AOB Steer Show
    6.) Showmanship
  • 12:00 noon……………Lunch


For more information, please contact:
Sarah Zimmerman
119 Parallel Road
Pine Grove, PA 17963
Home: 570-345-1201

Joe Messick
1441 Woodridge Drive
Middletown, PA 17057
Home: 717-985-1021