Appearing in Bulldust:

International President’s Report

North American Devon Association 

It has been an incredible first year for the North American Devon Association (NADA).  Within a few months we had our legal structure set, headquarters equipped, and a healthy bank balance to fund operations.  Most important, we had more than 100 members and more than 2000 animals in our internet registry.

The vitality of the new organization was demonstrated by the attendance at our first national conference in New York last October.  More than 150 people attended, evenly divided between our own members and guests who are farmers and ranchers interested in what Devon has to offer.

Headliners for our educational program were Jim Gerrish (pasture specialist) and Jerry Brunetti (health expert).  Gerrish challenged the audience to end their dependence not only on hay, but all supplements.  He outlined a grazing program that would give real meaning to “grass finished”.  Brunetti spoke about the benefits of grass fed beef and milk for a healthy life style.

That same afternoon we went to Harrier Fields Farm as the guests of Mike Scannell and Joan Harris.  There, Jim Gerrish led a pasture walk while Gearld Fry, NADA president, conducted a live-Devon seminar on the ideal cow to produce gourmet beef.

The afternoon was capped by our very first Select Sale.  And what a beginning!  We set new Devon sales records including an average price of $5,500 and a top of $12,500.  We were really pleased with the fine quality of the offerings, a sign of the progress Devon breeders are making in America.

After the sale everyone trooped back to the headquarters hotel where the ladies dressed-up for our very first Devon banquet.  Let’s just say the men were dressed.  A special tribute was paid to New Zealand’s Jeannie Lilburn and Ken McDowall of Rotokawa fame.  Their herd’s genetics had scored highly in our sale.

We were up early the next day to visit Bakewell Reproductions, where Ridge Shinn and Fry launched the Rotokawa/Devon renaissance in America.  The final stop was John Forelle’s Folly Farm.  John has quickly moved to the forefront of Devon breeders here and he capped the weekend events with a glamorous dinner.

We’re very pleased with our launch, more pleased at the sudden resurgence of Devon here in America.  The timing for our breed is perfect because of their foraging ability and the quality of their meat.  Right now we are in the enviable position of trying to satisfy a demand that far outstrips the supply.

We invite you to visit our website at www.northamericandevon.com.  More than 100,000 people do every month.  Clearly that’s more than the number of Devon breeders, more than even the number of cattlemen.  It is one more sign that the general population, now sensitive to the importance of healthy, grass fed beef, are tuning us in.

Gearld Fry

President

North American Devon Association