An invitation to join us….
Welcome to the North American Devon Cattle Association website. The Association is made up of cattlemen from across the continent (yes, Canada, too) who would like you to join them in promoting and protecting the purity of Red Devon cattle. Some 50 years ago, the noted bovine expert, Jan Bonsma knew of no breed that could bring anything to improve the Devon cow. Incredibly, two centuries before, a noted expert of that day said almost exactly the same thing, word for word in his unpublished diary.
Two identical, expert judgments 200 years apart!
A noted cattle expert of our day, Gearld Fry, is our president. He’s spent almost 40 years studying and writing about grass fed cattle, genetics and animal husbandry. Fry brings that experience to our Association. He is a much sought-after consultant and featured speaker at programs around the world. In turn, he is backed up by a board of directors of the most experienced cattlemen you’ll find anywhere. Like Fry, they’ve have a broad background with many breeds but finally settled on Devon.
We’re all excited about Devon, one of the oldest breeds in the world, and its potential to revolutionize the cattle industry. The members of our Board form a kind of “big brother” program. They are standing by to help you.
A unique benefit of membership in NADA is our on-line registry. Once you’re a member and receive your password to this state-of-the-art registry you can register your cattle, sort them, manage them, and sell them.
There are many other benefits, too….educational and promotional help, site consultation, field days, and lots more. Most important, is our constant representation of Devon cattle at all the top agricultural events in the country. This is an exciting time to be a Devon breeder…all the more exciting, fun and profitable when you’re supported by top-flight cattlemen.
So join right now. It is as simple as clicking here.
Mission Statement
The North American Devon Association promotes the purity and propagation of Devon cattle as an integral part of a sustainable, grass-based farming system for the production of wholesome, high quality food.
Fry feels Devon are the right cattle at the right time to capitalize on the natural food demand that he thinks will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. And he argues that through a combination of circumstances Devon are fortunate to have the purest genetics of any breed active today.He is devoted to maintaining the purity of Devon and to restoring it to its historic position in American agriculture.
In addition to his unmatched expertise in genetics, Fry is often consulted for his knowledge of grass-based farming and proper nutrition.Fry speaks to thousands of farmers and ranchers every year and delights his audiences with a dry wit that enlivens the serious message he delivers. In whatever role he eventually assumes within the organization he is a powerful resource in getting the Devon story to the cattle industry as well as to the consumer.
The speech to the Pennsylvania for Sustainable Agriculture Association, pictured here, is typical of his appearances. The more than 1,000 attendees ranged from farmers to environmentalists to natural food enthusiasts and they mobbed Fry afterwards with questions about how to “go Devon”.There is no one more uniquely positioned to lead the Association in its drive to restore Devon to its right place in the cattle hierarchy.Fry has some thoughts on the new Association in his first Ask Gerald column.
NADA's Founding Officers and Board |
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The Officers: Barto, treasurer; Fry, president; Sydnor, vice-president; Shinn, secretary
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The Board : (standing, l-r) Cope, Minto, Barlow, Moore, Roberts, Scannell
(seated, l-r) Wobeser, Barto, Fry, Sydnor,
Shinn |
The people behind the Association….
The current members of the Board, all longtime cattlemen and women, come from all sections of the United States and Canada. They are dedicated first to the purity and success of the Devon breed and then to leading a professional, full-service association which furnishes registry, promotion, marketing assistance and education for its members.
Current officers of the Association:
| President |
Jeff Moore |
| Vice President |
Don Minto |
| Executive Secretary |
Greg Hickl |
| Treasurer |
J.J. Barto |
The members of the board are as follows:
J.J. Barto ('11) manages Long Cattle Company, a family-owned organic grass-fed cow/calf and finishing operation in Texas. He, his wife, Charlotte, and their sons Jack, Chase and Josh live in Dallas. Barto is treasurer of the Association.
Susan Beal (’12) is a holistic veterinarian and a native of Canada. She now lives in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.S
John Forelle ('10) is a retired attorney who, in 1998, acquired the first Devon cow for his Folly Farm in the Hudson River Valley of New York. His herd now includes more than 40 registered Devon. Using AI and embryo transplants, Forelle actively breeds Devon seed stock for sale and produces grass fed beef for the local market.
Gearld Fry ('10) bought his first cow when he was 10 years old. After a lifetime of study in which he became one of the nation’s top experts on cattle, Gearld settled on Devon as his “breed of choice”. He and his wife Margie live and farm near Red Bud, Arkansas. Fry is president of the Association.
Greg Hickl ('11) recently “retired” from corporate life and is now completely focused on building better food thru Devon genetics and sustainable agricultural techniques. Together with his wife Lavonne and their three daughters, Greg hopes to make significant strides in the development of Devon seed stock on their 825 acre ranch in western Arkansas.
Deb Manahan ('10) and husband, Cam live on a 450 acre farm near Fairfield, Texas that has been in their family since 1871. Devon are new to the farm, but are quickly taking over the commercial cow/calf, goat and sheep operations.
Don Minto ('10), with his wife Heather and three daughters have been managing the historic Watson Farm since 1980 at Jamestown, Rhode Island. Don has been a grass-based farmer for 27 years and combines hard work on the farm with innovative educational programs for consumers.
Jeff Moore ('11) and his wife, Shelli, operate Dixie Devon, a grass-based beef operation in southern Georgia. Like many farmers and ranchers, they “discovered” Devon only a few years ago and are establishing a full-blood herd.
Bill ('12) and Nancy Roberts reside in Brentwood, TN. They are owners of 12 Stones Grassland Beef which focuses on developing genetics for Devon grass finished beef. Since leaving a career in the veterinary supply industry, Bill is involved in developing holistic management systems for livestock and natural products that optimize animal health
Mike Scannel ('10) has been involved with sustainable agriculture for 30 years and he and Joan Harris share the workload on their Harrier-Fields Farm in New York, a well-known leader in grass fed farming.
Ridge Shinn ('12) has long had a personal mission of reviving the rural economy and hit upon grass-fed beef as a tool to reach his goal. He and his wife Lynn have been together in many agricultural projects. Ridge founded Bakewell Reproductive Center and Hardwick Beef to connect producers to the markets of the world.
Kendall Shrock (’12) was another cattleman converted to grass fed after an encounter with Gearld Fry at a conference. Shrock began his Devon journey by purchasing a few head in the first NADA Select Sale in 2007 and joined the board in 2009.. He and his wife Brenda have 7 little farm hands coming along to eventually do the heavy work at Circle K Devon.
Ted Stevens ('11) is a native east Texan, born in Kilgore, and with his wife Pat now owns a ranch near Hearne. Ted is the CEO of a consulting and manufacturing company but his passion is developing the very best genetics in each of his three herds: Devon, Red Poll and Hereford. Ted is committed to keeping each herd pure and manages them separately.
If you’d like to know more about Devon or the North American Devon Association, you can contact any member of the board by clicking here.
