Dec. 3, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Jena McRell, digital editor, at 816.383.5193 or jmcrell@angus.media.
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Missouri Couple Honored for Historic Angus Herd
Roy and Karen Jones, Gainesville, Mo., have raised Angus cattle for more than 50 years.
Fifty years ago, Roy and Karen Jones partnered with her parents, Ted and Jeanette Gilliam, to establish the Jones & Gilliam Angus herd. That marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to raising registered Angus cattle in southern Missouri’s rolling Ozark hills.
To recognize their dedication to the Angus breed, the American Angus Association® is proud to name Jones & Gilliam Angus as a Historic Angus Herd. The award is presented to Angus breeders or immediate families who have been in continuous production of registered Angus cattle for 50 years or more.
Although the partnership was discontinued in 1970, the Gilliam name was retained out of respect and appreciation for all the assistance the family had given the couple over the years. Knowing little about bloodlines when they first started breeding Angus cattle, the family focused on obtaining solid, well-shaped cows with good mothering ability.
The cost of the original herd – 20 cows and one bull – was $6,300. The foundation of the herd was purchased from Ollie Gallaher, Van Buren, Mo.; Glen T. Mooney, Ellington, Mo.; and Arthur Arnold & Son, Thayer, Mo. They started an AI program in 1982, with Karen doing all of the breeding.
According to the family, the most fun that the Jones family had was in 1983 and 1984, when they showed their herd sire Southern Comfort with J.R., Mark and Kim Herd. They entered him in at least 20 shows, where he captured top honors, won many division and reserve division championships, and was 4-H champion at the 1984 Missouri State Fair. Their daughter, Jackie, showed the grand champion female at the first Missouri Angus Junior Jackpot Show in 1986.
Both Roy and Karen have served as president of the Missouri Angus Association — Karen as the first woman president in 2004. In 2015, they were honored with the Missouri Angus Pioneer Award, and the first-ever Pinnacle Award for their years of leadership and service to the Heart of the Ozarks Angus Breeders Association.
The couple resides on the farm along with 23 bred cows, six yearling bulls and six yearling heifers. They remain actively involved in the American Angus Association and in touch with their many Angus friends throughout the country.
Visit www.angus.org for more information on the Historic Angus Herd Award and view a list of awarded members since the program began in 1988.
— Written by Melinda R. Cordell, Angus Media
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving nearly 25,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by nearly 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.
For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.
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