“From growing up with commercial cattle, I knew that I had to stand behind my product and sell the kind of bulls that commercial cattlemen want,” shares Bobbi-Gayle. “I love all of my customers and try to bend over backwards for each of them. I’ve had a lot of fun working with my commercial and Hutterite customers – they’re good, honest, genuine, and hard-working – the kind of people you want to be associated with.” “But,” she admits,“It took a lot of persistence to build those relationships. I was fortunate enough to be involved with other breeders who introduced me to numerous Hutterite bull-buyers at the beginning. Over the years, many of these colonies have become my customers. I’ve learned that the values of family and hard work are common ground we share. They’re tough critics – just like every other old cowboy out there – and you don’t keep them unless you work for them.” Bobbi-Gayle’s expertise in the cattle industry has also gone international. In 2001, Olds College invited her to travel with a delegation to Hungary in order to teach farmers there about A.I. and embryo transfer technologies. “After working alongside Dr. Don Miller of Cremona for three years, learning his trade of embryologist – from setting recip donors up to A.I.ing – I gained the knowledge to share with Hungarian farmers. It was such an honor to be selected by the college as someone experienced enough to do this, and I gained just as much as I shared during this trip,” she says humbly. When it comes to her success as a pioneering woman in the purebred cattle business, Bobbi-Gayle credits her fellow Simmental breeders. “Their mentorship was truly instrumental to me as a young kid and then a woman in this industry,” she says. “Mike and Sharon Barr took me under their wing when I bought my foundation female from them. Then I was lucky enough to hold the titles of Alberta Simmental (ASA) princess and queen as a teenager. I travelled a lot and fell in love with the breed even more, but truly fell in love with Simmental people! Gaylene Groeneveld, Alex and Jean Graf, Tracy Graf, Ken Lewis, and many others helped me immensely. My mother also deserves a lot of credit; without her taking me to every show or sale under the sun I surely would have quit.” With 33 years of experience as a Simmental breeder, Bobbi-Gayle has had the opportunity to give back to the breed by serving as an ASA board member, and by assisting with CSA meetings and the 2006 World Simmental Congress. She has also been very involved with the YCS program over the years. “I was in my mid-teens when I joined YCS,” Bobbi-Gayle recalls. “Because I was a bit older, I took on more of a teaching role to younger members – but I also learned a lot from other juniors of all ages. With the older age limit of 25 for YCS, I was also able to watch today’s young breeders when they were peewees. To think that I may have had the slightest influence on some of these kids is such an honor – they’ve turned into amazing adults!”
As for changes in the breed in the past three decades, Bobbi-Gayle has seen a few. “Promotion of the YCS program and junior activities have brought a lot of young people into our breed. But the most notable change over the years is the way breeders have listened to the ‘cow man’, adjusting our cattle to fit the market’s needs. Whether it be size, color, udders or feet, Simmental breeders want their buyers happy,” she says. “The Simmental breed has been and continues to be widely used in Central Alberta. Our county alone is home to some of the most influential breeders of yesterday and today.” In addition to her roles as cattlewoman and mother, Bobbi-Gayle works full-time as a child care professional at the Sundre Daycare and Valley Kids. She’s also an active member of her community, serving as a board member of the Sundre Aquiplex, where J.R. participates in swim club. The Hosegood family has even donated raffle heifers to raise funds for the Aquiplex. When asked how she balances it all, Bobbi-Gayle replies: “Some days I don’t know! But I’m not the only woman – or man, for that matter – juggling a job, a farm, and a family. It means early mornings and late nights, and you just make it all happen.” She is also quick to acknowledge the help and support of her family. “We’ve had up to 450 cows and we used to sell feed. But, like many other operations, labor is an issue. We are a family farm, and my parents and I work closely together. Dad does most of the dayto-day stuff now that I’m working full-time. He’s 70 but still lives and breathes cattle. Even though he’s just seven, J.R. has become my right hand on the farm, and mom is the glue that holds us together,” she says. It’s both her passion for the animals and her family that motivate Bobbi-Gayle every day. “Cattle have always been my roots; they’re more than just livestock to me. My parents also taught me that if you want something, you work for it – no matter what the obstacles are,” she says. “Sometimes I wonder why I chose to be a farmer, but when I see a new calf crop or sell bulls and females it all pays off. We try to keep improving and changing with the times, and I hope to raise my son with this same mentality.” “And, even though there’s so much more to the Simmental breed, I still love those big fuzzy ears,” Bobbi-Gayle adds with a laugh.“That’s what hooked me on Simmental in the beginning, and there are people in the industry who will never let me forget that!
By Trish Henderson
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