Braunvieh Association names new executive
By Drovers news source  |  Wednesday, November 05, 2008

The Braunvieh Association of America (BAA) Board of Directors announced the hiring of a new executive vice president. Ronald P. Bolze Jr.  He began in his new leadership role on Nov. 1 and will work closely with current executive vice president Mark Nelson until the end of December.

“The BAA is fortunate to have Ron lead our breed and association through the next few years. We are excited about the experience and knowledge of the cattle industry that he brings to our organization,” says Larry Yates, BAA president.

During  the past several years, the Braunvieh breed has experienced 10 percent growth in membership and 8 percent growth in registrations.

Bolze previously worked with the Red Angus Association of America, where he was commercial marketing director responsible for providing enhanced marketing opportunities for commercial cow/calf, stocker and feedlot users of Red Angus genetics.    

“I look forward to working closely with Braunvieh cattle breeders and commercial users of Braunvieh genetics to increase the breed’s presence in the U.S. beef cattle industry,” says Bolze. 

Throughout the course of his career, Bolze has worked for Ohio State University and Kansas State University Extension, and with specialized organizations such as Certified Angus Beef and the Beef Improvement Federation. In 2003, Bolze became executive secretary of the American Shorthorn Association. He was instrumental in establishing a proactive approach to genetic defect identification through DNA-marker technology. He initiated efforts within the Shorthorn breed to create greater awareness and appreciation for commercial application of Shorthorn genetics.

Bolze grew up on a dairy and general livestock farm in south central Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Pennsylvania State University in 1976. After graduation, he returned to the family farm and spent the next five years developing a commercial beef cow-calf and cattle-feeding enterprise. In 1985, Bolze received his doctorate in reproductive physiology from Kansas State University. 

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