Herman Symens Inducted into Limousin Hall of Fame
The North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) inducted Herman Symens of Symens Hills Ranch in Sisseton, S.D., as the fifth member of the Limousin Hall of Fame.
The objective of the Limousin Hall of Fame is to honor those breeders who have made a significant impact on the improvement and furtherance of the Limousin breed of cattle in the United States. The inductees have given unselfishly of their counsel and wisdom, and provided leadership in advancing the objectives of the North American Limousin Foundation and its members.
Only four other individuals have received this high honor. The members of the Limousin Hall of Fame include Floyd McGown of Texas inducted in 1991, Dale Runnion of Arizona inducted in 1993, Leonard Wulf of Minnesota inducted in 2000, and Kenneth Holloway of Oklahoma inducted in 2009. The induction ceremony takes place during the NALF activities held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show.
"Herman is numbered among the great breeders of Limousin cattle in the United States," says Mark Anderson, NALF executive director. "He is considered a true friend of Limousin breeders and is a committed promoter of the breed to this day."
Symens is a pioneer of the breed, with a history that spans more than four decades of breeding, feeding and promoting Limousin cattle. Besides Symens Hills Ranch, Herman and his wife Judy own and operate LIMI-Gene, Inc., a semen distribution company created in 1989 with the vision of providing the Limousin breed with a source of quality genetics. They have marketed Limousin semen throughout the United States and Canada.
"Herman and Judy's love of the Limousin breed has never wavered. Herman is still as committed to this breed of cattle today as he was 40 years ago, and is still just as willing to help or support all breeders, young or old. He is passionate about the attributes of Limousin cattle in terms of muscle, yield and feed efficiency that the cattle offer the industry today," continues Anderson.
Symens is a dedicated member, serving on the local, state, regional and national association level. He was on the NALF board of directors, including two years as president. Additionally, Herman and Judy have given continuous and generous support to the North American Limousin Junior Association.
He joins a prestigious group of Hall of Fame members.
The first Hall of Fame inductee, Floyd McGown, is generally known as the founder of NALF and establisher of the Limousin breed in the United States. He served as president of the Texas Limousin Association, the North American Limousin Association and the International Limousin Council. It is noted many times that Floyd never allowed the importance of his own herd to take precedence over the well-being of the state, national and international associations.
Dale Runnion was the publisher of the International Limousin Journal, and with Dan Wedman started the Limousin World in 1983. He also served as the second executive vice president of NALF. He spent more than 40 years communicating, marketing and promoting the breed to cattlemen across the U.S. McGown wrote in the History of the Limousin in North America, "Dale was a unique leader for the breed. He took the risk along with the rest of us and contributed his great enthusiasm and sound judgment. His broad experience permitted him to produce a magazine of the highest quality, which was a building block to the breed's success."
Leonard Wulf was the founder of Wulf Cattle Company, served five terms on the NALF board of directors and was the NALF president from 1987-1988. Many champions, leading donors, AI quality sires and progressive herd sires carry the WULF prefix. Leonard was a model seedstock producer, actively incorporating the use their genetics program into its commercial business model. Today, that model includes five feed yards marketing cattle on value added programs. This is due to the vision and passion for the Limousin breed that started with Leonard. As noted at Leonard's induction in 2000, "Not bad for a man who started all of this with his wife, Vi, and one cow for a wedding present in 1949 and a little rented ground."
Kenneth Holloway is a past president of NALF and has served on the NALF board of directors. He has made immeasurable contributions to NALF and the breed for the past five decades. He is a tireless devotee to not only the Limousin breed, but has also dedicated countless time and effort to the success of the junior program through the Genetics on Ice sale and the National Junior Limousin Show. A prominent breeder, promoter and marketer of Limousin genetics, Ken has been a voice for Limousin with an influence felt around the globe that is incalculable.
Source: North American Limousin Foundation
