Iowa Hereford Tour set for northeastern Iowa
More than 400 head of Hereford cattle from six different herds will be on display in northeastern Iowa during the annual Iowa Hereford Tour on Sunday, August 26. The event is sponsored by the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association (IHBA).
Attendees will gather at 9 a.m. at Lenth Herefords, 13690 1305th St., Postville, where they will be treated to coffee cake, rolls, coffee, juice and milk. Founded more than 50 years ago by Elden, Bea and Doug Lenth, the Lenth herd is currently run by Doug and his wife Marilyn, who were named the 2018 Iowa Seedstock Producer of the Year by the Iowa Beef Breeds Council.
Viewing of more than 250 head of cattle will commence at 9:30 a.m. In addition to the Lenths’ entire 95-head cow herd, herd sires, fall and spring bulls and heifers, visitors will also see animals from two fairly new herds, Brincks Family Farms, Fredericksburg; and Alissa and Tanner Rose of St. Olaf. Starting six years ago with a bull, three cows and one heifer, Matthew and Janette Brincks, along with daughters Trinity and Tory, have expanded their herd to four bulls, 19 cows, 17 heifers and 10 steers. Junior members Alissa and Tanner Rose, together with their parents, Mindy and Duane, began their registered Hereford herd as 4-H and FFA projects and in three years have grown it to seven cow-calf pairs, three yearling heifers and three Hereford steers.
Riverview Herefords, 18941 Chariot Road, Elkader, will be the second stop at 11:30 a.m. Visitors will see the cow herd operated along the scenic Turkey River by Candyce and Scott Marmann, daughter Cassie Larson and father David Kobliska. This 20-cow herd was also started from a 4-H project.
From there, the group will travel to Johnson’s Supper Club, 916 N. High St., Elkader, for a Dutch-treat meal at approximately 12:30 p.m. The Iowa Hereford Breeders Association will hold its annual meeting here, during which association members will elect four new directors. Reservations for the meal, which will include a choice of a ribeye steak or a hamburger, along with baked potato, green beans, salad, rolls and beverages, are requested. RSVP’s should be made to Marilyn Lenth at lhfarms1@neitel.net or 319-269-3146.
Dessert will be served at approximately 3:30 p.m. at the first afternoon stop, Cherry Farms, 435 W. Hamilton St., Winthrop. Lonnie, Tammy and Max Cherry started a crossbred cow-calf operation in 1996, but switched to registered Herefords in 2002 when Max showed his first Hereford steer. They now have 40 cows that are a mix of both horned and polled Herefords.
The tour will wind up with a 3:45 p.m. visit to JJB Cattle Company, 2025 Jamestown Ave., Independence. Owned and operated by Jon and Crystal Blin, the spring-calving herd consists of 35 cows, from which they have sold show heifer prospect and replacement females across the country. All juniors in attendance at this stop will have the opportunity to win $200 credit toward the purchase of a heifer.
The public is invited to attend all or part of the tour. Door prizes will be awarded at each stop, with a framed Hereford print as the grand door prize at the end of the day. For additional information, contact Marilyn Lenth at lhfarms1@neitel.net, 319-269-3146.
