Manhattan, Mont.,-area Red Angus breeders Chuck and Carol Feddes, Feddes Red Angus, were named the Red Angus Association of America’s (RAAA) Breeder of the Year during the 60th Red Angus National Convention in Lewistown, Mont., this fall.
The Breeder of the Year award recognizes RAAA members who have contributed to and maintained an excellent standard of quality in breeding Red Angus cattle in their herds over the years. To be considered, a member must have enhanced his or her Red Angus herd through quality breeding and preserved the Red Angus image throughout his or her many years in the cattle business.
“Chuck and Carol have done all that and more,” said fellow Red Angus producer Ryan Ludvigson of Billings, Mont., who presented the award during the convention. “For the past 21 years, the Feddes family has done an excellent job producing maternal genetics that are well-known throughout the Red Angus breed.”
Chuck and Carol began raising Red Angus cattle in 1992, building upon the firm reputation their family had established in the Hereford business. According to Chuck, the family appreciated the Red Angus females and Red Angus breeders’ commitment to commercial cattle producers.
That commitment to commercial producers is an area in which Feddes Red Angus excels, according to their peers. Neighbor, Red Angus breeder andRAAA Director Bob Morton of Three Forks, Mont., said Feddes is very “in-tune” with what is going on in the commercial world and works to provide Red Angus cattle that thrive for commercial producers. “He is very interested in taking care of the ranchers who are out there feeding the world,” said Morton.
“Chuck is steadfast in his belief that raising a quality female is integral to raising a good bull. His whole herd is full of strong females with good udders, feet and legs,” said Morton.
According to Morton, the Breeder of the Year Award is reserved for individuals who exemplify what the Red Angus breed is all about. Sometimes the recipient is someone who has moved the breed forward through powerful bulls made accessible through A.I. studs; sometimes it is given to individuals who have contributed a lot of time or talent to the Association itself. In most years, it is given to people who are “flat-out good breeders and role models for our breed,” Morton said. “This is where Chuck and Carol shine,” he continued. “They have helped numerous young people get started in the breed and are very Red Angus focused.”
“Being named the 2013 Red Angus Breeders of the Year is extremely humbling,” Chuck said. “This is an exceptional breed of cattle backed by exceptional people. We are thankful for the relationships that we have developed in the Red Angus breed.”
“We want to thank all of our fellow Red Angus Breeders for presenting us with this award,” said Chuck. “It is amazing to us how the Red Angus breed feels like a big family and how everyone cares for each other. We have seen this personally over the last several years, and we thank all of you for your love and support during some very difficult times.”
“It is only because of God's faithfulness to us that we are even capable of being in the Red Angus breed. We give our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, praise and thanks for allowing us to be His servants in caring for this ranch, and for giving us the strength, courage and wisdom to carry out this task. Our journey has taken many winding roads and God always seems to give more grace when the burdens grow greater,” he added.
“We are committed to raising the best Red Angus cattle we know how as we continue to walk the path God has laid before us.”
