DENVER — The Red Angus Association of America presented the 2023 Pioneer Breeder of the Year award to Glacier Red Angus at the 70th National Red Angus Convention Awards Banquet on Friday, Sept. 15. Glacier Red Angus is operated by Harold and Pat Hughes, of Polson, Montana.

The RAAA Pioneer Breeder of the Year Award recognizes and honors long-time members of RAAA who have maintained quality and excellence in their herds through diligent breeding practices.

In operation since 1973, Glacier Red Angus is well-known to be the home of high maternal cattle. The Glacier prefix has been a cornerstone to many other herds in the Red Angus breed.

“Glacier Red Angus was one of, if not the dominant Red Angus seedstock program throughout the 1990s. This herd was known for their calving ease and leading maternal genetics and they produced such breed impact sires as Glacier Logan 210, Glacier Marias 548 and Glacier Chateau 744,” said Seth Leachman of Leachman Northwest, Pasco, Washington. “Their females were some of the most sought-after around the country and they produced several of the top selling females at the prestigious Northern International Livestock Exposition Red Angus Female Sale.”

Glacier Red Angus donated a NILE Merit Heifer in 1990. This program expanded to help youth begin raising their own cattle herd with desirable genetics.

“Harold and Pat Hughes were mainstays at all the Red Angus events,” said Leachman. “Their herd was a "must visit" Red Angus program while in western Montana, and they hosted one of the most memorable RAAA national conventions in the late 1990s.”

Harold served as MTRAA director for two separate two-year terms. He then served as vice president from 1988 to 1990, and president from 1990 to 1992. Glacier Red Angus received the RAAA Breeder of the Year Award in 1997. In 2006, Harold received the John V. Robbins Distinguished Service Award.

The Pioneer Breeder of the Year Award was presented to grandson Luke Larson by Bruce Ketchum of Plevna, Montana.

For more information about the Red Angus Association of America or marketing programs for Red Angus-influenced cattle, visit RedAngus.org.

The Red Angus Association of America serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. The RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and using scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.

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Suggested cutline: The Red Angus Association of America presented the 2023 Pioneer Breeder of the Year award to Glacier Red Angus at the 70th National Red Angus Convention Awards Banquet on Friday, Sept. 15. Glacier Red Angus is operated by Harold and Pat Hughes, of Polson, Montana. Grandson Luke Larson accepted the award presented by Bruce Ketchum, Plevna, Montana.