|
|
    
    
    
     
|
 |
|
In 1952 when Charles and Jere Cannon bought three Angus heifers, they
intended to produce a few 4-H Club Steers. Their idea turned out to be such
a good one, thanks to the quality of those heifers and the traits of their
breed, Cannons soon decided to take things a step further and the Stone Gate
Farms purebred herd was born. Then in 1957, with numbers increasing, the
fledgling herd was enrolled in a performance program through the University
of Kentucky.
In today's purebred cattle world, performance programs are a given, their
sophistication taken for granted. In 1957 they were new, controversial, not
necessarily well accepted and relatively primitive. Even so, it didn't take
Cannons long to appreciate the value of collecting performance data and
using it in breeding decisions. Their original focus of blue ribbons at 4-H
Fairs was forgotten in favor of creating and maintaining a strong market
among commercial beef producers.
In 1967 Stone Gate Farms became a member of the American Angus Association's
Herd Improvement (AHIR) program and in the early '70's Charles Cannon was
elected to the board of directors of the National Angus Association, then
became it's president. On this level as well as at home, he continued to be
an advocate of performance programs and he also was a strong supporter of
another new, controversial, not necessarily well-accepted and relatively
primitive program "Certified Angus Beef" (CAB).
The Cannon family has spent a lifetime devoted to being leaders and
innovators in the beef industry, while developing a herd of cattle based on
balanced traits and carcass merit that will function in a practical
environment. Their basic formula for breeding Angus seed stock has worked
since the beginning and will continue to thrive in the future.
Today the Stone Gate operation consists of 2000 acres devoted to the
production of grass and hay for 600 breeding age Angus females. The
uniformity of those females reflect the herd's continuous 47 year history
with performance programs, and their practical beef-producing abilities
prove Stone Gate Farms long-term commitment to seed stock production for the
commercial industry.
Stone Gate Farms market 150 bulls and 100 females annually through their
Production Sale and private treaty.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
