Ellsworth Angus breeder recognized March 2 during Stockmen’s Dinner
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Richard ‘Dick’ Janssen of Ellsworth was named the 2017 Kansas Stockman of the Year during the 47th annual Stockmen’s Dinner in Manhattan.
Industry friends recognized Janssen for his contributions to the beef industry. Speakers described him as a visionary, and as a curious and accomplished cattleman.
“He is one of the most courageous and daring genetic engineers on the planet,” said fellow Angus breeder Mary Ferguson.
Dan Moser, president of Angus Genetics Inc., said Janssen “is the embodiment of a lifetime learner. He’s not just auditing classes, going when the syllabus topic looks interesting. He’s paying the tuition. He’s making the investment in new technology and seeing the benefits and costs with his own eyes, with his own cattle and his own checkbook. Dick has positioned his business and those of his customers to take maximum benefit of these new tools while advancing our entire industry in the process.”
Janssen started breeding, raising and showing his own Angus cattle in 4-H when he was 11 years old. He’s been actively involved in the registered Angus business ever since.
A 1964 graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in animal science, he was a member of the livestock, meats and wool judging teams; Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity; and Block & Bridle.
After college, Janssen returned home and joined in a partnership with his brother, Arlo. At that time, they farmed 1,200 acres of wheat, milo and alfalfa along with managing their Angus herd. They also custom fit and showed cattle across the country from Chicago to California. In 1969, Arlo transitioned to fitting and showing cattle full time while Richard stayed in Kansas to manage his division of Green Garden Angus and farming.
In 1974, he married Shelly and they continued to expand their cattle operation, growing it to the current size of 350 head. The couple had two children — Ben and Elizabeth.
Janssen is known as an innovator in the seedstock industry. He says that breeding cattle is like adding ingredients to a pot of stew, mixing and matching until he obtains the perfect recipe. Through the years, he has focused on building a breeding program around calving ease and superior carcass traits that will function in their central Kansas environment.
Always willing to try new tools, the Green Garden herd was one of the first used to collect ultrasound information. In the fall of 1989, John Brethour, beef cattle scientist at Kansas State University’s Ag Research Center-Hays, used the Green Garden herd to perfect ultrasound measurements of cattle. In 2000, they were one of the first herds to use GeneStar DNA mapping and today they are using 50K DNA testing for yearling bulls and heifers.
In 2010, the Janssens sent their bulls to Hays Development Center (now the Werner Feed Efficiency Testing Center) in Diagonal, Iowa, to be evaluated for average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), feed-to-gain and residual feed intake (RFI). They used the testing station for three years and in 2013 they installed their own GrowSafe feed intake system so they can test all of their yearling bulls and yearling heifers at home.
Janssen has been a leader at both the state and national levels. He served as Kansas Angus Association president in 1980. He served two terms as an American Angus Association director and was the 1989-90 president. He also served as chairman of the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) board of directors from 1988-89.
In 1993, he received the CAB Commitment to Excellence Award, and he was named Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Seedstock Producer of the Year in 1994. In 2004, he was inducted into the Angus Heritage Foundation.
In 2000, Richard, Shelly, Ben and Elizabeth formed a limited family partnership and since 2010 Ben, Elizabeth and their spouses have been actively running the operation with Richard and Shelly acting as advisors.
The Stockman of the Year Award is presented annually by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council (LMIC).
K-State Research and Extension
http://www.ksre.ksu.edu
For more information:
Angie Stump Denton – 785-562-6197 or [email protected]
