Welcome to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Aaron McKinney, he's the Field Editor for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with John and Heidi Ridder, Owners of Falling Timber Farm. In this episode, they will dive into the Falling Timber Farm 17th Annual Bull & Female Sale, held on March 21st, 2026, at 5:30PM CST, at Falling Timber Farm, Marthasville, Missouri. 

Faling Timber Farm's Focus has always been on balanced trait selection, and they have not chased the fads of the show ring, although they have bred many show winners over the years. The main focus is on being a seedstock supplier for the beef industry.

ohn explains that the land has been in his family since the mid-1800s, with Hereford cattle on the place since the early 1900s. The registered herd was started 50 years ago by his parents, combining his mother’s strong background in the shorthorn business and his father’s experience on the judging team at the University of Missouri. They built the foundation herd by purchasing open heifers from several established performance-tested herds across the Midwest and then steadily improving genetics over time.

John describes how artificial insemination became central to their program. For roughly three decades, they have AI’d most of their cows, then retained and used home-raised bulls from their best cow families. This approach, focusing on knowing both sides of the pedigree, helped them move quickly past historical Hereford problems and build a highly functional, reliable herd.

Heidi shares that she did not grow up on a farm but joined this lifestyle through her relationship with John and has been a core part of raising both cattle and children. Their two college-age children remain closely connected: their daughter is in veterinary school, and their son is studying agricultural systems technology with plans to return to the farm. The family aspect extends across generations, with John’s parents still actively involved in daily work.

The Falling Timber Farm Philosophy focuses on producing Hereford cattle that excel as maternal, problem-free cows, recognizing that many commercial producers use Herefords to add heterosis and create high-quality Baldy females. They emphasize moderate birth weight, strong calving ease, teat and udder quality, sustained fertility, and sound structure over chasing extreme carcass traits.

For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.

American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:

Moly Manufacturing

Central Life Sciences