When Lorna Marshall, Cody Sankey or Don Trimmer hit the road for the bull studs they represent, they’re out to acquire the next great genetic package for their customers. How do they choose? How do they compete with each other and remain friends? What happens next after they’ve made a significant investment? This episode covers all of that, along with their take on the beef-on-diary trend, future challenges to their business model and what could be game changers in the future.

HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully 

GUESTS:   

Lorna Marshall, vice president of beef genetics for Select Sires, grew up on a Simmental operation near Valley Cetner, Kan. She judged livestock at Colby Community College before transferring to Kansas State University and earning a degree in animal science and industry. She was a Block & Bridle officer and a member of the 1990 reserve national champion livestock judging team. After completing her animal breeding master’s at Colorado State University, Lorna worked for the American Gelbvieh Association before beginning her career in the beef artificial insemination (AI) industry. She and her husband, Troy, raised their three children on their ranch in Colorado and now reside in Oklahoma.

Cody Sankey, associate vice president of beef programs at Genex, has been involved in the Angus business his whole life, growing up on his family’s Kansas Angus ranch. He lives near Economy, Ind., with his wife, Lindsay, and their two children, where they are developing their own herd today. He holds a bachelor’s degree in animal science and master’s in ruminant nutrition from Oklahoma State University and is active in National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Indiana Angus Association and Indiana Beef Cattle Association.  

Don Trimmer, U.S. beef sales manager for Alta Beef Genetics, grew up in Woodsboro, Md., where he worked on his family’s registered Angus farm. He’s a Virginia Tech graduate with a degree in animal science and worked as a regional manager for the American Angus Association for nine years before serving as the vice president of member services for the Illinois Beef Association. He worked 23 years at Accelerated Genetics and was responsible for sire acquisition and product development. In 2017 Don joined Alta Genetics to lead their beef programs in the United States. Don has traveled extensively around the country and the world, promoting U.S. beef genetics and the use of AI in commercial and purebred beef herds. He now resides in Baraboo, Wis., with his wife, Jean. He has four grown daughters and two grandsons. 

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