Meet the family:

Randy and Joan Meyer
Randy is the ag teacher and FFA advisor for the local High School. He married Joan Ruppert, a registered nurse in 1993. Both of them are lifetime farmers and are actively involved in their jobs and the farms. They combined farming operations that are 60 miles apart which requires a lot of road time. Randy is the crop expert and Joan knows the cattle business.

Chad Ruppert is a salesman for Morton Buildings Inc. He is married to Andrea Moreland and they have 3 children – Brooks, Dominic and Darian. Dominic is just starting to test his show ring abilities and attended his first Junior National’s in Sioux Falls 2008. They live close enough for Chad to help out during farming season and with the cattle shows.

Beth Ruppert married Brad Dorsey and they farm just outside Dorsey Il. They are grain farmers, have a Beck’s seed dealership and raise and show Simmental cattle. Their children are Drew DeClerck and Claire Dorsey. Drew started showing at the age of 6 down at the North American. Imagine that green sawdust for your first show with a senior yearling heifer! Fortunately for Drew he could drop the halter and set up the heifer’s back feet because he wasn’t big enough to do both at the same time. His little sister Claire is an old pro at cattle shows, and can’t wait til she’s big enough to grab a halter. If you haven’t seen the light on which breed is best, and need Simmental genetics you can give Brad a call – they sell breeding stock as well – Dorsey Simmentals.

Norann Ruppert married Brandon Ogle in 2008. She is back at school to become a registered nurse and Brandon raises and shows pigs. If you are in the market for a winning show pig Brandon is the man to talk to. Brandon also works for Prairie State Semen Inc. Laurel their little girl loves the cows and the pigs and the dogs. She’s got lots of choices to make as soon as she’s a little older. Norann still picks up a show stick and we had a great time at their wedding toast with the important distinctions between a hog show stick and a cattle show stick.

Jordan Ruppert married Stephanie Witt in 2008. They live near the farm and help daily with the cattle. Jordan is the one who knows all the sire pedigrees for multiple breeds – not just Limis. Cattle magazines have been his textbooks since he was 12. Jordan is a loan officer at the local bank and Stephanie is a substitute teacher who is also getting her second degree in teaching. Stephanie is from way up north in Lanark and has a cattle background as well. They met across the main aisle during the North American 3 years ago.

Kristopher Meyer will graduate in 2009 from high school and is having a good time learning all the techniques that go along with showing the cattle. He has several local and regional shows under his belt and really enjoyed his first trip to Junior National’s in Sioux Falls. He helps his dad with the farming as well.

Abbey Meyer attends Salem high school and is on the school’s volleyball team. She just got her license and works part time.