Chad Wilson of Wawota is no stranger to working with cattle. He grew up on the family farm outside Wawota and has been involved with raising cattle all his life.
As a young child, he participated in various junior cattle functions, both locally and nationally. Following high school, Wilson enrolled in a two-year agricultural program in the U.S. Upon returning home he worked in the oilfield and continued to be an integral part of the day-to-day operation on the farm.
Following his father鈥檚 death in 2006, Chad then committed to full-time farming and continues the farm operation under the registered name of Haroldson鈥檚 Polled Herefords.
The herd consists of 180 head of cattle. The cattle are marketed through two annual sales, the bull sale in April and a female sale in October, as well as events such as Agribition and by private treaty. Over the years, Haroldson鈥檚 Polled Herefords have been awarded many championships, including being named Premier Breeder for nine consecutive years at the Agribition鈥檚 National Polled Hereford Show.
In 2019, he raised one particular bull, named Haroldson鈥檚 United 33D 36G. United was first shown as a calf at Agribition, winning the President鈥檚 Cup, an all breeds bull calf competition as well as being awarded the title of National Grand Champion bull at the Polled Hereford show.聽
Following the show, the bull was sold to current partners, Hoffman Ranch in Nebraska and Poplar Meadows Angus in B.C.
United was recently shown at The Cattlemen鈥檚 Congress in Oklahoma City which is the national show for various breeds. The national show is usually held in Denver but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was moved to Oklahoma. Again, due to COVID, Chad was unable to attend the show where he was also invited to judge.
鈥淚 missed out on the opportunity to judge the Junior Hereford Show,鈥� explains Wilson, who goes on to say, 鈥淚鈥檝e judged shows all across Canada but this would have been my first opportunity to judge a major show in the United States.鈥�
And so, from the internet at home on the farm, he watched the bull show via livestream.
Haroldson鈥檚 United 33D 36G was selected as the U.S. National Champion Polled Hereford Bull.聽
The national champions from all breeds are then qualified to enter the Supreme Show. Haroldson鈥檚 United was selected the Supreme Bull of all breeds. As one friend described, 鈥渋t is like winning the Stanley Cup.鈥�
鈥淭his is the first time we鈥檝e had a U.S. National Champion,鈥� says Wilson.聽 鈥淚t was very exhilarating and pretty overwhelming.鈥� You could say he threw his hat up in the air during that special moment of the win.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a sense of accomplishment,鈥� comments Wilson. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 very thankful for everyone helping out along the way.鈥�
This makes it all worthwhile, working with the cattle every day.聽
