POWDER CREEK SIMMENTALS RECEIVE WORLD SIMMENTAL FEDERATION HONORS

BOZEMAN, MT. -- During the American Simmental Association’s (ASA) most recent Annual Meeting and Convention in Kansas City, Powder Creek Simmentals, Molena, GA, was added to the impressive list of individuals and family operations, which have been awarded the prestigious World Simmental-Fleckvieh Federation’s (WSFF) Golden Book Award.

L/R: ASA Trustee Jessie Driggers, GA; The Hilley family, from the left: Gail, Ryan, Jimmy, and Rodney

Located near Molena, an hour south of Atlanta, Powder Creek Simmentals was founded in 1974, on land that has been in the family for four generations, and is operated by Rodney Hilley, his wife, Gail, and their three children: Ryan, Nichole and Jimmy.

Over the years, the Hilleys have had a close association with Georgia’s numerous bull test stations, having purchased their first half-blood Simmental bull from the Berry College test. Most of their annual crop of 20 to 25 bulls are marketed through bull tests, and they have also been involved in establishing two forage bull tests, the Canoochee at Glennville and the Optimum Beef Bull Program at Alma.

The entire family has been deeply involved in Simmental and beef industry organizations, serving as officers and board members on the Georgia Simmental Association, the Georgia Beef Breeds Council, the Mid-Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, and the State Bull Test Committee.

In 2006, the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association named Powder Creek Simmentals as the Georgia Purebred Operation of the Year.

L/R: ASA Trustee Jessie Driggers, GA; The Hilley family, from the left: Gail, Ryan, Jimmy, and Rodney

Presentation of the 2010 Golden Book Award was made at the Chairman’s Reception during the ASA Annual Meeting and Convention, October 30, in Kansas City, MO.

The World Simmental-Fleckvieh Federation (WSFF) Golden Book Award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the development of the Simmental/Simbrah breeds in the United States. The ASA Board, which nominates and approves Golden Book Awards, authorizes up to three awards annually. Recipients of the award receive a plaque from the WSFF and a framed citation signed by the ASA Chairman of the Board. The coveted award is the ASA equivalent of nomination to Hall-of-Fame status.

The American Simmental Association is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, and maintains the breed registries for the Simmental and Simbrah breeds of cattle. ASA has an active adult and junior membership of nearly 8,000.