 |
|
 “Our interest in the Simmental breed developed because of
the youth program. I had heard from one of our neighbors, Albert
O’Connor (a former AJSA President) that there was going to be a
Summer Classic held in Louisville during the summer of 1986. So, the
boys each got a Simmental heifer and got them ready to go to the Classic. That year, we redefined the term ‘rookie’ because we knew
absolutely nothing about showing cattle. I took Barbara and the boys
down to Louisville, unloaded them and the heifers, returned home to
work at my dental practice for a few days, and came back for show
day.” states John Harker.“That’s what got us started,” he continued. “We had no idea what kind of educational things happened at the Classic. We thought it was just a little old cattle show.” Two American Junior Simmental Association Classic Champion Females, one National Western Grand Champion Bull, one National Western Grand Champion 
Female and
twenty years later, John, Barbara, Ben & Dan are still raising
Simmental cattle in the small town of Hope, Indiana. The operation
started in 1985 with the purchase of two show heifers. It was
initially started as a program where the boys could accumulate a few
cattle to pay for their college education. John recalls a
conversation with Knic Overpeck at one of the previous AJSA
Classics. He said, ‘you should always go with quality and breed from
there.’ It took the Harkers a few years to fully realize the
significance of that statement. By 1994, they had far exceeded their goal. Their herd consisted of 50 head of Simmental brood cows and they had established a quality embryo transfer program. ER Red Informer was purchased sight unseen from Barry Emmons in Olive, Montana. Red Informer was initially purchased as a cleanup bull, but the Harkers were so impressed with the bull, that they decided to show him. By January of 1995, Red Informer had been named the Grand Champion Bull at the 1994 Simmental Sweepstakes, the 1994 North American and the 1995 National Western Stock Show. The show  ring success didn’t stop
after Red Informer. In April of 1995, Danny purchased a female sight
unseen from the former Leachman Cattle Company. Leachman Red Baldy
D7057 went on to become the Champion female at the 1995 American Jr.
Simmental Association Classic, the 1995 Simmental Breeders
Sweepstakes, the 1995 North American, and the 1996 National Western
Stock Show. Again, in the summer of 1996, Danny won the AJSA Classic
for back to back championships with another sight unseen purchase
from Leachmans.In 1997, Dan married Jill Sommers, a seventh generation Angus breeder and former National Jr. Angus Association Board member. With such a strong commitment to family values and history, the Harker’s purchased their first Angus females. This led to the development of half blood Simmental/Angus females and the beginning of a new division of Harker Simmentals.  The operation has continued to grow and change since the 1990’s. Substance, structural soundness and quality EPDs with an emphasis on maternal characteristics are a few things the Harker’s use as building tools. Today, the operation consists of 150 head of purebred and percentage Simmental females and purebred Black Angus females. Annually, breeding quality bulls are marketed through a cooperator program in South Dakota while the maternal, fancy heifer calves are auctioned through the Field of Dreams sale now held at the Harker’s farm. Females purchased through the Field of Dreams sale are exhibited by juniors from across the country. The newest members of the Harker Family, Luke & Chase, hope to someday follow in their grandparents and parents footsteps – by breeding, raising, exhibiting and selling quality Simmental and Angus cattle and continue the program for at least another twenty years. |
Donors/Bulls
 AJE Lizzys Power Pack NJC Lizzie (600U) X Triple C Hidden Power February 17, 2005 calf Selling many bred heifers in the FOD sale featuring the service of this new herdsire. |
 GCF Miss Caliente Co-owned with Silver Towne Farms SAC Mr MT X STF Too Red (SS Me Too) Watch for future flushes out this new donor! |
 JS Playmate Dam of Harker Hege Supermodel SS Heart Throb X GW Miss Big Sky 60E |
 WCS Snowflake Co-owed with Mark Hege & Family, WCS Frosty X Cashtime 6F |
 Leachman Red Baldy D7057 |
 Harkers Stars P116 |
| click on map to enlarge |
 |
| Contact Us | |
|
John,
Barbara and
Ben Harker John Home: 812-546-5578 Ben Cell: 812-371-2926 15633 E. Jackson Road Hope, IN 47246 |
Dan,
Jill, Luke and
Chase Harker Dan Home: 812-546-5331 Dan cell: 812-371-6881 11595 N. 900 E. Hope, IN 47246 jeharker@core.com |
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