POWER SIMMENTAL 2026 HIGHLIGHTS

KHH / HILB Blue Magnolia N47F, a purebred Simmental female from Hilbrands Cattle Co., was named the 2026 Power Simmental. Ed Hartzell of Front Pasture Farm, Oakdale, CA, was the winner of the female chosen from four purebred finalists.

Judging participants were from 22 states and Australia. Based on People’s Choice voting, finalists who were presented coats and vests were Schaake Farms, KS; Lee Simmental Farms, MO; Hilbrands Cattle Co., MN; and Baty Livestock, CO.

With Kinslee Hilbrands shown at the halter of her heifer, from left are Amanda Hilbrands, winner Ed Hartzell, and sponsors including Ashley Bradbury and Chaylee Tonniges of Igenity and Morgan Jones of TransOva, and above center on the block, sponsor Matt Macfarlane of M3 Marketing. Other sponsors, not pictured, were Halter, Purina Animal Nutrition, Nebraska Bull Service, Vogler Semen Centre, and Zoetis.

Hartzell received a custom coat in addition to full possession of Hilbrands’ baldy yearling, a WHF/JS/CCS Double Up daughter. Hilbrands Cattle Co. won $20,000 in the 21st annual event.

People's Choice Previous Winners:

• 2025 – Ryan Jackson of KS had left the grounds but with Face Time, he could view the finalists and he selected purebred bull SFI Final Approval M4K, a purebred bull from Schaake Farms, as the 2025 Power Simmental. Since it was the 20^th year milestone, a second drawing was held. ASA EVP Dr. Wade Shafer drew Tell Calvert of MT Bar Ranch, Alberta, Canada to win the IC Biomedical tank. Event sponsors: Eberspacher Enterprises, Neogen, Purina Animal Health, Rock Bottoms, TransOva Genetics and Zoetis.

• 2024 – Hugh Ross selected the winning animal for himself and for his daughter's operation, Nicki Ross Cattle Services of Blenheim, Ontario. SFI Lottery Pick L31, a bull from Shaake Farms, was picked and exported to Canada. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition, Eberspacher Enterprises, Lakeside Livestock Equipment, Neogen, TransOva Genetics and Zoetis.

• 2023 – Kent Frenzen of NE, a first-time People's Choice participant, picked HILB Vivid Diamond K16 as the 2023 Power Simmental. This Hilbrands Cattle Company female became the foundation for his son's herd. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition, Eberspacher Enterprises, Lakeside Livestock Equipment, Neogen and Zoetis.

• 2022 – Willie Altenburg of CO, who was stunned to have the winning judging card, quickly picked Lees Dixie Erica 1110, a percentage female from Lee's Cattle and shown by Hill Brothers. He immediately announced that he'd donate this 2022 Power Simmental winner back in 2023 as a bred to benefit the American Simmental-Simbrah Foundation and CSA. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition, Eberspacher Enterprises and Lakeside Livestock Equipment.

• 2021 – Sadly, the 2021 National Western Stock Show was cancelled due to COVID concerns. The last time the Stock Show was cancelled was in 1915 due to hoof & mouth disease epidemic.

• 2020 – Chet Purvine of OK saw the quality female entries and quickly bought a judging ballot before leaving Denver. His text response said: "Unbelievable. I want the bred, tag 39" as he selected HILB/Sher Knock Knock from Hilbrands Cattle Co. as the winning animal. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2019 – The Norman Banks family of UT had the winning judging ballot and selected SFI Movin Ahead F11 by Schaake Farms as the winning bull. It was the second consecutive year for a Schaake bull to be selected as the $10,000 winner. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition and Eberspacher Enterprises

• 2018 – Casey Dickenson of KS had the winning judging ballot and selected SFI Reality E43C by Schaake Farms as the winning bull in 2018. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2016 – Jerry Adamson had the winning judging ballot and selected HPF Sazerac 305C by Hudson Pine Farms as the winning female in 2016. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2015 – Iowa's Nate Ruby must have had a lucky charm in his pocket. When the winning judging ballot was drawn, Ruby Cattle Company's ticket was pulled from the full box and Nate Ruby selected his own bull as the 2015 winner. Event sponsor: Purina Animal Nutrition and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2014 – For the 10th anniversary, the program expanded to add in Power Females into the mix. Winner Jerry Blum of IN had the option of picking from both bull and female finalists and he selected Hilbrand Cattle Company's Leading Lady heifer as the People's Choice Power Simmental. Event sponsor: Purina Mills and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2013 – Jerry McCaw’s name was drawn, but McCaw had to return to Ignacio, CO for work and had designated neighbor Robert Campbell to do his bull selection. Oak Meadow Farm’s OMF Double Show Z10 was picked. Event sponsor: Purina Mills and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2012 – Kenny Mason's name was drawn to pick the 2012 Power Bull. The Pattonburg, MO breeder was absent, but had designated on his ticket that son-in-law Nate Ruby of Iowa should pick in his stead. Nate picked PVSF Ruby Madden 126Y, with Ken's daughter at the bull's halter. Event sponsor: Purina Mills and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2011 – Ruby NFF Expedition 021X, from Ruby Cattle Co & Nelson Farms, was selected the 2011 Power Bull by Alfred Bayer. Ruby also had high selling bull lot in the sale. Event sponsor: Purina Mills and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2010 – Long Simmental’s red yearling bull, Cowboy Amigo W7, was selected the Power Bull by Jeff Springer. “Winning the Power Bull and having all our fellow breeders admire our cattle is a true honor,” said Iowa breeder Rob Long. Event sponsor: Purina Mills and Eberspacher Enterprises.

• 2009 – Scott Grass & his crew pooled their money to buy the winning ticket and then selected their own Grass-Lunning percentage bull to win. Event sponsor: Purina Mills

• 2008 – Phil Curtis of Michigan used the internet option of buying his lucky ticket. His designated rep selected Triple C Main Event T074 as the Power Bull. Event sponsor: ShowRite Feeds.

• 2007 – The odds were steep but JS Simmental of Iowa, won it all. The breeder not only had a bull in the top six selected by the crowd, but then Jay Steenhoek’s own name was drawn out of the locked box. Steenhoek selected his own bull to be named 2007 winner.  Event sponsor: Ivesco and Pfizer Animal Health.

• 2006 – Teenager Darby Reynolds of New York was drawn as the 2006 winner. Her dad, Art, purchased the ticket in Darby’s name, then the pair selected Triple C Extra Power R09E as the Power Bull.  Event sponsor: Pfizer Animal Health and Stockmen's Supply.

• 2005 — Rob Pischel of Nebraska selected a bull from J&C Simmental as the first winner. On a sale flyer featuring prodigy of the bull, renamed J&C Power Bull, Rob recently wrote: “It looks like winning that bull will help out our program.”  Event sponsor: Pfizer Animal Health and Stockmen's Supply.