Bill Zimmerman, Foley, MN, has earned undergraduate degrees from Arizona State University and Utah State University as well as receiving two Master’s Degrees from both Utah State and St. Cloud State University. His work experience includes sales, education, extension economist, cattle genetics specialist and free-lance writing. Bill is published author in several research publications.

Chris Davis grew up on a small cow/calf operation in Central Kentucky; attended Western Kentucky University and graduated with a degree in Agriculture. Upon graduating, he moved to Hart County and now works on a fall calving cow/calf and row crop operation.

Dr. Moore has extensive contact with the beef and sheep industries having judged them at many livestock shows from coast to coast and in Canada. He has given presentations throughout the US and Canada and in Great Britain and New Zealand. He served two terms as president of the International Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Team Coaches Association, was a board member for the National Pedigreed Livestock Council and has received awards for teaching and student advising from NDSU, distinguished service from several livestock and youth organizations, is a member of Who’s Who in American Education and an Alpha Gamma Rho “Brother of the Century.”

Russ Danielson has a lifetime of experience working with beef cattle and beef cattle producers. Born and raised in North Dakota, Russ was an Animal Science faculty member at North Dakota State University for 44 years, before retiring in 2010. At NDSU, Russ taught Introduction to Animal Science, Livestock Evaluation and various levels of Beef Production and Beef Systems. He was longtime faculty advisor for the Saddle and Sirloin Club, Judging Club and served as academic advisor for hundreds of undergraduates. Early in his career, he managed the University beef unit and was actively involved in establishing the University purebred Simmental herd in 1978.

Russ is well known in the US and Canada, having judged many local, state and national beef cattle shows in 26 states and four Canadian provinces. He has been recognized for his work with youth organizations, the North Dakota Stockman’s Association, the ND Livestock Endowment Foundation and The National Beef Improvement Federation. 

Susan S. Russell, Sugar City, Colorado, has the distinction of succeeding her husband, Curtis, on the Board of Trustees, the first time in ASA history for that particular occurrence. The secretary-treasurer of the Colorado Simmental Association (CSA) since 1998, she has been instrumental in planning for the National Western Stock Show, the Colorado State Fair, state field days and breed outreach events. Computer-savvy, she also maintains the CSA website and facebook. Russell's Reflected R Ranch includes an 80-head registered cowherd. They market yearling bulls through a partnership SimGenetic auction. In addition to the ranch, the Russells operate a feed mill, AI service and retail store called WW Feed & Supply in nearby La Junta. A former journalist, she holds a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University and master’s work done at the University of Nebraska. She is the mother of two sons, Jason and Chad, both whom were deeply involved in American Junior Simmental Association.

Perry Thomas has been involved in the Simmental cattle industry since 1978. I started ranching with my father and have continued to work with cattle. The family cattle tradition continues with the G&D Simmental ranch. We currently manage an operation with 100 cows in Northeast ND. I have been a member of the ND Simmental Association for over 30 years. I was on the board of Directors for the ND Simmental Association for 6 years.

Perry grew up in rural ND near Hansboro. During my high school years I invested in Simmental cattle and continue to enjoy the breed to this day. My wife and I started our own operation near Calvin, ND in 1982 where we farmed and ranched until 9 years ago. At that time we moved to Bismarck where we currently reside. We have 3 wonderful daughters who all have families of their own. I am blessed with 8 grandkids and am looking forward to meeting the 9 th at the end of May. My youngest daughter lives on our farm near Calvin. She and her husband continue the farming/ranching operation that I started. They have rebranded the operation as G&D Simmental.

John A. Paterson was raised on a cattle ranch in New Mexico and is currently an Emeritus Professor from Montana State University and a beef specialist for ASA.  He received his Ph.D. in Beef Cattle Nutrition from the University of Nebraska. From 1979 until 1993 he was on the faculty of the Animal Science Department at the University of Missouri and was an Extension Specialist at Montana State University from 1996- 2012.  From 2012 until 2016 he was Executive Director of Education for NCBA. Neogen and Food Safety Net Services, as well as ASA, have also employed him. Dr. Paterson has trained 35 graduate students, and during his career has authored and co-authored more than 200 manuscripts and proceedings papers and has given 120 invited presentations since 1996.  John is married to Diana and they have three children; Courtney who is a pediatrician in Kalispell, Terrill who is employed as a statistician for Fish Wildlife and Parks and Cameron who is a teacher for the YMCA in Bozeman.

Brian received a B.S. in Animal Science from Purdue University in 1974. He spent the next eight years working cattle sales and shows all over the U.S. and Canada. Brian started Shawnee Cattle Co. in 1976 raising commercial, seedstock, and show cattle of many breeds. He married wife Marla in the fall of 1983 and spent the next 24 years raising three children, J.D., Rob and Katelyn, cattle, corn, beans, wheat, and hay. DeFreese became the Beef Unit Manager at Purdue University Animal Science Research and Education Center in 2007. He served on the Board of Trustees of the American Simmental Association for 7 years and was past chairman.