My name is Leonard Sheriff. I was raised on a farm in Stephens County, Georgia. As a young man, I was involved in FFA and was the proud recipient of the Georgia American Farmer Award and the National American Farmer Award in 1955. I spent over 40 years as an underground utility contractor installing municipal water and sewer systems throughout Georgia and the Carolinas. I was fortunate to live on a farm throughout my life. My family also owned the local livestock auction barn along with a feed and fertilizer business. Throughout the years we owned various registered herds including Charolais, Angus and Santa Gertrudis. We also maintained a large commercial herd. Like most cattlemen, we kept our eyes open for new genetics and looked forward to the future!
In 1993, I attended my first Tarentaise sale in Virginia at Laurel Hill Farm. There, I purchased 2 purebred bulls and 3 cows. I was most impressed with their quite disposition. Even the bulls were a pleasure to be around. The cows had small, tight udders that maintained their ideal shape for many years, yet they produced milk that was not only plentiful, but rich in protein and fat. She could wean a calf over 50% of her own weight in 205 days! She was moderate in size, had a large pelvic area for easy births and matured early. I was hooked!
I then began attending sales throughout Canada and the United States where I acquired a select group of foundation seedstock. I purchased top bulls and bred heifers from some of the best Tarentaise herds available. I steadily began replacing our herds with Tarentaise. Visiting with Tarentaise owners, I not only gained fantastic bloodlines and exceptional knowledge of the breed but made lifelong friendships with the nicest people you will ever be privileged to meet.
Clay Sims of Monroe, Georgia was the first Tarentaise breeder in the state of Georgia. I became the second. In 1994, I helped organize the annual "Southeast Tarentaise Sale". The first sale was held in Anderson, SC and was a huge success. The following year, the Southeastern Tarentaise Association was established with annual sales being held thereafter. Many people have discovered the Tarentaise breed through these sales.
I am a member of the Stephens County and the Georgia Cattleman Associations. I am also a member of the American Tarentaise Association and have served as a director and president. I enjoy introducing new people to Tarentaise and have exhibited Tarentaise at the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, GA and the Georgia Cattleman's Convention as well as the local fall festivals in Northeast Georgia. I have worked with many young people who show in FFA & 4-H. One of our purebred heifers won Grand Champion Over All at the state show in Perry, Georgia!
We have consigned heifers to the first Commercial Heifer Sale at the Georgia Beef Expo in Perry, Georgia as well as the first University of Georgia Extension Service Herd Development Program in Tifton, Georgia. Throughout the years we have continued to participate in various Bull Test programs and Steer Carcass Futurities where we have shown very impressive results.
We have been selling "natural beef" to our local area for many years before it became so publicized in the media. We dry age our beef and are very satisfied with the finished product.
We have had much satisfaction in seeing our cattle incorporated into new and established herds throughout the southeast. As you will see, Tarentaise is not a new breed, just a newly discovered breed, and one that works.
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