ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Summitcrest Farms of Summitville, Ohio, has been awarded the American Angus Association’s Historic Angus Herd Award.
The award is presented only to herds that have been in the continuous production of registered Angus cattle for 50 years or more and owned by the same family.
History. Summitcrest Farms was founded in 1949 by Fred H. Johnson I, Summitville, Ohio, who also owned the Summitville Brick Co. The founding cattle were purchased at district Angus sales and from breeders in northern Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania.
Today Summitcrest operations include more than 1,000 cows and have spread across the Midwest to also include locations in Fremont, Iowa, and Broken Bow, Neb.
All farm locations are wholly owned by the family of Fred H. Johnson II, including his sons Sam Johnson and Jeff Johnson.
Henry Bergfeld is the farm manager.
Details. Summitcrest has participated in Angus Herd Improvement Records since 1967 and has used artificial insemination for more than 30 years.
Carcass data collection has also been a priority in managing the herd, with records dating back more than 20 years.
Ultrasound carcass data has been collected on the farm since 1996.
Recognition. The farm has been recognized as a leader in the beef industry and received many awards, including the Beef Improvement Federation Seedstock Producer of the Year award, Certified Angus Beef LLC Commitment to Excellence award and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Beef Business of the Century award.
