1948: DeJong Ranch was established by brothers Buddy and Leo DeJong and was primarily a cow-calf operation that also ran yearlings and performance Quarter Horses.
1955-1970: Quarter Horse shows, both adult and youth, with several halter and performance champions, including Grand Champion Mares at SD State Fair, Peggy Young and Lil McCue, many time champion stallion Hank Bar, 1963 SD High Point yearling filly Miss Peg Bar, SD High Point Senior Reining horse Tater Frei and several Production Sales
1961: Implemented the use of artificial insemination on the registered Angus herd.
1968: First year to use Charolais (sons of Fred) genetics as clean up.
1969: First bull sale in Chamberlain, SD.
1970: Miles showed Corky, an Angus/Hereford cross steer that was named Grand Champion in Fort Worth, TX (pictured above).
1971: First year to use Maine-Anjou (Berlin) and Simmental (Signal) genetics through AI technology.
1971-1974: Champion Pen of 3 steers (Char x Angus in 71 & 72, Maine-Anjou & Simmental x Angus in 73, and Simmental x Angus in 74).
1973: First Maine-Anjou steer named as Reserve Champion in Chicago (sired by Berlin).
1975: Grand Champion steer in Denver (Charolais x Angus), Champion Angus steer, Champion pen of 3 steers (Angus x Maine)
1976: Grand (1/2 SM x AN) and Reserve (3/8 MA x AN) Champion steers in Kansas City,
1978: Reserve Champion steer (MA x AN) in Denver.
1991: First year to use embryo transfer technology.
1993: First year out to Denver with Maine-Anjou bulls and had the Champion and Reserve Champion Pen of 3 bulls that included DJ Bulls Eye.
1995: Named the Maine-Anjou Breeder of the Year.
1996: Exhibited the Grand Champion Maine-Anjou Heifer in Denver
1999: Exhibited the Reserve Champion Maine-Anjou Pen of 3 bulls.
A detailed history can be read in the Maine-Anjou Voice Article below.
