We were inspired to create The Great Shorthorn Revival on a sale weekend trip in the Fall of 2001 with Clint Tomson, then 92 years old! Clint was a Shorthorn man from birth. His interest in the Tomson family’s top-ranked breeding program led to proficiency in livestock judging, expert salesmanship and, later, leadership of the breed. He started his career at Shorthorn World as a fieldman, and after a few years he was selected to fill the post of Executive Secretary of the American Shorthorn Association. From 1941 to 1951, Clint provided countless ideas and innovations which truly created the heyday years of the reds, whites and roans. He left the association to join his boyhood Shorthorn friend Frank Harding and his father F.W. Harding in forming American Livestock Insurance Co. , but Clint never left behind his love for the breed he helped make great.

For hours on that trip we quizzed Clint about “the golden days of Shorthorns.” And he answered, in-depth and in detail, as only Clint could! At one point Steve asked, “Clint, how are we going to get Shorthorn breeders to focus again on the cow families that made the breed great?” Without hesitation and for about an hour (almost without taking a breath!), Clint advised a marketing strategy that in three years has proven to work. He started off saying, “Steve, you’re going to have to create an economic opportunity. You can’t just tell people that cow families are important and that following the great bloodlines can be profitable. You have to show them! And show them right in their pocketbook, where it counts the most!” The Great Shorthorn Revival was born!

We are always asked about the theme of the sale and enjoy sharing Missouri breeder Dave Lorenz’ article from 1965’s 50th Anniversary issue of Shorthorn World reprinted in the first Revival catalog. In his summary, Mr. Lorenz challenged his fellow breeders with these words:

“The need for Shorthorn bulls is 100 times greater than your and our capacity to produce at this time. But, opportunity is where the need is...and because the need is great, the opportunity is great! Don’t let the Great Shorthorn Revival pass you by! Start today! If you need a new bull, travel farther, look harder, pay more...but insist on the bull you need. Don’t settle for a substitute for a good bull. Pick up the big, strong females you occasionally have the opportunity to buy. The kind that will produce a calf every year, and give enough milk to make a job of the calf. Start today to build up the strength of your herd. Competition demands that all of us Shorthorn people produce bulls that will sire bull calves strong enough to be preferred by commercial cattlemen all over America! Don’t let the Great Shorthorn Revival pass you by!”

>> Read the entire story in this excerpt from a Revival sale catalog.