2015 Seedstock Producer of the Year

 

UBIA President Shannon Allen Presented the award to Raquel and Ben Mower at the UBIA Annual meeting on December 3, 2015 in Salt Lake City.

 

 

Mower Charolais and Angus

Ben Mower grew up in Altamont Utah, the third out of seven children born to Lamar and Donna Mower. His father developed a passion for the Charolais cattle when he acquired a small herd in 1966. That passion continued to grow as he purchased additional registered cattle and began to show them in various local shows.  As soon as he was able to walk, Ben would be outside with his dad, learning about and falling in love with the Charolais.
After his father passed away in 2000, Ben and his wife Raquel took over the small, closed herd and expanded it by searching out and developing new genetics to improve the herd. Ben evaluated and assessed which genetics to acquire by emphasizing calving ease, moderate frame, polled genetics, and structurally sound cows with quiet dispositions.

Ben and Raquel castrate their bull calves based on actual birth weight, performance, structural soundness, and phenotype without any regard to their EPD’s first. They cull replacements and cows with the same philosophy and put the highest value on udder quality, feet, fertility, and disposition. Ben’s approach to raising cattle is, “If they don’t breed or breed back, milk, and raise a heavy calf then they are gone. If the calf doesn’t perform and gain, then they’re gone as well.”

In 2010, Ben added to his herd by acquiring some registered Angus cows, but the Charolais is in his blood and continues to be his primary passion. Along with his wife Raquel, they have grown not only the small herd Ben started out with, but have expanded on his father’s legacy as well, passing on the love and passion for the Charolais breed to their two daughters, Ty and Lorisa, who, just like their dad, have been learning about and falling in love with them since they were born.