1.04: The Simmental Idea

(From Chp. 1 ~ 1966, titled "Foundation Work," in a book begun several years ago by SMSmith to document the early history of SBL and Simmental in North America.)

[Various articles over the years contain differing versions/memories of founding events relating to Simmental. This writer, referring to letters, accounts, documents, and records preserved by Travers' family, has tried to construct as accurate an account as possible.]

In that first week of January 1966, Travers became distracted from his "Brown Swiss" thoughts after reading Dr. Hobart Peters 1964 Report of travels in Switzerland containing comments on the Simmental breed. This was the first time (January 1966) Travers had heard of Simmental.¹ He was immediately taken with what he read, and began to pursue every bit of information he could find about Simmental cattle—calling anyone he thought might know something of the Swiss Simmental. Men like, Hobart Peters of the CDA, Charles Redd of LaSal Utah, Wayne Malmberg, a key-player in the Charolais movement, and others. The more information he gathered, the more enthused he became.

By February 25, 1966 he’d sent his first letter of inquiry to Switzerland. B.Y. (Young) Williams of the Cardston Credit Union, a fellow rancher and a business associate of Travers’ Uncle John S. Smith, became Travers’ sounding board and colleague. Travers would write or tell Young Williams what he wanted to say in his letters to the Commission of Swiss Cattle Breeding Federation and to the Canadian government and Young would type them for Travers’ signature. Those letters (some reproduced herein from carbon copies), set out the early course of events.

The letters to Switzerland took about a five to six week turnaround, so while he eagerly awaited brochures and price information, Travers continued talking up his idea with anyone who would listen.

If he did not already know, from the buzz in the industry concerning the 1965/66 Charolais imports, he soon learned of them and the idea began to form that he could import not only frozen semen (which seems to have been his first thought) but perhaps even Simmental breeding stock.

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1. BetterBeefBusiness, June-July 1969, p. 11, various writings of Travers, & statements by Travers' wife, Belle.