Odell Couple Inducted into 2024 American Gelbvieh National Hall of Fame

Mark and Patty Goes of Odell were inducted into the 2024 American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Hall of Fame. The Goes were presented with their award at the 53rd Annual AGA National Convention on November 30, 2023, at the Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District in Omaha.Gelbvieh is a cattle breed originating in several Franconian districts of Bavaria, Germany, in the mid-eighteenth century. It was originally a triple-purpose breed, used for milk, beef and draught power; the modern Gelbvieh is primarily used for beef production. Each year the AGA recognizes a dedicated member who has been an influential figure in the Gelbvieh breed.In his professional career, Goes served as an instructor at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska. During his tenure, he started a Gelbvieh and Balancer® herd at the college and advocated for the breed among students by taking them to shows and sales. Many of his students have started their own Gelbvieh and Balancer herds and become members of the AGA.Goes continued youth education outside of the classroom by implementing the live carcass evaluation contest at the American Gelbvieh Junior Association (AGJA) Junior Classic. He procured the cattle, scheduled harvest slots and explained the carcass results to the contestants. Through the creation of this contest, Goes helped connect live cattle production to the value of end-product merit and consumer demand.Goes has served in many leadership positions throughout the beef industry.Goes is a past president of the American Gelbvieh Association, serves as an active committee member, and was the first president of the American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) where he currently serves as the vice president.Additionally, Goes has served in multiple positions to develop the strategic directions of many industry-leading organizations.“While I’ve always known Mark is a selfless individual, it has become even more obvious while serving on the AGF board with him,” said Tanner Aherin. “When an important decision is to be made, Mark is someone who wants to vet all the outcomes and how they might impact each breeder across the country — never making himself the priority. Mark is willing to challenge the group to ensure the right decision is made that is most beneficial for all people involved in the Gelbvieh breed.”

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