History In America Continued...

     To repeat, during this transition period, evidence indicates outside blood was introduced into the herd. However, there remains a bull line, headed by an original Penitentiary bull nicknamed “Old Ugly” (no other name is known). Old Ugly was a full blood and sired a great full blood bull, Atlas. Atlas progeny can still be found in many British White herds throughout the US.  Two of these Atlas sired bulls were G & G Progress and G & G Punjab. In addition to Old Ugly and Atlas, several full blood British White bulls have been imported from England. They are as follows: Woodbastwick Premium Bond, Woodbastwick Statesman and Woodbastwick Mastermind, which were imported by E. Vannorsdel of G & G Land Ltd., Nevada, Iowa. Another bull “Woodbastwick Regis” was imported by Tom Zimmerman of Des Moines, Iowa. Two English full blood bulls, Harswell Sampson and Castleton Daniel were brought to America in the mid 1980s along with one female and semen from a bull named “Brendan” by R. Woodcock of Illinois. As well as semen imported on Premium Bond, Mastermind and Statesman. The influence of these imported English bulls is widespread throughout the breed in America. Additionally other semen has been imported.

         The Williamsberg, Missouri, herd was purchased by Everett Vannorsdel of Nevada, Iowa, in late 1974. In 1976, a dentist, Dr. Merle Bean of Des Moines, Iowa, joined Vannorsdel and became a partner in G & G Land Ltd. Also, previous to Dr. Bean becoming his partner, Vannorsdel had called a meeting with the purpose to form a National Association. In attendance at that first meeting, held on June 7, 1975, were Joseph Williamson of Illinois, Auvergn Jackson of Sturgis, Mississippi, Jim Shey of Missouri and others. It was decided to name the new association the “White Park Cattle Association of America.” This later created much confusion as the cattle, in reality, were British White rather than White Park. There was, and is, a White Park Society in England. These animals are genetically unrelated to British Whites, but with the same coloring. English White Parks have huge horns and are smaller in stature than British Whites with a much fiercer temperament. However, when history speaks of the wild white cattle of England running in the wild for thousands of years, in all likelihood, it is speaking of horned White Parks not British Whites.

     From the initial meeting, June 7, 1975, the White Park Association of America showed steady growth over the next several years. Through Everett Vannorsdel’s leadership, yearly National Sales and private production sales were initiated and proved successful. In addition, a National registry and office were put into place and maintained. Most, if not all, of the White Park (British White) herds were owned by small farmers and/or part time cattlemen. Growth was steady but certainly not spectacular.

     At the time that the White Parks (British Whites) were being introduced to America there was a “big is better” movement that hit the American cattle scene. Continental breeds huge in size were being introduced in America and popularized. In the United States, British Whites were smaller in stature than the Continental breeds. At that time, this smaller size worked against the American owners, but today the pendulum has swung back to moderate size. About this time  other factors were developing that proved to be a problem. Problem number one was that individuals elected to White Park leadership were not promotional minded. Consequently, the cattle were never promoted with consistency. The cattle were, and are, excellent, but the promotion was not equal to the quality of the breed.

     In 1987 a group of White Park (British White) breeders and members felt that for long term growth and betterment of the breed of cattle, they should be identified by their correct name of British Whites. This group formed the “British White Cattle Association of America, Ltd.” and filed their Articles of Incorporation as an Iowa Non Profit Corporation with the Iowa Secretary of State on December 16, 1987.

     Tom Zimmerman, a Des Moines, Iowa businessman and cattleman was the leader of the movement to break away from the White Park Association and became the new Association’s first President. Several other breeders soon followed suit. Any British Whites registered under the White Park banner were allowed to be transferred into the new British White Association at the discretion of their owner. Many changes were instigated and adopted by the new British White Association. Among the most important, no horned animals were to be admitted. This rule was in compliance with both the British White Societies of England and Australia.

     As we enter the 21st Century the British White Cattle Association of America is showing substantial growth. Membership is spread throughout most of the states. There is a unity and common objective of the membership that gives much promise that the British White breed in America is on its way to establishing an important niche on the American cattle scene.