Local teen represents Montana as Hereford queen

Sydnee Wilson from Whitepine was crowned Hereford Queen by the Montana Hereford Board in December. Wilson filled out an application on what she could bring to Montana regarding the here-ford breed of cattle. "My family has been very into the breed since 1960. Dad and Grandpa have been involved in the board and Grandpa was president of the Montana Hereford Board at one time," Wilson said. She added that her grandfather, the late Jimme L. Wilson from Trout Creek, was also president of the National Cattlemen's Association in 1992. "I have my own little herd that I am breeding and selling across Montana," Wilson added. She currently has five cows that she bought in 2019. She has been doing embryo transfer (ET) in her own heifers or selling them. Embryos are flushed from a strong healthy heifer and transferred to other heifers whose own embryos may not be as viable. "My donor cow has her own calf this year. My family has been doing ET, resulting in amazing foundational cows. It prevents inbreeding as well," Wilson explained.

She has been in business with the Cooper Ranch in Three Forks, Montana. Wilson said one of their calves was orphaned so she raised it and now he will be in the Cooper Bull Sale. "He was important because the mom's embryos were sold and now he is the only bull calf from her ET," Wilson stated.

Wilson attended the bull sale on Tuesday as the Montana Hereford Queen. She represented the breed, met other breeders and discussed genetics. On Monday, Wilson was at the Holden's Bull Sale in Valier, Montana.

Other duties as queen involve competing for national titles, getting her name out there and talking to important people to learn about genetics in cattle and keeping up to date on new findings, she said. Wilson explained the expected prodigy differences (EPD) related to birth, weanling and yearling weights are important. "A lot of breeders want to know these weights. Low birth weights from a first-time heifer, for example, are important. Also, if the calf has a high weaning rate it means the mom raised them well," Wilson said.

Wilson's upcoming events include competing in Nebraska in July. "People there will watch for my presence and how I conduct myself in the arena, how I walk and smile and stand. I won't help with the judging of the cows. I will walk the cows into the arena that other people are showing. I will pass out the ribbons with the National Queen," she explained.

In the fall Wilson will go to Kansas to begin interviews and competitions. She will be polled by past queens and directors on her knowledge regarding the certified breeding program. Her interviews by the National Hereford Women will include Wilson naming the past queens and directors.

Wilson's future plans beyond her reign as Hereford Queen involve attending Texas A&M University. "I was accepted at all the Texas colleges that I applied to, but A&M is where I want to go," she said. Her major will not be in cattle breeding. It will be in Equine Business and Industry. Wilson has shown horses for several years and has a love of the Quarter Horse breed. "I would love to work with the American Quarter Horse Association. They do all the rule books and registrations, breed registry of foals and geldings for show," she said.

Wilson shows Western Pleasure on her horse Gus who currently resides in California. She and Gus have competed in major national shows across the country including this month in Vegas and Arizona. She also has a mare, Chic, who does Ranch Eventing. Through the Montana Quarter Horse Association, Wilson has shown her in Laurel, Billings, Great Falls and Corvallis. She has also been breeding her mare. "I sold a colt to a buyer in New York last fall. She will be bred to Peptoboonsmal's grandson in late March over in the Big Hole." Peptoboonsmal is a winner of over $180,000 in National Cutting Horse Association competitions. His offspring have earned over $26 million in cutting and reining events.

"I am hoping to bring my mare to Texas with me to college," Wilson said. West Texas is a big ranching community. It has a good feel and Wilson said she has friends down there.

Before heading to college Wilson will prepare for shows. The AQHA Youth World Championship Show is set for this summer in Oklahoma City. Her goal this year is to be in the top 10. Last year Wilson was a finalist in two classes. She competed in the second show after recovering from an ACL surgery. "I was out for most of the spring last year. I missed the Spring Majors but I am hoping for a better Spring World Show with Gus this year." Wilson said she did well last July with Gus.

Currently Wilson is juggling her responsibilities as the MTQH Youth Association President. She is running everything, figuring out fundraisers and awards for youth 18 and younger. She is also the secretary for the Montana Junior Hereford Association, making logos to go on windbreakers to sell at the 2025 World Hereford Tour.

"My teachers at Thompson Falls High School have been so supportive and good to me. I love Montana but I feel my future is in Texas with the Quarter Horse industry and breeding horses and herefords, and marketing and selling my colts as good horses," Wilson concluded.