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Don Moore to receive Live Oak Beefmaster Breeder Association’s Legends Award

published: December 13th 2002
by: Martha Hollida Garrett
source: BBU

Don Moore, George West, Texas has been selected to receive the Live Oak Beefmaster Breeders Association (LOBBA) Legends award.
    Moore will receive the Legends award at the LOBBA  Sale, January 11, 2003. It is one of the most recognized and prestigious awards in cattle circles in South Texas and the Beefmaster breed.
    Moore joins a select group of individuals who have contributed greatly to the LOBBA specifically as well as the Beefmaster breed.
    He and his wife, Jo,and their children, Dan, Dave and Susan,  began their Beefmaster operation in 1973. They purchased a group of females from J.B. Kolb, who is also a Legends award winner.
    “I was an absentee owner then, as we were in Corpus Christi and the ranch was here in Live Oak County. We were just losing to many calves at calving and someone told me if I’d switch to Beefmasters, that problem would be solved,” says the seasoned cowman.
    The rest is history, as 30 years later, Moore is still in the Beefmaster business and just as pleased with the cattle as he was in the beginning.
    “The female in my opinion is the best one on the market. You can breed her to any other breed and she’ll produce you a real good calf,” says Moore.
    Moore has served as a director of the LOBBA, in addition to the same position with the South Texas Beefmaster Association and on numerous committees of those two organizations and BBU. He also was president of the South Texas group.
    “I have served on more committees than I can remember. In the beginning this breed was very small and all of us had to serve. I can remember attending the first BBU Convention down on Austin Highway in San Antonio, where there were 42 in attendance. Now the convention draws 500 or more, “ recalls Moore.
    In addition to the breed, Moore has enjoyed the people and the friendships the Beefmaster cattle has brought him
    “We used to know everyone by their first name, when it was small. The breed has attracted some really great people and we treasure the friendships and acquaintances over the years,” he says.
    Moore is also a big proponent of the Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association (JBBA) and  has been involved with this organization since its inception.
    “I remember that first junior show in San Antonio, during the stock show. One of my heifers won it, out of the nine that were entered. My three kids showed and I’m looking forward to some of my grandkids showing, also. Of course that program has just taken off and we have so many kids, who show heifers and are involved. I just love being at the National Junior Show each summer. It’s such a display of great kids and families,” says Moore.
    Moore was honored by the JBBA a few years ago as he was not only instrumental in the early days of JBBA, but has continued to serve the organization. He and his family, are well-known by JBBA members as their official cater.
    “We have cooked in Stillwater twice,Tyler twice, Laurel, Mississippi once, and of course at the shows in Texas in Louisiana. We enjoy going on a trip from time to time, so I just keep going to the JBBA show in the summers,” say Moore, who in addition to ranching, has business interests in convenience stores, catering and owns a motel in George West, Texas.
    Moore has marketed his cattle primarily by private treaty and has participated in consignment sales sponsored by the LOBBA and South Texas groups. For a number of years, they also held a production sale at the ranch.
    “Over the years, we’ve bought and sold a lot of cattle and we have a really good clientele,” says Moore.   
    Moore’s oldest son, Dan has a real estate business in Live Oak County; son Dave is in partners with him in the ranching and motel businesses and daughter Susan, is currently in the Gallopagos Islands, helping their government establish a market for their fish and shrimp with Russia. She has an accounting and international marketing degree and is the world traveler of the family, according to Moore.
    “There’s a lot of people who deserve this award, more than me, but I am honored to be selected by my fellow LOBBA members to receive it this year,” he  concluded.
SLS