Handel Hereford Hall of Merit honoree

Art Handel was inducted into the Hereford Hall of Merit during the 2016 Hereford Honorees Reception Oct. 28 in Kansas City, Mo. From left to right: 2016 AHA president Sam Shaw, 2017 AHA president Terri Barber, Pat Handel, Art Handel and 2016 AHA board of directors member Bob Thompson. Photo courtesy American Hereford Association

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Art Handel Jr., Rapid City, S.D, was inducted to the Hereford Hall of Merit Oct. 28 at the American Hereford Association (AHA) Herford Honorees Reception during the AHA Annual Membership Meeting in Kansas City, Mo. Hall of Merit inductees are not necessarily Hereford breeders but have, in their own ways, greatly influenced the Hereford breed and cattle industry.

Handel is the third generation of the Handel Hereford family. He attended South Dakota State University where he was involved in Block and Bridle, Little International, the rodeo club, the livestock judging team and the meats judging team.

While at SDSU, Handel began traveling and working sale rings across the country. To date, he has worked more than 5,000 sales.

In 1970, Handel began a 33-year career as a field representative with the American Hereford Association and the Hereford Journal. He traveled across the United States, worked with the adult and junior organizations and conducted many state, national and international tours. Art was instrumental in starting the South Dakota Junior Hereford Association and was an adult advisor for the program for many years. Art also buys Hereford and Hereford-influenced feeder calves for feed yards in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota. Art is a great friend of the Hereford breed and the AHA is honored to induct him into the Hereford Hall of Merit.