History


TSSA... The oldest and largest in the United States... Celebrates it's 46th anniversary.

The Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association (TSSA), originally organized as the Texas Simmental Association on February 14, 1970, is the oldest and largest state Simmental association in the United States and is now celebrating its 43rd anniversary. Its members voted to change the name to the Texas Simmental/Simbrah Association in June of 1985 to reflect the growing interest in Simbrah cattle in Texas.

The primary purpose of the TSSA is to promote Simmental and Simbrah cattle in the great state of Texas. In order to accomplish these goals, the TSSA cooperates closely with the American Simmental Association, Bozeman, Montana, which act as the breed registry for the two breeds.

The TSSA is currently involved in promoting Simmental and Simbrah cattle in a number of different ways. They include: general advertising in monthly beef magazines and weekly livestock newspapers; mailing promotional literature; maintenance of an exhibit booth at stock shows, livestock seminars, conventions and trade shows; sponsoring of Simmental and Simbrah shows and sales at the major stock shows in Texas; sponsoring field days throughout the state; TSSA bull tests, steer feedouts and sales; and the organization of the annual membership meeting and convention.

The TSSA actively sponsors area Simmental and Simbrah associations across Texas, which in turn promote the breeds at the grassroots level. There is a Texas Junior Simmental/Simbrah Association, currently made up of over 300 active youngsters. These enthusiastic juniors promote Simmental and Simbrah through an annual Junior Heifer Futurity, Queen and Sweetheart contest, Junior Simmental and Simbrah Heifer Shows at stock shows in Texas and by sponsoring field days.

The TSSA News is published monthly by the office staff and contains coverage of Simmental and Simbrah events in Texas and across the country, as well as a current calendar of upcoming functions and TSSA Approved Sale ads.

The TSSA Membership Directory is published each fall and contains a current listing of all TSSA members and ranch directions. Included in the directory are many attractive breed and related industry ads. This directory is highly requested and is extensively used, not only by registered breeders, but also by many commercial cattlemen who use it in locating their range bulls and replacement females.

One service provided by the TSSA which has proven to be extremely successful is the TSSA Approved Sale Program. It involves the TSSA staff working with members at their production or consignment sales with verification of individual tattoos or brands and registration papers and providing necessary paperwork and assistance with catalog preparation. This service allows potential buyers to know that everything is in order and they can buy with confidence.

The TSSA also sponsors and manages sales throughout the year allowing members to market their cattle and utilize the marketing expertise of the association. The TSSA can also assist its members in privately merchandising their cattle. The TSSA is a natural means of getting buyer and seller together.

The TSSA is an enthusiastic group of cattlemen and women actively working together for the advancement of the beef industry through the use of Simmental and Simbrah cattle.

TSSA PRESIDENTS

• C.D. Wheatley — 1970
• Albert West, III — 1971-1972
• W.J. Waldrip — 1973-1974
• Henry Fields — 1975
• Chester R. Martin — 1976
• Edmund Tom — 1977-1978
• Brent Pretty — 1979-1980
• Harry W. Stafford — 1981
• Joe L. Prud'homme — 1982-1983
• Tom Risinger — 1984-1985
• Dale West — 1986-1987
• Ronald K. Harmon — 1988-1989
• A.A. "Sonny" Price — 1990-1991
• Lytle Tom, Jr — 1992
• Tom Ford — 1993-1994
• Fred Schuetze — 1995-1996
• Don Murray — 1997-1998
• Gary Woodring — 1999
• Joe E, "Skipper" Hill — 2000-2001
• Tommy Schwertner — 2002-2003
• Jim Ethridge — 2004 - 2006
• Cecil Peters — 2007
• Joe Mask — 2008-2010
• Robert Piper — 2011-2013
• David Berry — 2013-2016
• Greg Burden — 2016 - 2019
• Casey Buzzard — 2019-2022
 Sam Hodges — 2022-Current

TSSA FAMILIES AND SUPPORTERS OF THE YEAR

• Larry Pipes — 1978
• Wayne Hudson — 1979
• R. A. Brown — 1980
• Henry Fields — 1981
• Dean Taylor — 1982
• Rich Forst — 1983
• Edell Parker — 1984
• Jim Bell — 1985
• Tom Risinger — 1986
• M. E. “Bud” Wentz — 1987
• Joe L. Prud’homme — 1988
• Brent Perry — 1989
• Dale West — 1990
• Carlos Guerra — 1991
• Ron Harmon — 1992
• Travis Martin — 1993
• Ralph Connell — 1994
• Joe E. “Skipper” Hill — 1995
• Joe C. Mitcham — 1996
• Bill Dutton — 1997
• Fred Schuetze — 1998
• Tom Ford — 1999
• Warren Garrett — 2000
• Don Murray — 2001
• JoNell Drew — 2002
• Larry Throgmorton — 2003
• Bill & Jane Travis — 2004
• Jim & Donna Ethridge — 2005
• Jim & Connie Newsome — 2006
• Joe and Julie Mask — 2008
• Kenneth and Rhonda Airheart — 2009
• Robert and Sandy Piper — 2011

HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBERS

• C. D. Wheatley — Trinidad, 1994
• John Quinn — LaGrange, 1994
• Jimmie Travis — Weatherford, 1994
• Henry Fields — Claude, 1995
• Dr. Ralph Connell — Dallas, 1997
• JoNell Drew — Hearne, 1998
• Judy Latham — Cleburne, 2000
• Joe Prud’homme — Tyler, 2001
• Tom & Dianne Risinger — 2003
• Bill and Jane Travis — 2008
• Carlos and Sister Guerra — 2008
• Joe E. (Skipper) Hill — 2009
• Fred Schutze — 2009
• Sally Buxkemper — 2011
• Jim Ethridge — 2016
• Archy Fleming — 2022

TSSA QUEENS AND SWEETHEARTS

• 1978 — Tracy Risinger, no sweetheart
• 1979 — Jana Castleberry, no sweetheart
• 1980 — Crystal Akers, Whitney Risinger
• 1981 — LaNell Chumney, Carrie Bassham
• 1982 — Cindy Smart, Marsha Taylor
• 1983 — Jana Lyn Downing, Kendra Fields
• 1984 — Whitney Risinger, Melissa Hubbard
• 1985 — Lori Vann, Lisa Forst
• 1986 — Lisa Forst, Lucy Buxkemper
• 1987 — Carrie Bassham, Kimberly Reep
• 1988 — Rachael Williams, Heather Morris
• 1989 — Beth Rogers, Coty Koehne
• 1990 — Lucy Buxkemper, Tiffany Wurzbach
• 1991 — Heather Morris, Sandra Kowalik
• 1992 — Sherry Jackson, Kimberly Koether
• 1993 — Amyee Lesikar , Lori Sam Fambro
• 1994 — Kimberly Koether, Carrie Sulak
• 1995 — Casey Lawson, Leslie Hammonds
• 1996 — Coty Koehne, Megan Clark
• 1997 — Denise Demoin, Erin Frazier
• 1998 — Melissa Brown, Krysta Popp
• 1999 — Lori Sam Fambro, Katie Fields
• 2000 — Jennifer Freasier, Lindsay Swick
• 2001 — Renee Rathmann, Laci Fambro
• 2002 — Renee Rathmann, Kaitlyn Grinshaw
• 2003 — Ashley Daniel, Anne Baring
• 2004 — Laci Frambro, Charlotte Salinas
• 2005 — Kaitlyn Grimshaw, Caroline May
• 2006 — Courtney Wenzel, Leslie Garrett
• 2007 — Rachel Glascock, Elizabeth Ciomperlik
• 2008 — Meagan Barba Queen
• 2008 — Callie Henly Sweetheart