2008 Pioneer of the year

Matt Syler

This year, the prestigious Pioneer Award was presented to Matt Syler. Mr. Syler was introduced by outgoing IBBA President, Dr. Robert Vineyard. Dr. Vineyard’s introductory speech is reproduced below.

“In 1947, Matt Syler met Dr. Herman and LeNan Gardner which resulted in a lifetime friendship as well as a successful career in the cattle industry. Dr. Herman Gardner loaned Matt enough money to get his education at Texas A&M University, majoring in Animal Husbandry and Agronomy. In 1948, Matt met Ann Reeves and were married September 2, 1950 – two days after Ann’s graduation from the University of Houston. Matt and Ann were married 57 years until Ann’s death in 2008. After Matt’s graduation from Texas A&M University, Matt and Ann moved to Burton, Texas to work full time for the Gardner’s by managing and developing the famous Willow Springs Ranch.

In 1951, Matt joined the IBBA under the membership name Gardner-Syler. The Willow Springs herd was started with 100 Angus cows bred to blood bulls. Raymond Pope contributed by selling them blood Hudgins bred bulls, and blood and blood bulls and cows were purchased from three other early IBBA presidents, Frank Daniel, Jack Canning, and L. F. Sirianni. It was not possible back in those days to purchase 3/8-5/8 blood percentage; you had to breed up to it.

By the late 50s and 60s, Matt was successfully promoting Willow Springs genetics on the show circuit. In 1960, they showed the San Antonio Livestock Exposition grand champion female. WSR Alicia S.2 again won the following year in San Antonio, and in 1963 she threepeated as the grand champion female.

In the late-60s Syler’s keen eye for genetics led him to find the immortal WSR Rocky Joe from Brangus breeder Ray Moody. Dr. Gardner had traveled to Florida with two checks made out to Moody (one for $5,000 and one for $10,000) in the hopes of purchasing Rocky Joe. After a couple of drinks in the bar, it was clear that $5,000 wouldn’t do the trick. The $10,000 purchase price made Rocky Joe the highest selling bull of the breed at that time.

Always an avid supporter of the Brangus breed, Matt was one of 12 founding members of the Texas Brangus Breeders Association (TBBA) in May of 1956. He and Ann served as secretary of the TBBA for 8 years, from 1958 to 1966, and during that time they produced the monthly newsletter, the BULLetin. It was during the 1966 Houston Livestock Show that Matt managed the first International Brangus Sale. It was also during this time that Matt founded the Sealy Bull Sale, the granddaddy of them all; Matt generously managed the Sealy sale for many years for free. Matt was also instrumental in launching the first Houston junior show. The show manager at that time was his good friend John Kuykendall, who agreed to set up a show if Matt was able to line up 10 heifers; there were only 8 heifers that first year, but that was good enough.

After 21 years of managing Willow Springs, Matt and Ann pursued their own ranching and sale management business in 1971. While staying in Burton to continue raising Brangus, Matt became one of the prominent sale managers for Brangus, Beefmaster, and Simmental for the next 25 years, averaging about a sale a week.

To this day, Matt has maintained a registered herd of Brangus cows. Over the years he continued to produce quality herd sires and often sold heifers to junior breeders. In 1987, Matt sold a weaned heifer to Vineyard Cattle Co. This Impact daughter was produced by the Syler 222 cow. The young heifer, Ms VCC Impact 222W, became known throughout the breed, especially after producing an Idaho Jack son known as VCC Alpha 222B born 3/16/92.

Matt Syler has worn many hats, serving the breed in a variety of ways. Matt served nine years on the Board of Directors and also served on the show advisory committee. Matt served as the Chairman of the Brangus Publications historical committee in 1999 and wrote an editorial column in the 50th Anniversary issue of the Brangus Journal.

Serving the breed in many capacities over the last 57 years, Matt is a true historian and promoter of the Brangus breed, both in the show and the sale ring. Among many things, he has provided leadership and goals for members on a regional, state, and national level and has certainly earned the Pioneer Award for 2008.”