2025 officer and director nominees
Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting on February 8th. Information is provided here for individuals who have been nominated so far, but nominations will also be accepted at the meeting.
president
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Maureen Matt - Hidden Ridge Highland Cattle
Hello, I am Maureen Matt. My boyfriend and I established Hidden Ridge Highland Cattle in the summer of 2020. We attended our first annual association meeting in 2019 and we have been a members of NCHCA and AHCA since 2020 thanks to Jean and Richard Gruenerts’ original sponsorship. We purchased our first highlands from Four T Acres and 2 heifers off of the 2020 NCHCA Production Sale. We are located in Loganville, WI and currently have around 45 head of highlands. Our focus is breeding healthy, quality animals and beef production. I have been an active member of the NCHCA since joining. I help on multiple committees, including; show, sale, digital marketing and calendar committee. I am the NCHCA facebook and instagram page admin, along with help from several group moderators. |
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I help the sale and show committee by advertising on social media and working concessions. I am the currently Calendar Committee Chair, making sure we produce a quality calendar using our member photos each year. Dennis and I also represent the association at Farm Technology Days along with multiple other members who help us “man the booth” and promote the NCHCA and the highland breed. I have also been an active board director since 2021.
I look forward to continuing my work with the NCHCA and helping when I can and where I can.
Thank you
I look forward to continuing my work with the NCHCA and helping when I can and where I can.
Thank you
Vice President
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Michelle LeTourneau – Little House and Farm
In the spring of 2020, My husband Tony and I began our journey as Highland cattle breeders with the simple goal of producing sustainable beef. What started as a small experimental addition to our homestead has quickly grown into a meaningful commitment to not only create quality beef but desirable breed stock. Hard work, learning, and a deep respect for the land, refocused and evolved to prioritize genetics, structural soundness, and the long-term health of our herd. |
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Our breeding journey has been an educational one. Over the first four years, we experienced the challenge of only bull calves being born. But 2024 brought us a breakthrough—three beautiful heifers, each with exceptional pedigrees, were born on our farm. This is a thrilling milestone for us as we move forward with a renewed focus on genetic quality and breeding soundness. These heifers will play a key role in the next chapter of our breeding program as we work to improve the herd’s overall conformation, health, and productivity.
One of the most rewarding parts of our experience has been connecting with the North Central Association. The support and camaraderie we've found within the association have been invaluable, and we cherish the opportunity to network with like-minded breeders. The passion, knowledge, and shared enthusiasm for the breed is energizing, and we are proud to be part of such a dedicated community.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue expanding our knowledge of highland confirmation, learning to research pedigrees to make better breeding decisions to ensure the health and longevity of our breed stock. The journey has been one of growth, learning, and excitement, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.
One of the most rewarding parts of our experience has been connecting with the North Central Association. The support and camaraderie we've found within the association have been invaluable, and we cherish the opportunity to network with like-minded breeders. The passion, knowledge, and shared enthusiasm for the breed is energizing, and we are proud to be part of such a dedicated community.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue expanding our knowledge of highland confirmation, learning to research pedigrees to make better breeding decisions to ensure the health and longevity of our breed stock. The journey has been one of growth, learning, and excitement, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings.
directors (two or three open positions)
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Todd Green - Mid-Lakes Highlands
Todd grew up on a dairy farm in New York and has a degree in Agriculture from SUNY Alfred. In 1985 Todd married Ginny Pfaff who was from Wisconsin. Todd worked on 4 large dairy farms in central NY over the next 30 years. Todd was hired as manager of the Scottish Highland herd for Ledyard Farms in 2017 where he learned about the breed and showing highlands. Mid-Lakes Highlands started in 2020 with the purchase of 3 heifers from Ledyard. Since there were no AHCA shows in the east in 2020, Mid-Lakes Highlands made the first trek to shows in the midwest, attending the NCHCA Show and World Beef Expo. |
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We thought our heifers were pretty good but their show ring results that year far exceeded our expectations culminating with Grand Champion Heifer at the Southeast Highland Show. Since that time, we average 8 shows per year traveling from Wisconsin to New York and Denver and places in between. In 2022, the herd of Highlands was moved to the homestead of Ginny’s family in Wisconsin where we currently own 8 head. Mid-Lakes has won multiple ROE Heifers and Cow/Calf of the Year awards and was Premier Exhibitor at the 2024 National Western Stock Show. We take great pride in our daily routine with our cattle and would serve the NCHCA board and membership with the same dedication and enthusiasm.
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Jeremiah Mewes - Gypsy Ridge Highlands
My name is Jeremiah Mewes. Me and my family of 6 live on our farm, Gypsy Ridge, in Northwest Wisconsin. I was born and raised on my grandparents dairy farm. In the early 2000’s the cows were sold and I moved away and started a successful construction company. In 2016 we moved back home and bought the family farm. Knowing we wanted cattle but never one to follow what everyone else does we bought our first Highlands in 2019. We are mainly a beef operation with around 50 head. |
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Besides farming I still have my construction company, I have been on my township board as a supervisor for the last 8 years and counting, and I am on the NCHCA Sale Committee. I have enjoyed attending the annual meetings, zoom meetings, and
volunteering at the Minnesota State Fair. I enjoy promoting the Highland breed and beef every chance I get, and networking with fellow farmers.
volunteering at the Minnesota State Fair. I enjoy promoting the Highland breed and beef every chance I get, and networking with fellow farmers.
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Ben Schmitke Jr. - Creachann Gleann
I have been been actively breeding and raising Highland cattle with my wife Mary for the past 23 years. Our farm is known as Creachann Gleann Farm. We raise cattle for both meat and breeding purposes. We started with two heifers and a bull calf and grew the herd to around 75 head total. I’ve scaled the operation back in the last few years, but have kept some of our foundation animals to go forward with. We showed cattle up until 2019 and met a lot of good friends along the way. I have been actively involved with the NCHCA over the years and appreciate the hard work and dedication that its members commit to each year. |
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Bruce Schmitz - Back to the Roots
Hello, My name is Bruce Schmitz my family and I live in Watkins MN. We have been raising Highland Cattle for 9 years. We have participated in NCHCA and AHCA for 6 years. Our Farm has hosted a NCHCA picnic. My daughter Nicollet has participated with the North Central Juniors for 5 years. We have participated in the NCHA Show for 3 years and have sold our animals on the NCHCA sale for 3 years as well. I also a am a member of the NCHCA website committee. |
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On a national Level I chair the Communications subcommittee, where we are in the process of redesigning the new AHCA Website. We also participate in the national get together and the national show and Sale.
The North Central Association has given so much to me and my family and I want to return the favor by serving the association as a board member. I believe in giving back and helping where I can. If elected I hope to continue to help NCHCA progress into the future as the highland community continues to grow.
The North Central Association has given so much to me and my family and I want to return the favor by serving the association as a board member. I believe in giving back and helping where I can. If elected I hope to continue to help NCHCA progress into the future as the highland community continues to grow.
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Jessie Webb - Goose Creek Cattle
Hi everyone! I’m Jessie Webb from Glenville, MN. My husband Matt and I along with our two kids started Goose Creek Cattle late in 2021. About this same time we joined NCHCA and a bit later, AHCA. I grew up on a small family owned farm where we raised pigs, elk and commercial cow/calf operation. I was |
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fortunate enough to show cattle in 4-H with my siblings. I’ve always thought Highlands were such a beautiful breed and when my parents sold out of the elk in 2019, they had 40 acres of open pastures. My dad happily agreed to let us start raising Highlands to keep the grass down. We started with 3 females and a bull, all unregistered. We have grown to about 25 head of both registered and unregistered. We co-own a bull (Circle V High Road) with Kyle & Katie Baker of Glory Oaks Farm. We are raising these beautiful animals for both show and beef.
It’s been such a rewarding experience so far. We have met so many great people who are always so willing to help out and answer our questions as they arise. This breed and the family behind it is like no other!
It’s been such a rewarding experience so far. We have met so many great people who are always so willing to help out and answer our questions as they arise. This breed and the family behind it is like no other!
