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 A Model Family From a powerful line-up of showring champions, to one of the most dominant Shorthorn production sales in the country, the WHR prefix is renown as a symbol of quality. WHR Shorthorns, owned by Bill and Becky Rasor, VanAlsyne, Texas, has been at the forefront of the Shorthorn industry for over two decades. Bill Rasor began his career in the Shorthorn breed at an early age. Bill's family purchased their first Shorthorn breeding stock in the 1920's. While working alongside his father, Bill was quick to pick-up on every facet of producing the best Shorthorn cattle possible. Bill showed cattle during high school and during this time he learned many of the skills that have propelled him to become of of the leading Shorthorn producers today. After a brief time away from the purebred industry, Bill and Becky, along with son Will and daughter Ann, hit the ground running in 1982 when they decided to begin re-registering their Shorthorn cattle and become highly active in the junior program. What began as a modest junior heifer project for the Rasor family has developed into a leading program that is dedicated to offering the best genetics and customer service possible to all segments of the Shorthorn breed. Laying the Foundation Rasor began purchasing cattle on a greater scale 15 to 20 years ago and through these purchases he has incorporated leading genetics from across the country. During the early years, the Rasor Family farmed and ranched in the Allen, Texas area, but in 1997 WHR Shorthorns relocated to its current location - 2,500 acres situated in the lush rolling hills just south of Sherman, Texas. The WHR herd consists of approximately 400 head of cattle. "We calve around 200 purebred Shorthorn cattle each year, along with a herd of commercial cattle that we use for our embryo transplant and crossbreeding programs," said Rasor. With a greater demand for top genetics each year, Bill is steadily working to produce the best genetics possible to maintain his high level of customer satisfaction. "We currently calve close to 80 embryo calves per year; next fall and spring we will increase those numbers to 150 embryo calves," said Rasor.  The WHR herd consists of three primary cow families. These cow families offer the most sought after genetics in the Shorthorn breed and are highly respected based on numerous achievements. Headlining the WHR herd is the 3D cow family. WR4 3 D R05 * was the Pacesetter Dam of the year in 1998. She has produced a long list of herd sires and show ring champions, including a Junior National Champion, WR4 Demi D6R24 *; a Canadian Junior National Champion, WHR Deidra D 8R72 *x; and a Denver Champion female, WR4 Delila D R750 *x. Another cow who has made her mark on the Shorthorn industry is WR4 Rodeo Cumberland 3R52 *. The Cumberland family is one of the most celebrated cow families in the Shorthorn breed. This family has produced numerous prolific winners for WHR customers. Catherine Williams, Boling, Texas, exhibited the 2001 National Junior Shorthorn Show Grand Champion Female, WHR Cumberland 9R86 *x. Her full sister, WHR Cumberland 9R78 *x, was later named National Champion Female for Josh Greenhorn, Waynesville, Ohio, at the 2002 National Western Stock Show, Denver, Colo. The WHR Crystaleen R02 cow family is another important cow family in the WHR beding program. She is the dam of Wr4 Truleena 6R98 *x, another standout individual at WHR. The Crystaleen family brings instant prominence to any Shorthorn pedigree. "Cow families are important. I have found that building upon individual families offers greater consistency and marketability for our product," said Rasor. "These cow families are proven. They have been very successful for our program as well as for our customers." Besides cow families, the Rasors have put together one of the most sought after herd bull lineups in the industry. "I believe heavily in cow families, but to be leaders in this business one must establish both sides of the animal's pedigree to be competitive and marketable," said Rasor. Accomplishments Abound "The WHR cow herd has produced as many junior winners and sale toppers as any purebred Shorthorn herd in the country," said Jeff Sargent, show and sale cattle manager at WHR. "This is due to Bill's ability to find and breed the best cattle possible and to maintain one of the strongest cow herds one can find anywhere." This show ring success began early for WHR. The Rasor children were very competitive across the country with WHR genetics. Will exhibited the Grand Champion Heifer at the 1991 National Junior Shorthorn Show in Columbia, MO., as well and the Reserve Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer. Both heifers were out of the Crystaleen and 3D cow families. Proving once again the quality found in WHR's breeding program. In 1997 at the National Junior Shorthorn Show in Lawton, Okla., the 3D cow produced the Overall Champion Heifer for Ashley Parker, Byers, Texas. Besides Ashley's win, Ann Rasor showed the Cumberland cow to the title of Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair with a calf at side sired by CF Trump X *x. This win began the long list of Trump winners that have proven themselves as one of the most competitive sire lines in the Shorthorn breed. Along with Trump, Deerpark Improver 57th and HS Rodeo Drive WR62 have been instrumental in the equation of producing great breeding stock at WHR. "We have had tremendous success with our cattle," said Rasor. "I see the show ring as a marketing tool and we have been very successful at marketing our cattle with the junior exhibitors in mind." The show ring within the state of Texas is overflowing with the juniors exhibiting cattle from the WHR program. A WHR bred female has won the Junior Show at Fort Worth in '99, '00, and '01. At the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a WHR bred female has won the junior heifer show in '95, '96, '97, '00, and '01 and at the San Antonio Junior Show, WHR was the breeder of the Champion Shorthorn Female in '99, '00, and '01. An even greater accomplishment for the Rasor Family and one of their customers was when the 2001 Supreme Champion Heifer title was awarded to Laci Lehman, Celina, Texas, with WHR Nella Ann *x. Nella Ann *x competed against over 2,000 heifers to win the coveted overall title at San Antonio.  "The Rasors have done so much to improve the lives of juniors not only within the state of Texas but across the country,"said Sargent. "Bill and Becky have invested so much into the betterment of the breed and its future." However, the show ring is not the only place where WHR cattle gain notoriety. The Lone Star Edition, WHR's sale, is held the last Sunday in March. One of the premier Shorthorn production sales in the country, the annual extravaganza brings together Shorthorn breeders and junior enthusiastic from across the U.S. and Canada. The sale features a large number of junior show heifer prospects as well as shound, efficient and productive breeding stock. For example, The Lone Star Edition VI not only offered Catherine and Josh's Cumberland heifers, two of the most notorious females on the scene today, but it also featured one of the premier young sires in the breed. WHR Sonny 8114 ET *x sold for $20,000 to Schrag Shorthorns, Marion, SD. Sonny *x produced two of the high selling heifers in the 2002 sale and sired the Spring Heifer Calf Champion in Fort Worth this past year. "We have held eight sales since our first sale in 1989," adds Rasor. "Our goal is to promote what we feel is the future fro our breed and our breeding program - that is why we focus heavily on junior show heifer prospects coupled with outstanding genetics." All of the best fall heifers are marketed through their annual production sale, with the majority of the spring calves being sold private treaty. The WHR program is centered on customer satisfaction and Bill Rasor is focused on just that - the best customer is a satisfied customer. Focusing On The Customer Anyone familiar with Bill and Becky Rasor know that junior members receive a great deal of assistance and guidance when it comes to making purchases at WHR. "Bill knows the importance of good customer relations, especially when it comes to junior members,"said Sargent. "There is not a better family in the world to work for; Bill knows what it takes to be successful. Bill and Becky work hard to offer an outstanding program for juniors and all Shorthorn enthusiasts." With so many obligations to so many different people, the team at WHR finds themselves working around the clock to meet customers' needs. Bill and Jeff answer customers' questions in regards to feeding and herd health, as well as fitting needs and marketing decisions.  "One of the most rewarding aspects of the purebred business is the ability to establish lifelong friendships and provide our junior members with whatever assistance is needed to help them become more involved and competitive in the Shorthorn industry," said Rasor. The Bill Rasor Family and the team at WHR is without question a program on the move. They are continually creating a foundation of quality genetics for the Shorthorn breed and its members. Through innovations and sheer determination for the success of its customers, the Rasors are creating a legacy in building a foundation for a brighter future. The Rasor Family and WHR Shorthorns have come full circle, from an early junior heifer project for the Rasor children to numerous years spent as Texas junior advisors, Bill and Becky Rasor have dedicated enormous time and energy into the breed they love. |
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