Bio

Since 1935, a Proven History of Herefords in Montana.

In 1990 I became the family’s fourth generation to own registered Herefords on a ranch 10 miles West of Bozeman. 

My great-grandfather, Wilbur Storey, entered the Hereford business in April, 1935 with the purchase of 22 cows of A.B. Cook breeding for $4,400 from Dr. Winston of Livingston. 

The cow herd grew to a high of 120 head in the 1960s. After Wilbur’s death in 1973 the herd was maintained at 90-100 cows. Very few cows were purchased. Jim, Wilbur’s son, recalled that six cows were purchased from Conrad Warren, Deer Lodge, in the 1950s and a few more from Mr. Hagen Ranch, also at Deer Lodge, about the same time. 

Over the years our entire family was very involved in Hereford organizations throughout the state. Wilbur was an active member of the Montana Hereford Association Board and was president in 1961. He always took an active part in the Park-Gallatin Association and its tours. 

In 1962, Mrs. Wilbur (Hilda) Storey gathered the wives of the Hereford breeders together in her home and so formed the Montana Hereford Auxiliary which was known as the first Hereford Auxiliary in the United States. She served as its first chairman. The by-laws of this organization were used in forming the American Hereford Auxiliary in 1969. A plaque hangs in the Kansas City office of the American Hereford Association honoring Hilda Storey. She died in September 1988.  

Jim Storey was very active and held offices in the Park-Gallatin Hereford Association as well as the Montana Hereford Association. Mrs. Jim (Bette) Storey served as president of the Montana Hereford Auxiliary, chaired many committees, and was always heavily involved in Hereford events. Bette died in 1993.

Kathy Storey Kohlbeck, daughter of Jim and Bette, was a charter member of the Montana Junior Hereford Association when it was formed in 1963 at the Bayers Hereford Ranch. She was a MJHA director from 1968 to 1971 and served as the co-editor of the first Montana Hereford Directory, published by the MJHA in 1969 with Tom Rolfe. She edited the directory in 1970 and, with Patty Ramberg, in 1971. Kathy represented MJHA in the Speaking Contest in Kansas City and was the first Montana Junior member to be elected to the American Junior Hereford Association board, serving as director, reporter, and treasurer from 1969 to 1972. She started serving as Park-Gallatin Hereford Association secretary in 1988. 

Lisa Storey, also a daughter of Jim and Bette, served as an MJHA officer for three years, being a secretary in 1979 and 1980 and treasurer in 1981. She, too, edited the state directory for three years, in 1981 with Terri Jo Thomas and in 1982 and 1983 by herself. 

Chuck Kohlbeck, Kathy’s husband and my Dad, was active on the Storey Ranch as well as in the Park-Gallatin Hereford Association, holding offices in that organization. 

The Storey operation was always geared to the commercial cattleman. The ranch’s goal was to convert feed economically and with cattle of the proper size to finish at 1,200 pounds. Since its inception, TPR has been an important tool used to select the replacement females and to identify the best of the yearling bulls that were marketed private treaty and at consignment sales throughout the state. 

My family members were truly Hereford boosters, as well as outstanding breeders. 

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