FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2025
SOUTHERN LIVESTOCK STANDARD
PAGE 1B
Brought to you by American Simbrah Breeders
Hill Family Cattle
Building their legacy in the Simbrah breed By Lindsay L. Allen
East Bernard agriculture science teachers, Jayson and Annette Hill, are quietly building a legacy in the Simbrah breed, one calf, one student, one lesson and even one podcast at a time. As agricultural science teachers and FFA advisors, the Hills have spent decades shaping young minds in classrooms across the state, from Huntsville to San Antonio to Wharton County. Today, with 38 years of combined teaching experience, their influence stretches far beyond the school bell. It reaches into the show rings of Texas, through the fences of their cattle operation and into the growing network of families, breeders, and youth who call the Simbrah breed home. From the classroom to the show ring The Hills didn’t set out to become Simbrah breeders. Their entry into the breed came through a student who needed a second chance. “In 2009, I had a student who was getting into trouble,” Jayson recalled, “His parents were ready to send him to military school, but I convinced them that what he really needed was more responsibility.” They started small with a rabbit project, then a goat project, but Jayson saw the student needed something more. “Eventually, I told his parents he needed to show cattle,” he said. The family expressed interest in
Brangus, so Jayson, new to the area, asked around for local breeders. That’s when someone pointed him to a Simbrah sale happening soon. The sale was MAS (Marketing American Simbrah), hosted by La Muñeca Cattle, and would be the entry point into the breed that the Hills have become “all in” on. A breed and a community that felt like home Prior to the MAS sale, Jayson met with Simbrah breeder Richard Foster, who took the time to explain bloodlines and breeders. Jayson and Annette’s student purchased a Reavis Farms Inc. calf that day in March. By June, the student’s family had bought two more heifers from Smith Genetics. “We were drawn in by the cattle at first,” Annette said, “but what made us stay was the people. Every year we’ve met someone new who has supported and encouraged us. That’s what solidified our decision to stick with Simbrah.” Raising cattle and a cattleman When their son, Kannon was born in 2013, the Hills already knew showing cattle would someday be part of his upbringing. “As he got closer to being 8 years old, we started thinking seriously about what breed he’d show,” Jayson said, “We considered others that our students had success with, but we came
back to Simbrah. We knew the cattle and we trusted the people.” At their first Synergy Sale, hosted by Smith Genetics, they purchased Kannon a percentage heifer from Diamond RF Farms and a purebred Simbrah from Strack Farms Simbrah. “They were puppy dog gentle,” Jayson said. “We bought them on Saturday and by Sunday, Kannon walked them into the ring at the Synergy Showcase event.” While the Hills had lined up a high school student to help Kannon, that helping hand wasn’t needed for long. “When Kannon’s name was called, he marched in on his own,” Jayson laughed. “Those calves hadn’t had much halter time, but they were calm and responsive. It was a great experience.” Today, Kannon shows Smith Fabled Farmer’s Daughter, a standout female and the first daughter out of Pop Star from Smith Genetics. She’s taken home grand champion titles at the 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (junior and open Simbrah shows), Simbrah RoundUp, the American Junior Simmental Association National Classic, Synergy, to name a few wins. Marketing Simbrah beef While the Hills focus on raising show-quality females, many tied to elite cow families like Dancing Queen and Juliet, and/or sired by Follow My Lead, they also recently began exploring another side of their cattle business, beef production. “We had a conversation about what to do with bull calves,” Jayson said, “We’d obviously prefer heifers, but bulls happen, so we decided to try feeding them out.” Leaning on Annette’s family’s experience, they fed out a purebred Simbrah steer and a percentage steer. “I really thought the percentage would outperform the pureThe Hills are very involved with not just helping their bred,” Jayson admitted, “But son, their students, but they can be found coaching and I was wrong. The purebred help at all junior SimGenetic events. excelled with about a 250-
pound difference in carcass weight.” “The feedback has been so positive,” he said, “People who bought our beef are asking when we’ll have more. We’re seriously considering
Smith Fabled Farmer’s Daughter-A heifer that has done more than her share of winning for Kannon Hill. The heifer, sired by Smith Follow My Lead and from the Pop Star Cow Family won the Houston Livestock Show Open and Junior Shows in 2025. She will play an integral part in the Hill’s breeding program going forward.
Jayson and Annette Hill are both agricultural science teachers.
The Hill Family travelled to Madison, Wisconsin this past summer to compete at the American Junior Simmental Association National Classic. how this side business could work long-term.” Simbrah just makes sense in the Gulf Coast “In the Gulf Coast region, Simbrah excels,” Annette said, “They’re made for this climate. As a producer, it just makes sense, and as a person, the people in the breed make
it even better.” This October, like much of Texas, East Bernard is under a burn ban and struggling through drought, but Jayson remains impressed with how their cattle perform. “We don’t have a single tree on the place. It’s hot and the grass is brown,” he said, “But our cows are still graz-
ing, still thriving. That’s what I love, low-input cattle that do their job.” A voice for Simgenetics With a deep love for teaching and the breed, Jayson recently launched a new podcast, Simbrah Spotlight. It blends his background in education with his passion for cattle. “The podcast focuses on Simgenetics overall,” he said. “We cover everything from show prep to feeding steers to industry data. It’s about educating and connecting people within this breed.” Doing it as a family At Hill Family Cattle, everything circles back to their core belief, “Whatever you do, do it as a family.” Whether it’s raising show calves with their son, helping students choose their first project, teaching ag mechanics during the day, or selling beef to neighbors, Jayson and Annette Hill are living that motto every day. From humble beginnings with a single student and a Simbrah. heifer to now raising champions for their own son and feeding Texas families, the Hills are a reminder that in agriculture, it’s not just about cattle, it’s about commitment, community, and the kind of legacy you build one calf at a time.