River Creek Farms Named BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year

AMARILLO, Texas – The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) recognized River Creek Farms, Manhattan, Kansas, as the 2025 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year on June 12 during the group’s annual research symposium in Amarillo, Texas. This national award recognizes a producer’s dedication to improving the beef industry at the seedstock level.

River Creek Farms Inc. is a family-owned seedstock cattle operation in the heart of the Kansas Flint Hills. Established in 1890, the farm has deep agricultural roots spanning multiple generations and a reputation for producing high-quality SimAngus genetics built to work in real-world conditions.

The registered cow herd was founded in 1970 by Joe Mertz and utilizes some of the first Simmental genetics imported into the U.S. Soon after, River Creek Farms became an early member of the American Simmental Association (ASA). Today, the operation is managed by Joe and his son, Abram.

The current cow herd consists of 800 cow-calf pairs, including 500 registered Simmental and SimAngus cows and 300 commercial recipients dedicated to the embryo transfer (ET) program. Crossbreeding is a key focus to enhance hybrid vigor while complementing the predominantly Angus-based cow herds of their customers. Advanced reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination (AI) and ET, play a crucial role in accelerating genetic progress, with hundreds of embryos transferred annually. Each year, River Creek Farms markets 200 Simmental and SimAngus bulls, with most selling at the annual spring bull sale the second Wednesday in February.

“A strong desire for progress drives the Mertzes to raise the bar on quality year after year,” says Matt Teagarden, Kansas Livestock Association chief executive officer. “Following their annual bull sale, the family closely analyzes every data point from each lot to determine which traits their customers place the highest value on. As customer priorities shift over time, River Creek Farms adapts its program to meet demand. Their tremendous record keeping, and organizational skills have been paramount to maintain the volume of data they’ve compiled over the years.”

Beyond the cow herd, the Mertz family farms 3,000 acres of corn, soybeans and select cover crops to support the seedstock operation’s sustainability. Precision ag technology is leveraged to maximize efficiency across both farming and cattle operations. Additionally, Abram and Dani Mertz own and operate LivestockDirect, a seedstock marketing business that helps more than 400 seedstock producers market their bull sales annually.

The award is presented by BIF and sponsored by Drovers.

Approximately 400 beef producers, academia and industry representatives attended the organization’s 57th Annual Research Symposium and Convention in Amarillo, Texas. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.

For more information about this year’s symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of meeting and tours, visit BIFSymposium.com.