ACA Board Candidate Profiles


Dr. Rob Sheets began utilizing Chianina genetics in the spring of 1972 by breeding Fullbloods to his family's registered Angus cows and has been a great supporter of Chi genetics ever since.

“I’ve been a firm believer in Chi genetics ever since we first used Chi genetics in our herd and would like to help this Association continue to grow and prepare for the future,” Rob said.

Issues such as expanding commercial markets, genetic defects in the gene pool, whole herd reporting and beef industry cooperation/integration are areas he believes need to be continually addressed and prepared for.

Sheets Chiangus currently runs 25 head of cows just northwest of West Lafayette, Ind., producing Chiangus seedstock and club calves.

Rob and his wife Becky have three children; Kyle (wife Rayelle) is a first year dental student at Indiana School of Dentistry; Allie (along with husband Brandon) is teaching in Shanghai, China for two years; and Brittany is a senior at Purdue University majoring in Agriculture.

“I would really appreciate the opportunity to give back to the ACA family by serving them on the national board and helping this great breed to grow and prosper," Rob said. “As a director, I would listen to each member’s view and place the interest of the ACA first and foremost. Your vote would be appreciated.”

Neal Branscum, along with his wife Rebekah and son Ryder, resides in Nancy, Ky. Neal has been involved in the Chi breed since the late 1980s and owns and operates Ard Ridge Cattle Company in Nancy, Ky., in partnership with his father. They have a 350 head operation in southern Kentucky that mainly focuses on Chiangus genetics, while experimenting with Angus and half-blood Simmentals as well. To help better market their genetics and grow in volume, Ard Ridge has recently merged with KTR Ranch in Texas. This merger has increased the herd size to well over 450 head.

Ard Ridge Cattle Company has raised numerous champions since their beginning and continues to be heavily involved in the Chi breed. Neal was named ACA Herdsman of the Year during the 2006 ACA National Show and has served on the ACA Board of Directors since 2004.

“The ACA is headed in the right direction and I want to continue to be involved with its further success,” Neal said. “With more genetic availability will come more breeder participation, and this will only help the ACA and its membership grow and succeed.”

“I will continue to be a breeder and promoter of Chi genetics as I feel they have the most of the best to offer the industry. I am always available for questions and welcome new ideas to insure positive results for the ACA and its lifeblood, the members.”

Chuck Madaris lives in Hope Hull, Ala., with his wife, Katie. They have two children, Charlie and Kathleen, who both live on the ranch. Charlie works with CK Cattle and Kathleen teaches and coaches at a local school. Chuck owns and operates CK Cattle and works closely with Ned and Tyler Ellis in the operation of Circle E Farms in Ft. Deposit, Ala. These operations will calve 325 Chiangus cows this fall, in addition to 70 registered Angus cows and 350 commercial cows. All cattle not kept for replacements, in addition to 500 to 800 purchased calves, are fed in feedyards in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas and sold on various carcass grids.

Chuck started working at Circle E in 1976 upon graduation from Auburn University. In that time he has had the opportunity to work with Fullblood Chi’s, 1/2 to 3/4 Chi’s, Angus cows and now with their current herd of low percentage Chi cattle. Chuck has been selling bulls to commercial cattlemen for more than 25 years, selling cattle on carcass grids for 14 years, and has also been involved with multi-breed bull sales for the past 10 years.

“I believe I can bring a lifetime of experience in the Chi breed to the board,” Chuck said. “CK Cattle and Circle E’s entire program has been centered around the commercial cattle market and I believe this experience will help strengthen that perspective on the board. I believe breeders must make use of tools provided for them (EPD’s, Progeny Testing, etc) in order to stay abreast of other breeds. I have a deep respect for the Chiangus breed and feel that by continuing in the right direction with our breeding programs, the breed has a place in the future of the cattle industry.”

Keith Schrick has been involved in the beef industry all his life. He showed Angus heifers in FFA and that led him to Oklahoma State University where he received a B.S. in Agricultural Education.

Keith’s involvement with the Chi breed began in June of 1974 when he began using Chianina semen on commercial and Angus heifers. From that start, Keith has raised percentage cattle, fullblood Chianina and has made the transition to the present black, meaty and muscular cattle raised at Schrick Land and Cattle, Ltd., in Millsap, Texas. Keith operates SLC in partnership with his wife Dana, and theirs sons, Jason and his wife Andrea; and Josh and his wife Erica and son Kagen.

Schrick Land & Cattle has been a mainstay in the Chi breed for over 30 years. SLC has raised and exhibited numerous champions over the years, and most recently exhibited the Grand Champion Chiangus Bull at the 2006 NAILE. Jason & Josh were both involved with Chi cattle growing up and that tradition is now being carried on to the next generation with grandson Kagen.

“I would like to be involved in shaping the direction of our breed for the future,” Keith said. “I have seen many changes in our breed since the beginning and I believe we are positioning our breed to play a large role in the future of the beef industry. Please consider me for the at large position of the American Chianina Association Board when casting your vote.”

Brian Sulak is a fourth generation farmer and rancher from Hillsboro, Texas. He received his bachelors degree in Agriculture Economics from Texas A&M in 1994. Upon graduation from A&M, Brian spent three years working for the John Deere Company in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He has since returned home to the family’s 4,500-acre farming operation in central Texas. Brian spent much of his youth exhibiting Simmentals and has since helped his father convert more than two-thirds of the family’s 300-  cow operation to Chi-influenced cattle.

Along with farming and ranching, Brian also owns and operates a custom fertilizer and chemical application service and trucking company. He and his wife Sara have one son, Strone.

Brian believes that Chianina cattle have improved immensely over the past two decades and offer many avenues for cow/calf operations, as well as club calf producers to register, exhibit and market their livestock.

“If elected to the board I hope to turn the emphasis of the breed to improved production in the areas of weaning and yearling weights in order to better meet the needs of commercial producers,” Brian said. “It is in these markets that the breed must be viable in order to increase its popularity and overall success.”