hall of fame
The Showtimeswelcomes the Parke andHatmaker Family to our Hall of Fame!
BY: HOLLI HATMAKER, KY
Enterprises dispersed in 1974 at the Louisville Stockyards. While working on his Animal Science Degree at Eastern Kentucky University, Doug began working for a local Simmental operation Kieckefer Simmentals of Kentucky, followed by Benedict Incorporated, and lastly Breck Ellison Farms in Tennessee. Breck Ellison Farms was a leader in the Simmental industry, Breck himself serving as Chairman of the ASA Board, and worked to build an exceptional herd of Simmental genetics. When they dispersed in 1992, the dispersal was held at the local stockyards, but televised outside in a tent due to the size of the crowd which was unheard of at the time due to technology. Following the dispersal of Breck Ellison Farms, Doug and Debbie, his wife of 38 years, moved back home to Kentucky where Doug began his own consulting business at Simmental sales across the country and Canada. His friend and mentor Doug Paul was managing sales and Parke traveled with him and assisted him at many of the sales. This was a time of transition for the Simmental breed as the cattle were transitioning from traditional cattle to solid reds or blacks. Doug and Doug were the dynamic duo Parke on the block talking the cattle, and Paul taking care of the clerking. Not only was Doug Paul fun to travel with, he taught Parke a lot about developing skills in marketing, promotion, and dealing with people. When Doug Paul decided to retire
from sale managing, it seemed like a natural fit for Parke to continue on with the business, evolving his business from consulting to managing Simmental sales. Debbie took over manning the office, and the family business was born. Doug and Debbie have one child, Holli. Growing up surrounded by the livestock industry and Agriculture, Holli quickly grew into the family’s love for Agriculture. She was an active member of 4-H and FFA; competing and serving at the local, regional, state, and national level. Holli served as the Kentucky FFA State Secretary, and spent two years working for the National FFA Organization as a Conference Presenter. The Parke family traveled each summer to the American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA) regional and national shows supporting junior members. In 1998, the Parke family loaded their own cattle and attended the AJSA National Classic in Columbus, Ohio as exhibitors. That first year, Holli asked to show a traditional red and white Simmental instead of the black Simmentals which were gaining popularity. Many people asked Doug why he traveled all over the country looking at and buying cattle, but his daughter was showing a red and white one. At the 1998 Junior Nationals that red and white female named “Holli’s Best” was selected the Third Overall Female. “One of the things I admire most
ithin the rolling hills of central Kentucky, the love of Agriculture and the beef industry has been bred into multiple generations of the Parke family. Today, a tarnished trophy sits above the entertainment center of the Parke family’s home. A quick thought would believe this trophy was won at one of the major shows, but at closer inspection this 1951 trophy was claimed by Billye Rae Turpin, Doug’s mother at the county fair. Doug was exposed to Agriculture through his family’s farm where they raised tobacco and beef cattle in Richmond, Kentucky, and exhibited steers and heifers at the local county fair. Doug was active in the Madison County FFA Chapter throughout high school, where his cousin Billy Glen Turpin served as the Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor. In 1975 Doug and his fellow team members were named the Reserve Champion National Land Judging Team, and Parke was the High Individual of the contest. Billy Glen introduced him to Simmental cattle when a relative Joe Turpin of Allied Simmental
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