EUREKA, Kan. - Built on solid comparisons and decades of records, effective and understandable data management is a mastered skill at Dalebanks Angus ranch operated by Tom and Carolyn Perrier.

"We run a cattle business with a strong philosophy on the importance of record-keeping programs to determine how our cattle will perform in the commercial industry," Tom said. "We select cattle by utilizing the most reliable and meaningful information available. Production-proven comparisons are what make the records meaningful."

The Perriers will be recognized as a 2002 Kansas Master Farmer and Master Farm Homemaker during ceremonies at the Holiday Inn in Manhattan on March 14 at 6 p.m. Friends can make banquet and program reservations for $22 a person by calling 785-532-5820 by March 3.

The program, which recognizes six Kansas families every year, is co-sponsored by Kansas State University Research and Extension and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Nominated by the Extension Council in Greenwood County, the Perriers will become lifetime members in an association dating back to 1927.

Tom’s ancestors homesteaded in Greenwood County in 1870. Traced back to a region in England, Dalebanks was also the name of the original homestead and has become a trademark through the generations. The first Angus cattle were purchased in 1904.

"We are one of the oldest continually-run Angus cattle operations in the nation," Tom said. "Most of our cows can still be traced back to the first purchases in the early 1900s."

Following Tom’s graduation from K-State in 1967, he entered the Kansas National Guard. He and Carolyn married in May 1968, and she moved with him to Fort Carson in Colorado for a year and a half of active military service.

They moved back to his family operation a year later and took over after Tom’s father retired. Tom also stepped into many community organizations as a natural successor to his father’s leadership.

After growing up in Kansas City, Mo., Carolyn experienced a new lifestyle in rural Kansas. She taught junior high school home economics for two years in Eureka before becoming a career ranch partner.

"I became a full-time homemaker, ranch go-fer and a career substitute teacher," she said. "I found that life at ‘home on the range’ has never been boring for this former city girl."

The Perrier children built on their agricultural upbringing as they ventured into the business world. Matt works with the American Angus Association, Michele is employed by Baxter BioScience and Mark works with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. The Perrier children were heavily involved in activities including church, sports, music and 4-H through their time at Eureka High School and K-State.

"I think of 4-H as a launching pad for our young people to become involved in their schools and communities as they start their successful life journey," Tom said. "Our family has been blessed to be able to work together toward a common goal of making a successful enterprise out of our family farm."

The Perriers’ farm and ranch includes more than 5,000 acres, with more than 4,250 dedicated to native grass pastures in the Flint Hills. Crops include 200 acres each of wheat and corn with about 150 acres each of alfalfa, grass hay and soybeans.

The Perriers implement new practices and technologies to help their operation and improve their cattle.

"Everything we do is directed toward the cattle," Tom said. "We classify ourselves as progressive, however, we don’t get radical. We continually strive for improvement."

In the fall of 1972, the Perriers sold 55 bulls and 20 bred heifers at their first performance sale. In 2002, the family sold 110 bulls and 67 bred heifers. Another 50 bulls are sold at private treaty each year. To improve the genetics, the Perriers utilize performance records, expected progeny differences (EPDs), artificial insemination, embryo transfer and estrus synchronization.

"Tom continues to take pride in explaining the use of EPDs to our area cattlemen and customers," Carolyn said. "Our herd was one of the first herds to provide EPDs on sale cattle."

The Perriers strive to continually improve on commercial beef industry genetics. Their breeding and production goal has been raising cattle with rapid early growth and an end result of a highly acceptable product for consumers.

"I like to see results," Tom said. "Even though we’re always shooting for a moving target, we’re always striving for that perfect animal."

The home computer became a part of the record-keeping system in the 1980s. The Perriers helped with the development of the American Angus Association herd management software, which has been a great help in managing the Perriers’ cattle and genetic selections, Tom said.

"We feel a real sense of pride in our operation," Carolyn said. "Agriculture is a very challenging industry and we are not experts. We gained more knowledge from our mistakes, especially early on, but we have made sacrifices to keep things going."

In the tough times, the Perriers said they worked hard and avoided getting down. They remained involved in organizations to network with others and kept a perspective centered on the whole picture.

All too often, they said, farmers can get drawn into a mentality of working non-stop 24 hours a day, seven days a week, trying to succeed.

"When times seemed very difficult, we reminded ourselves that the sun would always come up tomorrow," Tom said, "We were also fortunate to employ very reliable and dedicated co-workers. "Our goal and contribution has been to continuously provide the best genetics for the commercial beef industry," he said.