Hello!  I’m Sue Dyke.  Welcome to Almosta Farm online.  My husband, Steve and I live in the beautiful state of Nebraska.  I raise and show Highland Cattle and absolutely love it. 

We were both born and raised in upstate NY.  I am told that I was just about born on a horse and being around cattle.  My Grandmother raised registered Polled Hereford cattle and I was at her place as often as I was able to.  She taught me that if you get involved in something; do it with passion and jump in with both feet.  I was taught the true meaning of hard work and the rewards that can come because of it.

I was 10 years old when I was allowed to have my first steer project in 4-H.  In the fall, there was a state wide show and sale of the projects.  At that time there weren’t many girls involved and as it turned out I won Grand Champion Steer!  I was also the first girl and the youngest in the US that had achieved that award!  As the youth years went by, there were many more successful shows and fairs with the Herefords.

As with life, there are many roads that we take and mine lead me away from the cattle; but I knew that someday, I would be involved again.  One of the roads that we took, was moving to Norfolk, NE in 1981 and starting a new life.  We both drove tractor trailers for 15 years, but decided that there was much more to life than that.  So we sold our house in Norfolk, quit driving over the road, and bought a small acreage in Magnet,NE ( pop.69).  With lots of hard work and miles; Steve and I successfully achieved his goal in life, to own a tractor trailer.

Fast forward to the year 2000, I was on my way to Wisconsin to pick up a doctor’s buggy, when I saw a fold of Highlands in a pasture.  That was the beginning of lots of research and a love affair with the breed.  A friend and I decided to attend the National Western Stock Show and Sale in Denver in 2002.  I had never been and thought it was a great time to go during the Highland Show.  I just “happened” to take the trailer in case I decided to buy something.  That day at the Stock Show, Almosta Farm started with one, 10 month old heifer.  Our farm consisted of that one heifer for one year and increased by 3 more the following year.  As time has gone by, we have chosen our fold very carefully, to 10 cows and 2 bulls.

I have lived by Grandmother’s lessons and have jumped in with both feet in the Highland breed.  I love to work with kids and the cattle.  I was honored to be on the National Jr. Committee, the National Board of Directors and a Regional Director for the North Central Highland Cattle Association (AHCA).  We participate in everything that AHCA offers and also take our cattle around to different venues, to expose the public to what this beef breed has to offer.

We have been very blessed in our achievements in the show ring also, both regionally and nationally.  Recently, we were given the ultimate reward.  We were awarded the Grand Champion Bull at the 2010 National Western Stock Show, where it all began.  I know Grandma was there with us and smiling .