Family

The family/ranch history is on this page.

For the families and their 4-H projects:
-2002 Achievement Days
-2003 Achievement Days
-2004 Achievement Days
-2005 Achievement Days
-2006 Achievement Days
-2007 Achievement Days

Calvin and Gary have always worked side by side. They grew up helping on the small family farm. By the time they were school age, each was responsible for their chores, including gathering eggs and milking their allotted number of cows, by hand.

Big brothers, Gary (left) and Calvin (right) have always worked together. they are shown helping their little brother, John, learn to walk.

When their dad suffered his first severe heart attacks at age 38, the boys stepped up to assume more responsibility. At age 45, their father passed away. Calvin had graduated from high school and was attending SDSU. Gary, John, and their mother kept the farm going. Calvin joined Gary in the operation of the farm upon his graduating from SDSU with a double major in Animal Science and Economics. John left the farm to pursue a career in diesel mechanics.

The Sandmeiers got their start in the Charolais business in 1967 when they began AI'ing their commercial cows to Charolais bulls. The next year they bought their first Charolais bull and were on their way. Prior to using Charolais bulls, their calves were always grouped according to color when they were sold. However, after using Charolais bulls which produced calves that were white, smoky, or cream colored, they were all grouped together. "After going Charolais, we never took a dock selling commercial calves. Instead we got a premium for selling all the calves in one draft," Calvin has stated.

Because of the success they had with crossbreeding Charolais in the early 1970's, they decided to go all the way to registered cattle. They began marketing purebred Charolais bulls private treaty in the mid-70's and in 1981 they had their first production sale. They will have held their annual sale on the first Friday of March for 24 years.

The Sandmeiers were named the SD Charolais Family of the Year in 1987. They were awarded the SD Charolais Seedstock Producer of the Year in 1993 and SD BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year in1994. AICA (American International Charolais Association) recognized the Sandmeiers as the National AICA 1994 Seedstock Producer of the Year.

Photo from the 1994 National Western Stock Show in Denver, when the Sandmeiers were presented with the AICA Seedstock Producer of the Year honor.

The Sandmeiers, in addition to the 650 to 700 purebred registered Charolais cow herd, operate a grain farm, and feeder calf backgrounding.

Gary has served as a director for the South Dakota Charolais Association. Gary and his wife, Rosemary, have three daughters. Rosemary is a hair stylist and works part-time in the local drug store.

Calvin has also served on the South Dakota Charolais Association. He currently serves on the South Dakota Beef Industry Council. He was president of the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association,1998-2000, and served on the SD Ag.2000 Task Force. Calvin and his wife, Janet, each have two children from previous marriages. Together they have one son and one daughter. Janet is employed at the Bowdle School. (Janet is the K-12 School Counselor and Family and Consumer Science (Home Ec.) teacher. She also teaches Psychology and Economics and is the advisor for the distance learning courses (this year these include French I, Spanish I & II). She is also advisor for the FCCLA (formerly known as FHA),Yearbook, & National Honor Society.) She has attended the SD TTL academies, and is one of the school's computer support and system network persons. (Here's a Link to Janet's other endeavors.)