BOZEMAN, Mont. — Doug Parke of Paris, Ky., has been elected chairman of the American Simmental Association Board of Trustees, succeeding Barry Wesner, Chalmers, Ind.
Parke has been involved with the Simmental breed for 40 years. With his wife, Debbie, they own and operate DP Sales and Management, Parke Livestock Enterprises, and DP Online Sales, and have been involved with hundreds of SimGenetics sales. Parke was involved with the Tennessee Simmental Association, serving as board member and president, before moving home where he has served on the Kentucky Simmental Association board. He has served the Simmental Breeders Sweepstakes as a board member, attended Fall Focus events, ASA Annual Meetings, and numerous AJSA National and Regional Classics. With their daughter, Holli, the Parkes have raised SimGenetics animals and marketed progeny through various sales. Parke has owned percentages in sires like Dream On, In Dew Time, and Duracell. Parke is also active in the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Farm Bureau, and volunteers for and sponsors 4-H, FFA, and his community. In 2020 Doug was awarded entry into the Golden Book of the World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation.
Parke was formally seated at ASA’s 55th Annual Meeting held virtually in January of 2023. Also seated on the Executive Committee were Vice Chairman Chris Ivie, Summertown, Tennessee; Treasurer Chad Cook, Walsh, Colorado; Tim Clark, Turtle Lake, North Dakota; Ryan Thorson, Glendive, MT; and Immediate Past Chairman Barry Wesner, Chalmers, IN.
Founded in 1968, the American Simmental Association is headquartered in Bozeman, MT. ASA is committed to leveraging technology, education, and collaboration to accelerate genetic profitability for the beef industry. In keeping with its commitment, ASA, along with its partners, formed International Genetic Solutions — the world’s largest genetic evaluation of beef cattle. Learn more at www.simmental.org.
— American Simmental Association