Hoop Beef Bios
Dr. Robert Bryant, DVM—Founder
As the Founder of the Hoop Beef System, LLC Dr. Bryant has over 50 years of experience in the cattle industry. From his first pen of cattle in 1956 to today, he has never been satisfied with following the crowd. Growing up on a small farm in Cherokee County, Iowa he has never forgotten how much work it takes to be successful in agriculture.
After getting married to Becky Roland and graduating from Veterinary School at Iowa State University he returned to NW Iowa and settled in Aurelia to practice and begin raising livestock.
In addition to his veterinary practice, Dr. Bryant started several livestock operations. They ranged from a 15,000 head bottle to market Holstein beef feedlot to sow farrowing operation and a farming partnership with his brother. After leaving his Veterinary practice Dr. Bryant focused on his livestock feeding operations and crop farming.
In addition to his degree in Veterinary Medicine, he also has an undergraduate degree in Animal Science and Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics.
Becky and Robert have three children, 8 grand-children and love to spend time with them. Becky is always on hand at Hoop Beef open houses and to help out in any way. On the rare days you don’t find Dr. Bryant putting in a full day for Hoop Beef System, LLC or his farming operations or checking cattle you will find him hunting or fishing.
Tim Bickett
As all the customers of Hoop Beef System, LLC know, Tim brings to bear nearly 30 years of production experience to your operation. He is well versed in all areas of cattle production with main emphasis on nutrition and cattle management.
Tim was raised along with 5 brothers and 3 sisters near Winfred, South Dakota. He began his agricultural experience early by caring not only for the family livestock but working on neighboring operations starting when he was 13.
Tim’s love for cattle and cattle feeding was also an early endeavor partnering on his first pen of cattle at the age of 15.
Tim attended South Dakota State University, graduating with an Animal Science Degree with Production emphasis. Upon leaving SDSU Tim returned to Winfred to continue to work the land and raise livestock on the family farm he purchased while in college.
In 2002 Tim left the production side of the industry and began work as a livestock consultant helping producers across the upper Midwest find solutions for their nutritional and animal health challenges. As a consultant, Tim worked with the Hoop Beef System for several years before joining the Hoop Beef team full-time in mid-2007. It has been very rewarding for Tim, helping Beef Cattle operations prepare for the future. He continues to look forward and is excited about the opportunities in the beef industry today.
Tim and his wife Stacy make their home in Worthington, MN along with their three children Kendrick, Emmett and Karissa. When not working, you will find Tim and Stacy active in their church, 4-H, and youth sports. Tim is a member of South Dakota Ag and Rural Leadership and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.
Matt Schulte
In his roles for Hoop Beef System, LLC, Matt brings to our customers business partners a great deal of business experience and an extensive background in construction. He is experienced with all areas of business with an emphasis on construction.
Matt grew up in Baltic, SD with a younger brother and sister. From there he attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion to get a Degree in Accounting and then continuing on with the Masters program in Professional Accountancy. From there he spent two years in a public accounting firm specializing in general business consulting and tax preparation.
In 2006 Matt left the public side of accounting to join the crew at Hoop Beef System. Along with all of the business after the sale (accounting, purchasing, and deliveries) he also handles most of the construction consulting with builders as they build in 10 states and for roughly 10 months of the year.
Matt and his wife Jessica welcomed their second child into the world in October 2011 (a beautiful little girl Carmen) and their son Henry will be 4 in June. When not working, you will find Matt and Jessica sledding in the mountains or on the local lake but most of the time you will find them enjoying raising two wonderful children.
Valerie Bryant
Valerie is the newest addition to the family business lending a friendly voice on phone calls and keeping the office in order.
After growing up in Belmond, Iowa, she received a Marketing degree from Iowa State University. Valerie spent 13 years in sales and marketing prior to becoming a full-time Mom. She spent several years working as an interior design consultant and design and construction projects continue to be her life’s pursuit.
Valerie is the biggest cheerleader of the ‘Family Business’ and hopes to help it grow, along with her and Brent’s two daughters Katie 7 and Kara 2.
Grooming two future ‘Hoop Beef’ girls is certainly a rewarding endeavor.
Brent Bryant
Growing up in the NW Iowa community of Aurelia, one of my first memories is of Grandpa and Dad buying me my first pair of boots after the feeder calf auction at the Sioux City Stockyards.
I was in all the usual 4-H and school activities and spent a lot of time working at our families livestock operations.
I graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Agriculture Economics. After working for a cooperative in Illinois I moved back to Iowa and ended up working as the Director of Membership for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA). After 5 years with ICA, I moved on to be the Executive Vice President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. On March 1, 2007 I made the transition back to the family business and assumed my current position.
My wife Valerie and I have two wonderful daughters who believe all cows need a “Hoop Beef” to live in.
I consider it an honor to work with our customers and to improve the cattle feeding industry of the Midwest. Our customers are some of the best people on earth and I enjoy everyday working with them.
For me the chance to work with my Father and run our family business is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am thrilled to be doing it.
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Jeff Windett
Jeff was raised on a diversified crop and livestock farm in Northern Illinois. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Animal Science in 1976 and was on the livestock judging team in 1975. Upon completing college, he went to work for Wilson Foods in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as a house grader and meat salesman.
In 1979, he went to work for Iowa Beef Improvement Association in Ames, Iowa. While there he worked to introduce commercial beef producers to performance testing and assisted in the management of the bull test stations and sales.
He then worked for the American Angus Association from 1980-1990 as a Regional Manager in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, West Virginia and Eastern Canada before transferring to the West Coast covering Utah, Nevada, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Western Canada in 1986.
In 1990, Jeff returned to Missouri to become the Executive Vice-President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association where he stayed until 1996. In 1994, he was instrumental in the formation of the Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation and the new beef industry office headquarters in Columbia.
He then became the Beef Marketing Specialist for MFA Inc. where he introduced the MFA Alliance feeder cattle-marketing program.
In 1999 he became the Commercial Marketing Manager for Circle A Angus Ranch. His duties included customer relations and marketing the Registered Angus and Red Angus bulls and commercial females to commercial producers across the country. Circle A Ranch markets 400 bulls and up to 1000 females per year.
Most recent, he served a second time as Executive Vice President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.
Jeff brings this vast industry knowledge and expertise to your door in his role within the Hoop Beef System team is as Manager of Premium Advantage Member Services which covers nutrition, record keeping, cattle procurement and marketing for all enrolled Hoop Beef System customers.
In addition to many years of industry development, Jeff has served on numerous national industry committees such as; The National Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Board, The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Animal Health & Well-Being Working Group, NCBA Membership Committee. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Missouri Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Team, Past President of the Boone County Cattlemen’s Association, Vice President, Missouri FarmHouse Foundation Board, and is Past President of the University of Missouri Ag Alumni Association. He has been a Co-Chair of the Mid Missouri Ag Leaders and has served on the board of the Missouri Ag Research Council and Alliance for Missouri Agriculture. He has also served on the property committee and is a member of Broadway Christian Church in Columbia.