Albert and Emma Staiger, Billings
The story of Albert and Emma Staiger and their success as nationally known breeders of high producing Holstein cattle covers a span of nearly 50 years. It all began in 1925 when Albert migrated from Germany and settled at Billings, Missouri. Albert and Emma (Baum) Staiger were married in 1937. Both had farm backgrounds and Emma owned a few cows. Their beginning was very humble and meager but by hard work, good judgement and perseverance they produced one of the most outstanding Holstein herds in the nation.
In 1943, Emma registered the MAPLEPASS pre-fix with the Holstein Association. The herd, of both grade and registered Holsteins, was placed on DHIA and DHIR testing in 1947 and have been on continual test since that time. A grade A barn was built in 1949 and is still in use. Success in the selection of sires, mainly by Emma, resulted in the production of Maple-Pass Holsteins making history. Highlights of those years are, in 1952 the herd was recipient of the Missouri DHIA Efficient Production Award and the herd received it again in 1961. In 1955, the herd was honored as the first in the state with an average of 14,499lbs. of milk and 562 lbs. of fat. Entry into the 500-lb. Club was made in 1960, the 600-lb. Club in 1973, and they were the first herd, in the coveted 650-lb. Club in 1978. For many years the herd average for milk has been at the 20,000-pound level. In 1986 the DHI records show that the herd average for 46.4 cow years was 20,233 pounds of milk, 742 pounds of fat.
Cows in the herd have made numerous state production records and countless cows made records over 100,000 lbs. of milk in their lifetime. In 1970 and 1971, the herd received the Holstein Association’s Progressive Breeder’s Registry Award, attained by meeting well above average type and production qualifications.
John Staiger who with his wife Jane continue the herd operations says, “Success in production and breeding go hand in hand.” The success of the Maple-Pass herd can in part be attributed to the selection, use, proof, and selling of five Holstein bulls into AI. Burke Femco Dictator Boy and St. Croixco P.J. Forward, in the 1950s and Grayview Skyliner Nat in the 1960s, all sold to ABS. In the late 1960s Provin Mtn. Ivanhoe was proven and sold to Midwest Breeders. Then in 1977 Poverty Hollow Gay Man was purchased by ABS. Several young sires, through special mating, have been sold to Select Sires, ABS, and Carnation.
Following a trip to Wisconsin and Minnesota, where Emma saw brome grass growing, Albert introduced brome grass to Southwest Missouri, in the 1950s. He recognized the importance of good soil fertility coupled with a forage program, built around alfalfa. High quality alfalfa-brome forages were produced along with oats and corn in rotation with alfalfa. In 1966, first place was received in the Christian County forage program. Albert and Emma were both very active in community and church activities. Emma served on the Christian County Extension Council and was a long time member of Logan Extension Club. They both served on the board in their church. Albert was active in the University of Missouri Extension program for many years. He served on the DHIA board in Christian County, and worked closely with the Extension agents. Many tours of the farm, from several Universities throughout the United States, have been conducted. Judging teams for dairy, have used the herd for practice.
In 1958, Albert was featured on the cover of the July issue of Hoard’s Dairyman. He was also part of the Roundtable feature in that magazine.
Albert and Emma reared three children, Marilyn Cole of Overland Park, KS, who works for the Kansas City Power and Light Company; Gerald of Tannersville, PA, who is a pilot for American Airlines and was in the Air Force for 26 years; John, who, following graduation from SMSU, returned to Maple-Pass and is continuing with the farm. Albert and Emma also have eight grandchildren.
Emma passed away in January of 1986, but Albert, at the age of 80 years old, still helps with the milking and field work.