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In 1962 Walter Shealy bought his first registered heifer as a 4-H project. As his herd grew he realized that he needed more pasture. When he was 14 years old, he and his county extension agent, Ollie Dunkle, paid a fruitful visit to a widow lady in Newberry, SC. The two were there to see what the chances were that she might lease an enthusiastic, enterprising young man (Walter) her 44-acre farm to house his growing 4-H project – Angus cattle. When he turned 16 the lady decided to sell the farm. Walter approached a local banker to apply for a loan to purchase the land. Even as a youth, Walter always had a plan and a strong work ethic. He picked up pecans, ran paper routes, and worked odd construction jobs to support the 4-H project. He convinced the local banker that he could repay the loan by executing his business plan to rent the house, sell his calves, hay, pecan crop and by working after-school/summer jobs. Apparently Ollie and Walter were convincing, and 48 years later, Walter Shealy is still raising Angus cattle on that same tract of land, now known as Black Grove. Walter’s interest in Angus cattle began with showing Angus heifers in 4-H. He credits much of his early successes with his projects to his mentors, Ollie Dunkle, and his parents’ encouragement. He also was an original member of the SC Junior Angus Association. While his passion has always been Angus cattle, Walter’s family history is a story in itself that might shed some light on how he came to be the successful businessman, community leader, and top-notch cattleman that he is today. Walter was 11 years old when his family moved to Newberry. He grew up at Boys Farm, with two roommates and “lots of brothers” over the years, many with whom he has stayed in touch. Walter credits his resourcefulness to run a cattle farm as a teenager to the values of family, hard work, personal and financial discipline and sacrifice, love and respect for family and friends and God’s creatures, that were instilled in him and the other children growing up at Boys Farm. Add financial necessity and you have a formula for success. Walter’s entrance into the beef cattle world was blessed with good fortune and his first four brood cows produced a total of 13 consecutive heifer calves to result in a nice-sized herd in a short period of time. The local Purina dealership noted Walter’s enthusiasm and love of cattle and they recommended Walter Shealy for the Ralston Purina Youth of the Year in 1965. In addition to his odd jobs and his farm, Walter managed to play three sports in high school. And quite proficiently it seems, as he was asked to play football at Presbyterian College in Clinton, where he met his future wife, Jean. While Walter loved football, it took some prodding from family and friends to persuade him that he should go to college. He leased his beloved cattle to a family friend, Dale Owens, for five years and while in college he worked a part-time job at the very farm his friend managed, conveniently allowing him to keep a close eye on his Angus herd. Around 100 breeding-age Angus females make up the nucleus of the registered cattle at Black Grove. Walter has heavily focused on using Embryo Transfer (ET) in his program and has 15 donor cows, Black Grove contracts with several commercial cattlemen to raise part of his ET Angus calves until weaning. Walter’s breeding philosophy is short and sweet – “Fundamentals survive fads.” He selects genetics using multiple-trait selection criteria including: phenotype, low input identifiers, longevity analysis, performance EPDs, carcass data, and gene markers technology. He looks for cattle with bloodlines from animals that have longevity (a trait not presently measured by the Angus Association). He believes longevity translates into functionality because logic dictates that cows who live a long time would have been culled if they were not functionally sound. If a cow did not produce a calf annually, have good feet, good teeth, good udder, milk well or maintain her fleshing ability, remain productive or fertile she would have to be culled. Walter’s conclusion is if we can breed cattle that function for 12-15 years we will dramatically cut our turnover, thereby cutting the expensive capital cost of raising replacement heifers in half. To that end, we have developed a new longevity trait selection index which allows us to identify animals that should have a higher probability of living longer. The result is less turnover of productive females (our factories), lower capital investment in replacement heifers, and therefore, higher profitability and improved return on investment. We believe longevity/functionality is one of the most important selection traits for any commercial or registered cow-calf operation. On our Misc Page, you will find an explanation of the Black Grove Longevity Trait Selection Index. All Black Grove females offered in our future sales will be ranked using a simple one to five star system derived from mathematical formulas which have been reviewed and validated by an actuary. In addition he also looks for cows that are low input, low maintenance, structurally sound, calve easy, have strong maternal instincts, easy fleshing (energy efficient) and docile. Cattle with these characteristics have proven to perform well in our Southeastern environment which is dominated by hot, humid summers and fungus-infected fescue grazing in the winter. Walter said, “Our culling criteria is simple, we don’t reproduce those cattle that don’t work for us in our environment.” Within the Black Grove herd, one can find some of the most well-known Angus cow families in existence. In addition, Walter has bred a number of promising young herd sires including most recently Black Grove Elation, an EXT son out of 3R1(707x4465). For more information go to our sires page. Since his return to the farm, Black Grove has had four production sales beginning in 2002. The 2004 and 2006 sales turned out to be the all-time record-breaking sales for South Carolina averaging over $5,000 per lot. The 2006 sale featured the all-time record-selling female in South Carolina, Castle Hill Erica C035, the greatest full sister to Leachman Right Time. She sold for $60,000, one-half interest ($120,000 valuation) to Sauk Valley Angus in Illinois. The goodwill from forty-three years of breeding registered Angus cattle translated into cattle being sold into 13 states. The Black Grove herd is now recognized as one of the most powerful breeding programs in the country. Today Walter sees the beef business as an exciting playing field with tremendous strides being made in the scientific research arenas. Feed conversion is a subject that Walter has a great deal of interest in and as a former banker, he is well aware that this arena is the single largest cost component of producing beef. He hopes to see the American Angus Association join hands with private researchers and universities to tackle this challenge head on, realizing the tremendous impact that identifying cattle with lower feed to gain ratios could have on the beef business. Currently, the Angus Association focuses on individual breeder reported contemporary group statistics, its industry-leading database, terminal influence traits, and branded beef marketing programs such as CAB®. Walter believes the Association’s embracing DNA technology is key to providing more accurate data with less chance of manipulation. He also continues to push for the elimination of the bias towards turning generations present in the Association’s software and database. He also would like the Association to focus more on low input maternal traits and longevity measures which are characteristics important to all cow calf operators. The females of the breed are historically the most efficient and productive manufacturing plants in the cattle industry. If we do refocus on these traits, he is convinced the breed will maximize its potential and continue to be the most logical breed for new entrants into the cattle business. Speaking of youth, if you don’t find Walter at the farm, you might find him devoting his time to some other worthy endeavors. He is Chairman of the Board at Boys Farm, Inc., a director of the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, and chairs the S.C. Angus Association Hall of Fame committee. He previously served as President of the SC Angus Association, was a member of the executive committee of the board of directors of the SC Cattleman’s Association, served on the Board of Trustees at Presbyterian College for nine years, coached American Legion baseball for three years, and he is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and is a proud father of two sons, who both have graduated from college, and a devoted husband to his wife, Jean. |
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When Walter’s father was 36 years old he had built a successful ice cream business in Charleston, SC. It was then that he became a Christian, and decided to complete his education. He obtained his high school and college degrees over the next four years and subsequently becoming a minister at an inner city church in Greenville, SC. He saw troubled children and youth and thought how much they could benefit from growing up in a rural environment versus the inner city. In 1960, the Shealys sold everything they had and moved to Newberry, SC, to begin the Boys Farm. Fifty years later more than 400 boys have benefited simply because this couple saw a need and put into action what most folks wouldn’t have the courage to do. Today, the Boys Farm (
Walter completed college and was off to enter the banking business in Atlanta. After career moves to Los Angeles, CA, and Milwaukee, WI, he settled in Miami, FL, in 1984 where he became president of a $10 billion savings bank and subsequently founded his strategic consulting company, WDS Investments, Inc. in 1989. All the while Walter kept adding acreage to his farm in Newberry, now totaling almost 400 acres, which he visited as frequently as his businesses would allow. As an absentee owner, Walter is convinced that his herd developed strong survival skills and hardiness during his time away. In 1989, Walter and Jean began making plans to make a permanent move to Newberry. Walter wanted his sons, Dixon and Russell, to finish understanding their heritage and enjoying the benefits of living in a rural environment. Over the past 48 years, the family has operated Black Grove without ever hiring a full time manager or employee. In 1994, they returned to live in the very house that was on the original 44-acre tract that Walter bought and rented as a 16-year-old boy. Today, Walter is President and chief executive officer of ITC Holding Company and GVG Holding Company. His responsibilities still require him to travel a great deal. Dixon, his oldest son, now runs Black Grove on a daily basis and Jean continues to handle the accounting. Walter manages to spend as much time as possible in Newberry surrounded by Angus cattle, his family, their heritage, and the Boys Farm.