Fred Bhend, rural LeRoy area cattle producer, is the latest inductee in the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame.

Thursday, August 12, 1999

Fred Bhend, rural LeRoy area cattle producer, is the latest inductee in the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame.

Bhend, 85, was inducted in ceremonies held Tuesday night prior to the start of the Midwest Steer and Heifer Show.

Dick Grass, Fair Board member, welcomed past inductees and other guests to the ceremonies in Crane Pavilion with a large crowed watching.

Richard Schaufler, LeRoy-Ostrander Independent School District vocation-agriculture instructor and FFA advisor, praised Bhend’s role in promoting agriculture education.

Schaufler also shared Bhend family history with the audience and said, "Fred is very deserving of this honor."

The man who was showered with attention simply said, "Thanks to everybody" in return.

Mention "Bhend" and immediately one thinks of cattle and specifically the Black Angus breed. The new Hall of Fame inductee has been a leader in raising cattle through the decades.

Present Tuesday night was a son, Richard, who lives in Rochester. He described his father as "just a real, low-keyed kind of guy. He doesn’t get very excited about anything."

"We had a great time growing up and I remember showing cattle at the fair when my brother, Roger, would do the same.

Roger Bhend echoed his brother’s words. "He was just a calm sort of person. He would encourage us to do our best and have fun with that experience," Roger said.

Another daughter of the honoree, Patricia, could not attend.

Two grandsons, John and James Bhend, sons of Roger and Donna Bhend, praised their grandfather’s independence after the death of his wife three years ago and how he remains active today on the farm.

A daughter-in-law, Donna Bhend, and her sons, John and James, also told stories verifying Richard’s and Roger’s observations their father was unflappable through events trivial and larger.

When Donna Bhend accidentally backed her car into her father-in-laws, "I was terrified of what he might say, but all he said was ‘These things happen. Don’t worry about that’."

Fred Bhend was the only son in a family that included three daughters. Eleanor of LeRoy and Marcella of Rochester are the only surviving siblings.

Marcella Boe, 91, suffered the death of her husband, Ernest, in July, but also witnessed the induction ceremonies.

"He was great. He was left with a lot of responsibilities on the farm after our father died and he came through in fine fashion," she said.

"We couldn’t ask for a better man," said Donna Bhend of the honoree.

Bhend is the 47th member of the Mower County Livestock Hall of Fame since it was originated in 1984.