Established 1852
Established 1852
Gene, his wife Mary, his son Les, and his daughter Laura moved to New Mexico and “retired”. He went on to sell and feed livestock in the southwest, start the still active business of Mathers Realty, and teach real estate and appraisal classes at New Mexico State University. During the mid 60’s, Leveldale sold approximately half of the cow herd to longtime friends and partners in Leveldale Basis, the John Alexander & Sons Melbourne Farms. From approximately 1969 through the present the livestock operation has run as a commercial operation, culling out all but the best individuals, and emphasizing reproducible traits such as rapid growth, structure, and low maintenance.
Norman Bruce joins Leveldale
Norman Bruce, a teacher at the local high school, moved onto the “west place” in 1969, and a few years later he had given up his teaching career for what would turn out to be a long career with Leveldale. He was instrumental in starting the Limousin herd, and in the 1980s he would begin actively developing chemical free farming at Leveldale. Norm has led strict performance testing at Leveldale for more than 25 years.
Norm has an agriculture degree from Illinois State University where he was a member of the ISU Livestock Judging Team, and a masters in agriculture education from the University of Illinois. Norm was not only a teacher, he also served as president of the Easton Unit School District, Easton Park District, and Easton Optimist Club. Norm was also president of the Illinois Limousin Breeders Association, founding member and chairman of the Illinois Beef Expo from 1995 to 1997, and Chairman of the Illinois Purebred Council from 1995 to 1997.
Norm was married to his wife Jane in 1968. Jane is employed at a bank in Mason City, and is and active member of the Easton United Methodist Church along with the rest of her family. Norm’s daughter Jodi married Corey Stone, and had 2 lovely grandchildren, Haylie, and Alison. Norm’s other daughter Kristi is married to Doug Johnson.
Rob Bruce, Norms son, is actively involved at Leveldale. He will graduate from Lincoln Land Community College in May of 1999 and go on to attend Western Illinois University. Rob is in charge of all show and sale cattle at Leveldale.
Mother’s Day at Leveldale
Father’s Day at Leveldale
The real pride and joy of Leveldale!
Norm’s son-in-law Doug & kids
Norm’s son-in-law Corey & kids
Jane, Kristi, and grandkids
Rob with a new litter of puppies
Leveldale calves received no creep feed while growth performance cut those without great mothers. Cows not calving within a year of the last calf were all culled from the herd. Many individuals were cross bred that later became the basis for the Limousin herd. Some of the shorthorn cow families persisted through these demanding conditions and became part of the lineage present in the herd today.
Through the 1970’s and early 1980’s, Leveldale rarely exhibited, but supplied seed stock for other limousin and shorthorn herds. Each year brought Leveldale into the top echelons of the carcass classes at the Illinois State Fair, and some shorthorn females attaining All American Status were displayed at major exhibits on the national scene.
The reentry of Dr. L.E. Mathers III in 1983 was not at all surprising to most observers. He grew up at Leveldale, and possessed considerable experience in breeding and showing shorthorns. He also posses that legendary Mathers eye for a good animal. This was shown with the acquisition of quartet of females including Green Ridge Lily 68, a daughter of AF Dividends Impact, who is a son of the legendary Deerpack Leader 13th. Lily won her class at several strong shows, and became All American competition.
He then added other top genetics to the program from the best herds in the country, and even reintroduced some descendents of Leveldale sold to others in the 1950’s.
In the 1970s Les III was often away from Leveldale pursuing further educational opportunities in medicine and teaching. Since the early 1980s, he has been blending a career of family and occupational medicine in private practice with Carle Clinic, faculty with the University of Illinois, and many hospital, physician and insurance related administrative duties. While physically away in much of the 70s, his thoughts have never left Leveldale and the heritage of integrity in the agricultural industry.
Laura and John Conniff
L.E. Mathers Jr.’s daughter Laura is also involved with Shorthorns and Leveldale. Along with part ownership of Leveldale Farms, Laura Conniff and her husband John own Conniff F Cross Farm in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Laura has received the Branding Iron Award from New Mexico State University, an award given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the University. Laura is also a co-owner co-broker of Mathers Realty, a board member of Memorial Medical Foundation, and the MV Hospice. She is currently vice-chair of the investment committee for the Memorial Medical Center Foundation and a member of the Junior League of Las Cruces. She was also recently recognized by New Mexico State University as the Distinguished Alumni for the College of Business Administration, and serves as Chair of the Board of Regents for New Mexico State University. She is also on the Dallas Regional Federal Researve Board and the Leader of Think Pink.
Laura’s husband, Dr. John Conniff is also involved in cattle, and was appointed to the New Mexico Beef Council by the Governor. He is a producer of Limousin and Shorthorn Cattle, in addition to being a pediatric dentist. John’s grandfather raised cattle in New Mexico, and John’s personal experience in the beef industry began as a young man working in the meat department of his families grocery store. He became more deeply involved in cattle when Laura gave him a very unique birthday present, 2 embryos with which to start their own herd.
Laura and John also grow cotton, alfalfa, and pecans, in addition to fine Limousin and Shorthorn cattle. John is also involved in the National Cattlemens Beef Association, N.M. Cattle Growers Association, N.M. Farm and Livestock Bureau, the American Shorthorn Association, and the North American Limousin Foundation. John and Laura have 2 children, Ryan, and Sarah.
L.E. III and Laura’s mother Mary was a personality known to many in the Shorthorn business. She orchestrated many sale parties for Leveldale in the 1950s and 1960s. She helped found the Shorthorn Lassies and was an enthusiastic supporter of Shorthorns throughout her adult life. Mary remarried many years after the untimely death in 1978 of L.E. Gene Mathers Jr.. She and her husband James Welch M.D. lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico and raised Shorthorn cattle through their family ranching operation, Welch Land Cattle Company. Dr. Welch passed away in August of 2009.
Although the days of coast to coast exhibition of livestock have passed, the attention to the highest standards of quality have never wavered. The emphasis has remained on function to this day while delivering a product desired by customers. The cattle herds exhibit fertility, calving ease, and pounds per calf unit in low maintenance packages. Leveldale offers big cattle, as well as moderately framed cattle that all perform without much intervention. There is no confinement feeding in the operation. Cattle are all raised in the elements and reproduce in an essentially natural environment. In 1996 and again in 2007Leveldale received more honors when the Livestock Breeders of Illinois selected it as Seed Stock Producer of the year.
In 2007 Dr L.E. ‘Les’ Mathers III was named the 2007 Builder of the Breed by the American Shorthorn Association (read the article) , making him the 3rd generation of Mathers to receive this great honor. Les’ Father and Grandfather were also awarded the title of Builder of the Breed. His family includes a son Tom, and daughters, Katie & Lindsay. Leveldale Farms was also been named the Illinois Beef Association Seedstock Producer of the Year.
L.E. Les Mathers IIILes is a lifetime Shorthorn breeder and was the president of the Illinois Junior Shorthorn Association in 1965. He has been a junior and open exhibitor at the Illinois State Fair for many decades. His love of showing cattle spans over 40 years as he has exhibited at regional and national shows. As an active member of the Illinois Shorthorn Association he has served on various committees and led numerous activities. In addition, Les has served on the ASA Commercial Cattle Committee.
Les is the Sr. Vice President of OSF Healthcare in Bloomington and former Chairman of the the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, but still finds time to stay active with the beef industry. He is on the Board of Directors of the American Shorthorn Association since 2008, and is involved with the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Beef Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. In addition he is a board member of the Mason City National Bank, and Stratum Med (former chairman). Les has also served as past president of the Heartland Clinic, and past member of the University of Illinois Foundation Board. He is also a member of the American College of Physician Executives, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the American Academy of Family Medicine.
Scott Wall Joins Leveldale
Scott Wall originally from Bradford, IL grew up raising and showing Angus cattle. He graduated from Black Hawk East Community College in 2002 and Michigan State in 2004 with a degree in Animal Science. He was an active member of the livestock judging team at both BHE and Michigan State. After college, Scott’s strong interest in Bovine Reproduction pushed him to further his education and attend Embryo Transfer schooling. After many years of hands on experience, Scott’s goal of turning his passion into a buisness became a reality in May of 2011 with the help of Leveldale Farms. Ova Time Genetics is a business partnership with Les Mathers and Laura Conniff. Scott and his wife Ashley joined Leveldale Farms in early 2011. Ashley has a career in agribusiness and comes to Leveldale with much beef cattle experience. Scott provides the day to day management of the Leveldale herd.
Leveldal visits the 2010 World Shorthorn Congress in congress.
Les is now serving as the President of the American Shorthorn Association.
