Branch View Angus History
J.E. Allen was the first family member to join the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeders’ Association. Now ninety years later the fourth, fifth, and sixth generations of Angus breeders are involved in the operation.
The third generation, J.L. Hoskins, and his calf.
J.L. and his parents, William and Pearl Hoskins. Cattle and tobacco are the basis for everything our family has accomplished.
J.L. purchased his first registered Angus heifers for $100 a head.
J. L. with his pair of mules.
J.L. married Evelyn Allen and joined Evelyn’s mother and father, Herman and Hazel Allen, on the current home place farm.
Daughter, Donna Carolyn, was born.
Shaw’s Angus, Ohio, contacted J.L. inquiring about a Eulima Erica cow. The previous year J. Garrett Tollen had the International Champion from the same lineage. Sight unseen, Shaw’s paid $800 for the cow and allowed the herd began to grow.
Another daughter, Rita Kaye, arrived. With the family and herd growing, a farm and house was purchased two miles down the road, on the Casey/Lincoln County line. This farm would serve as the Branch View headquarters for almost fifty years. A creek (branch) ran the length of the farm and Evelyn decided on the name, Branch View Angus.
Instilling the passion at a young age! Evelyn and Rita.
Averaging 20-30 shows a year during their 4-H careers, Donna and Rita exhibited at the All-American Futurity, National Junior Show, State Breeders Show, Kentucky State Fair, Kentucky Sweepstakes Show and Sale, County Fairs, and Central Kentucky Shows and Sales.
Kentucky Angus Sweepstakes Champion
Kentucky Angus Sweepstakes Champion
Son-in-law joined the farm when Steve Coffey married Donna.
A.I. was first used in 1968, Ankonian Banderole, who was purchased from Ankony Angus, South Dakota. A one-third semen interest was later sold to Dr. Harold Kleinhart of Shadow Lake Farm in Brownstown, Indiana.
Son, James S. Coffey was born.
Banderole went on to sire the Grand Champion, Reserve Grand, and second in three classes at the Kentucky State Fair.
James helping feed square bales on Christmas Eve.
After graduating from the University of Kentucky (UK) and a stint in public work, James Coffey returned to the operation. A.I., AHIR®, embryo transfer, ultrasound, and performance testing were implemented.
J. L received the Historic Herd Awards from the American Angus Association and the Kentucky Angus Association for over 50 years of breeding Angus cattle.
Inaugural Production Sale
We started feeding ours and customer purchased steers at Pratt Feeders in Kansas. We use the harvest and feed data in conjunction with maternal data to guide our breeding decisions.
J. L and Evelyn received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kentucky Angus Association.
James represented the American Angus Association on the Young Cattlemen’s Conference Tour sponsored by the National Beef Cattle Association.
Welcomed guest consigners to annual production sale, becomes the largest Angus sale in Kentucky.
James serves as President of the Kentucky Angus Association.
J.L. receiving the Honorary Commissioner of Agriculture Award from Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, James Comer.
Branch View Angus was selected by the Kentucky Angus Association as Performance Breeder of the year.
The family welcomed David Reid Coffey. He is the sixth generation to live on the farm.
American Angus Association (AAA) Annual Meeting James was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Angus Association.
James served as Chairman of the Angus Foundation Board.
Official Certified Angus Beef logo painted on barn. 40 barns across the country were selected for this honor.
The operation now consists of 275 mother cows on over 600 acres situated one mile south of Hustonville, Kentucky, Lincoln County. An additional 150 acres of hay ground and timber is located four miles south at the J.E. Allen home place in Casey County. We breed around 200 home raised and customer purchased heifers annually and sell 150+ bulls privately and through our annual sale.
Over the years we have observed many types of Angus cattle, from belt buckles to 8 frames. Most importantly, we have learned what it takes to stay in the beef business.