Hailey Edwards grew up surrounded by cattle in Alaska’s rugged interior. Her parents owned and operated Shaw Creek Meadows Dairy from 1991 to 2000, starting with Holsteins brought up from Montana and quickly growing from 20 to 100 head. When state policies led to the closure of most private dairies, her family shifted focus, keeping back a few cows to cross with beef breeds. That pivot led to what is now a herd of Galloway and Angus crosses—cattle that are well-suited to Alaska’s unique conditions.

From an early age, Hailey was immersed in agriculture, showing market steers and hogs through 4-H at the Deltana Fair and staying active in FFA throughout high school. Today, she manages the daily operations and breeding program at Shaw Creek Cattle Company, while also serving producers across the state through her business, Granite Mountain Breeding Services LLC. As an AI technician, Hailey has worked with a wide variety of genetics—breeding to 23 different bulls across 11 breeds in just the past year, a significant contribution to Alaska’s small but growing cattle industry.

Hailey finds the most reward in helping her clients reach their goals and seeing the cattle industry take shape through the efforts of small, dedicated producers. She sees great potential for growth in Alaska, especially among Galloway, Scottish Highland, and Lowline Aberdeen Angus breeders, who make up a large portion of the region’s producers. She believes Bos Sires’ focus on hormonally correct and functional cattle is exactly what Alaska needs, and she’s excited to bring those genetics to her clients.

Hailey is well-connected in Alaska’s agricultural community and works with breeders who are already familiar with Bonsma principles or share her commitment to functional cattle, including Meghan Orona of Northern Rosebud Farm, Katy Jones of Rocking J Ranch, Julia Hill of Hungate Farms, and Ryan and Delila Schmidt of Steele Creek Ranch. Her knowledge of local breeding seasons—typically running from April through October—helps her serve clients efficiently, whether handling semen, embryos, or live cattle.

Interestingly, Hailey didn’t always plan on a future in cattle. She attended an equestrian trade school, expecting to build a career in the horse industry. But life brought her back to her roots, and today, she’s proud to support the next generation of Alaskan cattle producers.