Block and Bridle

Block & Bridle Honoree

Doyle was born in 1952 in the rural town of Bellevue, Michigan. He is the middle son in a family of three boys and one girl. Doyle completed his K-12 years at Bellevue Community Schools in 1970. During his High School years Doyle was an active participant in 4-H livestock projects and FFA and was elected State FFA Vice President in 1970.

Doyle was raised on a farm where they milked 30 cows, raised Angus cattle and lambed approximately 100 Shropshire and Suffolk ewes. At 5 years old he acquired his first Suffolk ewe and continuously owned sheep through 2003. It was the livestock that introduced him to showing and the tremendous network of livestock people as the family normally started in July and exhibited sheep at a minimum of 10 county and state fairs every year.

Doyle was very fortunate to be in the 4-H livestock program in Eaton County where there was a very active and competitive livestock judging program. The program was headed up by a very dedicated and giving lady, Dorotha Mulholland. Ms. Mulholland and her family raised Poland China hogs east

of Charlotte. In the late 60’s nearly every breed organization in Michigan held summer Field Days that included a judging contest of some magnitude. Ms. Mulholland would take a carload of young people to these field days for the contest. Through her guidance the Eaton County teams did very well, won the State 4-H contest at one point, and competed at the National 4-H contest in Kansas City. It was at one of these Field Days that Doyle was introduced to Dr. Don Good, Animal Science Department Chairman at Kansas State University. Although a Spartan at heart, Doyle chose to attend KSU in the fall of 1970.

While attending Kansas State, Doyle participated on the Meats and Livestock judging teams. He will always consider the acquaintances made while participating on these teams to be some of the greatest experiences of a lifetime. While competing on the Livestock judging team at Denver, Doyle was able to be the High Individual in the Carload Contest and the College Judging Contest in the same year, the only time this has ever been achieved at Denver. He also was an active member of the Block and Bridle Club, serving as an officer and on numerous committees for four years.

Upon graduation from Kansas State in 1974 Doyle moved to western Kansas and worked on a cattle feeding and grain farm. While in western Kansas he met Renee Raines, an elementary school instructor in Colby, Kansas. Coincidentally, both were raised in Michigan but had never crossed paths. In 1980 they were married and moved “back home”. Doyle and Renee purchased a farm in Bellevue and proceeded to raise two beautiful daughters Kelsey Gilbert (Andy) and Nicole Honsberger (Ross). Since then four wonderful grandchildren have joined the family.

After moving back to Michigan Doyle pursued a career with the Farm Credit System and worked there for 13 years. Since that time and to the present he has been self employed as a Realtor and Auctioneer. When the girls reached 4-H age the family started showing lambs, steers, and heifers at county, regional, and national competitions that is leading to the grandchildren showing lambs at county fair venues currently.

During his career Doyle was asked to judge numerous lamb, cattle, and draft horse shows across the Midwest. At one point he would judge more than one county fair in Michigan on the same day. Doyle continues to take part in at least 5 county fairs each year donating his time to assist young people selling their animals at the fair auctions. He is willing to donate time to benefit young people and lives by the saying “Someone did this for me and I am only repaying those gestures”. Doyle freely gives time to benefit the scholarship program of the Michigan Sheep Producers and was instrumental in forming and funding the scholarship program of the Michigan Percheron Association.

Doyle has always been active in livestock and trade associations, starting with leadership roles in 4-H and FFA. Doyle was on the committee responsible for the creation of National Junior Suffolk Sheep Association, where he served as President in the infant years. He has served on the Board of the Michigan Junior Livestock Society, acted as President of the Michigan Sheep Producers for several years, and served on the Board of the Michigan Auctioneers Association. He has also received the Service To The Industry Award presented by the Michigan Sheep Producers. Doyle currently serves as a Director of the North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series and is a Trustee on the Bellevue Township Board.

In recent years Doyle and the entire family have taken a keen interest in raising and exhibiting Percheron horses. The Belle View Percherons have achieved State, National and World Champions in the halter and hitch ring. With the most recent accomplishments coming in 2018 when they were named Classic Series Six Horse Hitch Champions for the second straight year and the World Champion Percheron 6 Mare Hitch.