Heritage Hall of Fame
Dr. Jeff Gower
Our 2021 Heritage Hall of Fame Inductee has been a dedicated member of CBUSA for the last 39 years. In fact, his first Clydesdale was purchased at the National Clydesdale Sale in 1982 in Waterloo, IA. Since then, this member has been a proud advocate and promoter of the Clydesdale. His herd has grown to one of the largest purebred herds of Clydesdale horses in the world. His farm advertisement has been the back cover of the Clydesdale News for most of the last 40 years, and for the last 35 years, he has registered at least one foal (usually several) every year except in one year in the 1990s.
He has supported our National Sale in too many ways to mention – from sale-topping consignments, to consistently buying horses from the sale. This member has also donated at least 3 of our raffle fillies.
He has supported the CBUSA consistently for as many years as he has been a member. There has rarely been a show, event, or any function the association has put on where this member wasn’t a sponsor. The level of dedication has benefited the breed in more ways than we can understand. But perhaps his most enduring support has been as a prolific producer of quality horses, many who have left an indelible mark on the breed. With the addition of his 2021 foals, the Ozark’s prefix will have been proudly stamped on over 200 registered Clydesdales.
Our 2021 Inductee is Dr. Jeff Gower.
Dr. Gower’s Soaring Eagle Farms is a staple in the Clydesdale Industry. The number of show-winners and successful hitch horses are too numerous to count.
Known for his iconic round-framed glasses, Dr. Gower is a Dentist by training, but has followed in the steps of his father-in-law, Wil Fischer, as an entrepreneur and wholesaler for most of his career. Two of our National Show Traveling trophies, the senior champion mare and senior champion stallion trophies, were donated by Dr. Gower in memory of the late Mr. Fischer. Jeff has been married to Melonie since 1971, and they have two children: Marisa and Jeffrey. The Gowers have 5 grandkids, and granddaughter Chloe is already a Clydesdale owner at the age of 9, carrying on in her Poppa’s footsteps.
In the early days of Soaring Eagle Farms, the farm and herd were cared for by Sonny Mitchell. In 2002, a relationship was formed with Glenn & Shelley Lewis of Ontario where they would fit show and sale horses for Dr. Gower and Glenn would travel back and forth between Ontario and Missouri several times a year. The relationship continued and since 2010, Glenn, Shelley, Danielle, and Jessica have resided on the farm in Springfield, Missouri, and managed the ever-growing herd of Clydesdales (and even a number of Shires in the last few years). The Lewis’s foaled out 15 mares in 2021 for Soaring Eagle Farms. You can always count on Glenn to be at the lead or lines of show horses with Danielle trailing or atop the wagon. Jessica is the resident photographer and chore-boss, while Shelley is always behind the scenes keeping all the horses in top-notch shape.
Dr. Gower’s dedication to the association is evident here at this sale: 15 quality consignments AND the donation of the 2021 Raffle Filly. We thank Dr. Gower for the nearly 40 years of support of the CBUSA and are proud to induct him into the Heritage Hall of Fame.
And as another token of thanks, we’d like to introduce the National Clydesdale Show Grand Champion Mare Traveling Trophy given in honor of Dr. Gower by his friends for his dedication and devotion to the Clydesdale breed.
