Bellevue Farm Classic Shetlands

Rod McCall  -  Underwood, Iowa

HomeSale PageStallionsMaresJr. PoniesFoalsReferenceIn MemoryEmail Mike

 

 

In Memory of Eldon W. McCall

1934-2011

  On June 30th, 2011 the Shetland Pony world lost a great friend, breeder and promoter of Classic Shetland Ponies.  After experiencing post operative complications from a surgery Eldon passed peacefully and was laid to rest on July 5th, 2011.  He spent countless hours talking to people both old and new to the pony world for sixteen years and he enjoyed every minute of it.
Eldon and his dad with his first pony, Blackie.  Eldon was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Southeast Nebraska.
After retiring from 38 years of teaching and coaching, Eldon started a small Classic Shetland breeding program in 1995 on his 120 acre farm in Southwest Iowa.  He is pictured on the left with one of his first stallion's, Diablo's RoJo of Arenosa.  Kitty's Ellen C&M is pictured on the right with her foal McCall's Prince Elvis.  Ellen was one of his first mares that he purchased from Charlie Graves.
Eldon made the acquaintance of Vern Benna at a pony sale in 1996 and Vern helped him set up a breeding program focusing on the Cody line.  Eldon is pictured on the left with the "40 inch wonder", Roadrunner Cody Grey, and on the right with farm favorite, Roadrunner Cody's Copy.  Eldon purchased several mares from Vern's breeding, along with Cody's Copy from Jim Drenth.
Beauguest Cody's Shadow NTA and Eldon are pictured to the left.  He purchased Shadow from Don Chegwidden and used Shadow for a couple years to line breed the Cody line.  To the right is a rare picture of Eldon after showing Code's Lindy VB at the Shelby County Fair.  Eldon was very involved with the Shelby County Fair during the 1980's and 1990's promoting youth leadership in both 4-H and FFA.
Eldon loved promoting the Classic Shetland Pony and spent several years going to pony sales in the Midwest.  He is pictured to the left with his good friend Phyllis Hopwood of Palmer, Nebraska.  He his pictured to the right with McCall's Benny Cody's HOF new owners and his close friend Charlie Young (far right) from St. Joseph, Missouri.
Lee Perkins is pictured with Eldon and McCall's KL Queen on the left at the 2000 Des Moines Sale.  Eldon is pictured to the right with Robin Eberth and Rocket's Grey Doll VB, the top selling pony at the 2000 Central Illinois Pony Sale.
Bright-Eyed Rock C&M was one of Eldon's most well known stallions (left).  Eldon is pictured to the right with Code's Ruby VB and her 2000 black filly, McCall's KL Crystal Rose.  Crystal Rose was sired by Rock and went on to top the 2001 Des Moines as a yearling.

Eldon & Mike pose with the buyers and the sale committee from the 2002 North Texas Pony Sale along with Red Rock General's KL Tana, the top selling pony.  A close family friend took the picture to the right and we nicknamed it "Holdin' down the bunk".
Eldon watching Rod hard at work breaking McCall's KL Snickers to lead.  Our dad started losing mobility in his legs in 2003 and used a modified golf cart to keep working on the farm.  He is pictured to the right with his favorite mare, Red Rock Jet's Taffy, and her 2007 filly, McCall's KL Laffy Taffy.