News Update
January 14, 2014
Angus NWSS Show
Coverage Available Online
American Angus Association members gather in Denver, Colo., this week for annual Angus events in conjunction with the 2014 National Western Stock Show (NWSS). The festivities begin Wednesday, Jan. 15, and continue through Saturday, Jan. 18. Using the resources described below, those at the NWSS — or at home — can stay up-to-date with the latest show results and news by watching live coverage from the showring, accessing the show results website using a computer or cell phone, downloading the Angus Mobile app on a smartphone, joining Angus on Facebook and Twitter for instant updates, visiting www.angus.org and purchasing candid showring photos online.
Angus activities begin with the Super-Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Bull Show at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, in the Stadium Arena. Jarold Callahan, Edmond, Okla., will evaluate ROV entries. The Angus Bull Sale Show follows at 12 p.m., and prospective buyers have the opportunity to preview the bulls before the sale begins. A panel of three judges will evaluate the bulls using a composite system to establish a sale order. Judges are Chris Styles, Brentford, S.D.; Jake Scott, Gordon, Neb.; and Joe Myers, Harrodsburg, Ky. Attendees will be invited into the showring to inspect bulls after the grand and reserve grand champions have been selected.
The Junior Angus Heifer Show begins at 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, in Stadium Arena. Joel Cowley, Richmond, Texas, will judge the junior show. The next day, ROV Angus Females enter the ring, judged by Callahan. The NWSS Angus Pen and Carload Show takes place Saturday, Jan. 18. The show begins at 8 a.m. in the Livestock Center Auction Arena. Paul Bennett, Red House, Va., Chad Ellingson, Saint Anthony, N.D., and Darrell Hansen, Elk Grove, Calif., will serve on the three-judge panel evaluating the group competitions.
Tune to The Angus Report on RFD-TV, 7:30 a.m. (central) Monday, Jan. 27, for further NWSS event news and highlights.
2014 Angus Foundation Heifer Package
Sells Wednesday Afternoon
Express Ranches of Yukon, Okla., has donated the 2014 Angus Foundation Heifer to headline the Angus Foundation Heifer Package, which will sell at auction at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 15, in the NWSS Beef Palace Auction Arena. Funds raised will benefit Angus youth, education and research.
The chosen female is EXAR Royal Lass 2068 (AAA Registration No. 17160657), born Jan. 8, 2012, and sired by EXAR Upshot 0562B. Royally bred, 2068 is the maternal granddaughter of the now deceased record-setting $263,000 in 2009 calving ease sire EXAR 263C and the dam of BR Midland, BR Royal Lass 7036-19. EXAR Royal Lass 2068 is bred to Sitz Top Game 561X and is due to calve Feb. 13, 2014.
Express Ranches is America’s largest seedstock operation, selling more than 4,800 head of registered cattle per year. Express Ranches owner Bob Funk believes in the cattle industry and is an advocate for America’s youth. Funk has supported the Angus Foundation in many ways in the past, including hosting “That Old West Magic” gala and auction for the Angus Foundation in Oklahoma City, Okla., in 2008, which raised more than $345,000 in gross proceeds.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Shaw Cattle Co. Donates an Angus Bull
in Support of Water for Life Inc.
The Shaw Cattle Co. of Caldwell, Idaho, is donating an Angus bull to be sold at their Feb. 19 bull sale at their home site in Notus, Idaho. There will be more than 500 bulls offered for sale — including black Angus, Red Angus and Hereford. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. MDT with the sale to start at noon MDT.
All proceeds from the funds raised from the sale of this bull will go to Water for Life Inc. and the continued fight to protect and defend water rights across the West.
Those at Water for Life Inc. extend a huge thank you to the Shaw family in their support by donating this bull.
The donation bull, 21186, ranks in the top 10% or higher for WW, YW, Milk & $F EPDs, with a WW ratio of 115, YW ratio of 112, Marb ratio of 126 and REA ratio of 115.
Bill Dugas Named Acting Vice Chancellor,
Dean for Agriculture, Life Sciences at Texas A&M
Bill Dugas will be acting vice chancellor for agriculture and life sciences and acting dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for The Texas A&M University System beginning Jan. 14.
Dugas, who has been associate vice chancellor and associate dean of agriculture and life sciences since 2009, will serve in the new capacity while Mark Hussey, who formerly filled those roles, serves as interim president of Texas A&M University.
“I am confident Dr. Dugas will provide the leadership needed to keep our college and agencies moving forward during this period,” Hussey said. Hussey will return to his role as vice chancellor and dean when a new president is selected for Texas A&M.
As acting vice chancellor, Dugas will oversee the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. These agencies have about 3,800 employees and annual expenditures of $400 million. As acting dean, Dugas will be responsible for the academics, personnel, budgets and facilities of the college, which has more than 7,200 students and more than 400 faculty.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Mom Demographic Key to Building Trust Among Consumers
Panelists from various state Farm Bureaus suggest that moms are today’s core influencers when it comes to building greater trust among American consumers. During a panel discussion Monday afternoon at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 95th Annual Meeting, nearly every one of the participants cited moms as the most important demographic. Panelists also said farmers must engage.
“First moms, the public, need to know us, like us and then trust us,” said Rita Hechmer, marketing specialist for Ohio Farm Bureau. “It has to be in this order.” Ohio’s “Grow and Know” events through its Our Ohio program provide on-farm events, community involvement and hands-on learning.
Panel facilitator Judy Rupnow of Morgan Myers began the session with consumer research. “Researchers tell us the public has concerns about where their food comes from. They want to learn more, and while they appear to like farmers, consumers are sometimes concerned that farmers won’t act ethically.”
“Along the way, we forgot to tell the public what we were doing,” Rupnow said. “This created a trust gap, but that’s changing.”
As panelists shared their activities they consistently pointed to the importance of moms.
“What we’ve found at Arizona Farm Bureau is that we must create an environment where we’re building ongoing relationships with our Arizona families and, most importantly, our moms,” said Communications Director Julie Murphree. “Once they get to know us, especially ‘foodie influencers,’ we try to engage them in all aspects of our activities and programs where we know there’s a fit.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Utt and Schmelzer to Serve in New Roles at Select Sires
Matt Utt has been named director of research while Marcus Schmelzer has taken on the role of laboratory safety coordinator at Select Sires Inc. These new responsibilities will further enhance Select Sires’ commitment to fertility and safety.
As director of research, Utt will work closely with other staff scientists to design research trials to improve semen collection, freezing, extenders, evaluation procedures and ultimately semen fertility potential in the field. He will coordinate the Program for Fertility Advancement™ (PFA™) and work with the Select Reproductive Solutions™ (SRS™) team. Utt will also serve as the Select Sires representative on industry committees as well as working closely with academic institutions.
Previously, Utt had served as a research associate at Select Sires since 2012. Utt has a doctorate in reproductive physiology and animal sciences from The Ohio State University, the result of the Ohio State University Select Sires C.E. Marshall Graduate Research Associateship, and graduated with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in animal and poultry sciences from Virginia Tech.
Schmelzer began his career in early 2012 in the semen processing department, freezing semen and working with quality control. In addition to those duties he will now serve as laboratory safety coordinator. He will develop, coordinate and enforce safety procedures during semen processing through written protocols and hands-on demonstrations. A trained first responder, Schmelzer will ensure the health and safety of all personnel and visitors in the laboratory.
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