Angus Activities Slated for 2007 NWSS

Angus Update
Nov. 28, 2006

Angus Outreach Seminars Planned

The American Angus Association will continue a series of Outreach Seminars, in an effort to boost communications with the membership. Two Outreach Seminars are planned for early December in Kearney, Neb., and Jackson, Mo. Association staff will travel to these sites to provide updates on Association programs and industry issues. In addition, breeders will have an opportunity to provide input to Association staff and directors during interactive discussions.

One Outreach Seminar will be Friday, Dec. 8, in conjunction with the Nebraska Angus Association Annual Meeting in Kearney, Neb. The seminar begins at 1:30 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. A Dutch-treat lunch will be available prior to the Outreach Seminar. Scott Johnson will also conduct an AIMS Seminar at 10 a.m. that same day. For more information about other Nebraska Angus events, go to www.nebraskaangus.org.

A third seminar is set for Monday, Dec. 11 in Jackson, Mo. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Extension Office Conference Center.

Visit www.angus.org for more information about these and future Outreach Seminars.

AngusSource® Completes First Year as a PVP

Oct. 18, 2006, marked the first-year anniversary for AngusSource® as a USDA Process Verified Program (PVP). In October 2006 the American Angus Association program charted an increase in cattle enrollments of nearly 336% as compared to October 2005.

The first year of operation as a PVP was filled with program improvements, success and an overall increase of 4.3% in total number of head enrolled.

Some highlights of the year include the month of March, which saw enrollments of more than 12,300 head of cattle in the program. In June, the Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) Board of Directors voted to include AngusSource in the CAB program as a way for enrolled cattle to genetically qualify for the brand. July charted a 433% increase in producers taking advantage of the marketing support offered through the program by customizing their AngusSource Document and promoting the cattle for sale utilizing the online listing site. September introduced the AngusSource Premium Value Challenge, a contest designed to recognize producers who have received premiums by marketing their cattle through AngusSource.

Visit www.angussource.com or call (816) 383-5100 for more information on the AngusSource program, to order tags and enroll calves, or for a listing of AngusSource cattle available for sale.

Angus Foundation Launches Five-Year, $11M Campaign

Unveiled at the Angus Foundation Supporter Recognition Event Nov. 11, in Louisville, Ky., the “Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus” aims to significantly expand the ability of the Angus Foundation to support education, youth and research activities by raising $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011.

This is the first capital campaign undertaken by the Angus Foundation, the not-for-profit affiliate of the Association that was established in 1980 to support education, youth and research programs in the Angus breed.

“The Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus will benefit everyone in the Angus industry, including breeders and commercial producers, friends of the breed and allied industry partners,” says Howard Hillman of Bon-View Farms in South Dakota, who serves as chairman of the Angus Foundation’s campaign leadership cabinet.

“Through this fundraising effort, the Angus breed will be empowered to continue its prominence in the beef cattle industry,” Hillman says. “Educational programs will grow, youth opportunities will expand, and research will advance.”

The Campaign for Angus will raise $3.5 million to fund education programs, $6 million to further support Angus youth and $1.5 million to bolster research activities.

Gifts to the Angus Foundation’s annual fund drive, which was mailed mid-November to all members of the American Angus Association, will count toward the campaign goal. In addition to Hillman and Angus Foundation President Milford Jenkins, the Campaign for Angus is led by Jim Coleman, Vintage Angus Ranch in California, and David McMahon, Belle Point Ranch in Arkansas, who serve as honorary co-chairmen of the Angus Foundation’s campaign leadership cabinet.

Other members of the campaign leadership cabinet include: Dick Beck, Three Trees Ranch, Georgia; Klaus Birkel, Camp Cooley Ranch, Texas; Mark Gardiner, Gardiner Angus Ranch, Kansas; Pat Goggins, Vermilion Angus Ranch, Montana; John Morgan, Morgan Angus, Georgia; Abbie Nelson, Five Star Land & Livestock, California; Bob Norton, BioZyme Inc., Missouri; Blanford Pierce, Woodlawn Farms, Illinois; Anne Patton Schubert, Kentucky, representing the American Angus Auxiliary; Ron Simek, Canyon Creek Angus, Wyoming; Eddie Sydenstricker, Sydenstricker Genetics, Missouri; Jake Tiedeman, Nebraska, former chairman of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) Board of Directors; Bob Weaver, Weaver Angus Farm, Illinois; and Laurie Widdowson, SandPoint Cattle Co., Nebraska.

To date, the campaign has already raised $2.77 million — 25% of the $11 million goal. Four significant gifts to the campaign were announced Nov. 11 at the Angus Foundation’s Supporter Recognition Event in Louisville, Ky.

• Gregg and Lile Blythe of Macedon Angus Farm, Madison, Ala., donated $10,000 in honor of James E. Horton Jr. to establish a youth scholarship endowment.

• The children of the late Dale and Betty Davis, formerly of Belgrade, Mont., donated $25,000 in honor of their parents to fund research projects through the Angus Foundation. The gift was made by Bill Davis, Sydney, Mont.; Pat Davis, Belgrade, Mont.; and Tom Davis, Augusta, Mont.

• Robert and Marillyn Schlutz, Columbus Junction, Iowa, made a campaign gift of $25,000 to support the Foundation’s youth activities.

• BioZyme Inc., based in Saint Joseph, Mo., and led by President Bob Norton, committed $250,000 to Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus.

Cash gifts and planned giving commitments made to the Angus Foundation since Oct. 1, 2004, count toward fulfilling these campaign goals.

For other giving options, contact the Angus Foundation staff at (816) 383-5100, or donate online by Visa or MasterCard at www.angusfoundation.org.

End of “Tax Year” Approaches

Charitable gifts to the Angus Foundation in support of its education, youth and research programs are genuinely appreciated regardless of the time of year the gift is made by the donor. Oftentimes, however, charitable giving decisions are made at “year-end” once an individual or couple knows their income tax situation for that respective calendar (tax) year. Accordingly, any charitable giving considerations to benefit the Angus Foundation in the waning days of this year will likewise be appreciated.

As a reminder, one should pay special attention to timing when it comes to year-end gifts. 501(c)(3) charities such as your Angus Foundation, in accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines, will recognize the U.S. Postal Service’s postmark denoted on the outside of the carrier envelope used by the donor in transmitting the gift to the charity. Hence, in order to qualify for tax savings on your 2006 tax return, your gift must be completed by Dec. 30. For cash gifts, this means your gift must be personally delivered or mailed to the Angus Foundation in an envelope postmarked no later than Dec. 30.

Also, if you’re planning to make a gift of securities (appreciated stock), please call Jenkins at (816) 383-5163 or (816) 390-4357 well in advance of the Dec. 30 deadline.

Riverbend Ranch to Donate 2007 Angus Foundation Heifer

Frank and Belinda VanderSloot, owners of Riverbend Ranch, Idaho Falls, Idaho, will donate the 2007 Angus Foundation Heifer, set to sell at 2 p.m., Jan. 11, 2007, during the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colo.

To view information about this outstanding female, including full pedigree and photo, visit www.angusfoundation.org/foundation_heif.html.

In addition to the heifer, the buyer will receive 30 days of insurance from American Live Stock Insurance Co., Geneva, Ill.; free transportation to the buyer’s ranch provided by Lathrop Livestock Transportation, Dundee, Ill.; and a flush and three embryo implants into the buyer’s recipient cows from Trans Ova Genetics, Sioux Center, Iowa.

The sale of the heifer package will precede the NWSS Angus Bull Sale, scheduled to take place in the Beef Palace Auction Arena. All proceeds from the heifer package benefit the Angus Foundation.

For more information about the Angus Foundation heifer package, log on to www.angusfoundation.org, contact Jenkins, or visit with any Association Regional Manager.

— Information provided by the American Angus Association