News Update

News Update
Dec. 12, 2006

Cattle Industry Convention Online

Angus Productions Inc. (API) is again providing online coverage of the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show, scheduled for Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2007, at the Gaylord Opryland® Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn. Reflecting a can-do spirit of an industry on the rise, “Git ’er Done!” will be the underlying theme of event.

Attended by more than 5,000 cattlemen each year, the convention is the largest meeting of its kind in the U.S. Five industry organizations, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB), the American National CattleWomen (ANCW), Cattle-Fax and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), are to convene at the event.

Throughout the event, speakers, committees and working groups are scheduled to address issues ranging from cattle handling to political lobbying, from public lands to tax regulations, from market outlooks to advertising schedules. Animal health and tracking systems are sure to take center stage.

For pre-event and general coverage of the event, visit the “Newsroom” at www.4cattlemen.com. Proceeding papers, synopses and PowerPoint presentations will be posted as they become available, as well as audio files of Pfizer’s ever-popular Cattlemen’s College.

After the event, visit the “Trade Show” page for highlights of the latest advances in animal health, management and recordkeeping. Visit the “Award Winners” page for coverage of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) results, Vision Award recipients, National Beef Ambassadors and other award winners.

Webcast airs tonight

An educational webcast will be conducted tonight beginning at 8 p.m. Central time. Sally Northcutt, Association director of genetic research, will present “It’s Yearling Time,” providing an overview of the various data to measure and collect, including ultrasound information.

Viewers will need a high-speed or DSL internet connection to listen to and view the presentations. Register for a free and private account at www.liveauctions.tv prior to the start of the webcast. Once on the site, go to “Create a new user.” Fill in the brief information form to create a unique user name and password, and you are set to view the webcast.

There is no charge to register. Past webcasts are archived at www.angus.org/webcast.

— by Shelia Stannard, director of communications & events, American Angus Association

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 Milford Jenkins at (816) 383-5163 or (816) 390-4357 well in advance of the Dec. 30 deadline.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.