News Update

Angus Leadership Elected
Nov. 26, 2007

American Angus Association Elects Officers

Delegates elect new leadership, adjust bylaws at 124th Annual Convention of Delegates in Louisville, Ky.

Paul Hill, Bidwell, Ohio, was elected president and chairman of the board of the American Angus Association at the organization’s 124th Annual Convention of Delegates Nov. 12, 2007, in Louisville, Ky. He succeeds Jot Hartley, Vinita, Okla.

More than 350 delegates elected to represent American Angus Association members from more than 40 states conducted the business of the Association during the annual meeting and election at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. The meeting was in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Super-Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show.

The delegates elected Jay King, Rock Falls, Ill., to serve as vice president and vice chairman of the American Angus Association Board of Directors and five individuals to serve as directors on the Association’s Board. Elected to their second three-year terms were Jarold Callahan, Yukon, Okla.; Norman Garton, Nevada, Mo.; and Phil Trowbridge, Ghent, N.Y. Elected to their first three-year terms as directors were Chad Hoffman, Colfax, Ill.; and Jim Rentz, Coldwater, Ohio.

Bill Davis, Sidney, Mont., was earlier elected by the Board to serve as treasurer for the year.

In addition to electing directors and officers, the delegates passed a series of amendments to the Bylaws, changing the names of the president to “president and chairman of the Board,” the vice president to “vice president and vice chairman of the Board” and the executive vice president to the “chief executive officer.” The vice president and vice chairman will now be entitled to vote on all matters before the Board of Directors.

Following is a brief biographical sketch of the officers and directors elected at the 2007 annual meeting:

Paul Hill

Paul Hill will serve as president and chairman of the Board. Hill grew up on a livestock and peanut farm in Florida. He was active in 4-H and the National FFA Organization as a youth. His early introduction into the Angus industry began in 1966 at the American Herdsman Institute near Kansas City, Mo.

In 1968, Paul volunteered for the draft and took basic training and combat engineering training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He served 1-1/2 tours in Vietnam as a demolitions specialist. He was a squad leader when he finished his duty in Vietnam and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for leadership and interest in his fellow soldiers.

Today Hill is a partner in Champion Hill, Bidwell, Ohio. He focuses on breeding performance cattle that have eye appeal and takes pride in producing superior females. Champion Hill is the owner of many popular breeding bulls and puts emphasis on carcass testing. He has used ultrasound to evaluate carcass traits of yearling bulls and is currently working with a commercial herd to test young sires for carcass traits and performance.

Hill has always been interested in the people side of the cattle business. He and his wife, Lynn, raised two daughters, Sarah and Neenah, who were active in the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). Today, he continues to provide juniors opportunities to grow and excel in the beef business.

He has served as chairman of the Angus Foundation Board for a number of years and has been instrumental in the Foundation’s growth. He is one of the founding fathers of the Atlantic National and has helped in raising funds for various shows, events and scholarships that benefit Angus youth and Angus breeders.

As Association president, Hill will serve as chairman of the Executive Committee and will work closely with all directors to lead the Board during the next year.

Jay King

Jay King, the Association’s newly elected vice president and vice chairman of the Board, recently completed his second three-year term as a director. King and his family own and operate Sauk Valley Angus in northern Illinois.

As vice president and vice chairman, King will have voting privileges due to the recent bylaw amendment that was adopted. He will serve on the Executive, Activities & Events, and Industry Relations committees. He will also serve as chairman of the Angus Productions Inc. (API) Board and is on the Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) Board.

Jarold Callahan

Jarold Callahan was born, raised, and attended junior and senior college in Oklahoma. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he became an instructor for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) while studying for his master’s degree in agriculture from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

In 1981 he joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University (OSU), where he taught purebred beef production and livestock selection while managing the purebred beef herds and coaching the livestock judging teams.

Callahan was the executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association for five years before joining Express Ranches in 1996. He has served on the Information & Data Management, Finance & Planning, and Breed Improvement committees of the American Angus Association, as well as on the API and Angus Foundation boards.

Norman Garton

Norman Garton and his family operate Garton Angus, Nevada, Mo. Norman purchased his first Angus as an FFA project, and his sons were active in the NJAA. Today, more than 100 cows’ records are kept by Angus Information Management Software (AIMS), and bulls are marketed through private treaty, consignment sales and test stations.

Garton served a two-year term in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps after completing his doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He owned the Nevada Veterinary Clinic before selling it in 1998 to take his current position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As a veterinary medical officer with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), some of Garton’s responsibilities include inspecting beef carcasses and supervising inspectors in six plants throughout Missouri.

During his first term, Garton has been on the boards of API and CAB, while serving on the Activities & Events, Industry Relations, and Information & Data Management committees of the Association, as well as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Product Enhancement Committee.

Chad Hoffman

As a sales manager and beef marketing specialist, Chad Hoffman has traveled the country for 15 years representing Genex Cooperative Inc. At home, he helps operate Hoffman Angus, where they raise seedstock for purebred and commercial producers. Hoffman got an early start in the Angus business with participation in 4-H, FFA, and the Illinois and National Junior Angus associations.

After a successful internship experience through the Association’s summer job program, he was hired by Goshen Angus in Paris, Ky., as herdsman. He continued his college education at the University of Kentucky and participated in its livestock judging team.

This past summer, Hoffman represented the American Angus Association and Angus Foundation as their representative to attend NCBA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC).

Jim Rentz

An Angus enthusiast for 55 years, Jim Rentz is now semi-retired and eager to serve the American Angus Association and its members. Rentz has been promoting and merchandising Angus cattle for just as many years, and in 2006 he authored a book, 50+ Years of Angus Trails and Tales.

He served as an Angus Journal fieldman in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for 15 years before starting his own Angus sale management business, Rentz Auction Co. For the past 28 years, Rentz has been a sales representative with Post Printing Co. He oversaw the production of directories, sale books, brochures and magazines on many livestock accounts.

Rentz attended Ohio State University and majored in animal science. He has volunteered on many committees and co-founded the Ohio Beef Expo and Showcase Sale in Ohio.

Phil Trowbridge

Phil Trowbridge grew up on his family’s Angus farm, where he gained knowledge of the livestock industry through hands-on experience. He attended Alfred State College in 1976 to complete his education and majored in animal science.

Gallagher’s Angus Farm hired him as herdsman, and he continues to enhance Angus genetics with Trowbridge Angus. Trowbridge has served on numerous boards on the local and state level and is passionate about youth programs. He organized the Columbia County Feeders 4-H Club that emphasizes firsthand experience with livestock management, exhibition and showmanship.

Trowbridge has served on the Activities & Events, Industry Relations, Information & Data Management, and Finance & Planning committees of the American Angus Association. He has also contributed to the Angus Foundation Board of Directors and was appointed to the NCBA International Markets Committee.

Elected to the American Angus Association Board of Directors are (seated, from left) Bill Davis, Sidney, Mont., treasurer; Paul Hill, Bidwell, Ohio, president and chairman of the board; and Jay King, Rock Falls, Ill., vice president and vice chairman of the board; and directors (standing, from left) Jarold Callahan, Yukon, Okla.; Chad Hoffman, Colfax, Ill.; Norman Garton, Nevada, Mo.; Jim Rentz, Coldwater, Ohio; and Phil Trowbridge, Ghent, N.Y.

Auxiliary Announces Officers

Members of the American Angus Auxiliary recently elected the organization’s executive leadership team for 2008. The four officers were elected Nov. 10, 2007, during the Auxiliary’s annual meeting in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), Louisville, Ky.

Serving as Auxiliary president for 2008 is Nancy Thelen. Thelen and her husband, Steve, reside in Saline, Mich., and have two daughters, Julie and Renee.

President-elect is Michelle Rieff. Rieff and her husband, Kevin, live in Bentonville, Ark. They have one daughter, Haley.

Fulfilling the role of secretary-treasurer is Kathi Creamer. Creamer and her husband, Jeff, reside in Montrose, Colo. They have two children, Brandon and Britney.

Auxiliary advisor is the immediate past-president, Mary Greiman. Greiman and her husband, Ted, reside in Garner, Iowa, along with their two boys, Kyle and Cole.

The executive leadership typically serves for a total of four years as an Auxiliary officer, serving first as secretary-treasurer, then president-elect, president and advisor.

All four officers are actively involved with the Angus breed. Their commitment to Angus includes involvement with their family’s Angus operations, local and national Angus associations, and a strong support of youth, particularly National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members.

Focus for 2008

The newly elected officers will combine their talents to fulfill the purpose of the Auxiliary, which is recognized for its continued support of youth, as well as the Angus breed. Specifically, this year’s executive leadership will focus on promoting youth scholarship and award programs through member outreach and new fundraising initiatives.

“A key focus this year will be to work as a team to develop and implement a regional directors program for the Auxiliary,” Thelen says, noting that such a program will help to expand the membership of the Auxiliary and result in sustained support of youth. In addition to membership outreach and development, the Auxiliary will continue its support of youth through scholarship programs.

“We are very fortunate to have a unique fundraising opportunity that will contribute to our goal of raising $12,000 in scholarship money,” Rieff says. This year, former Auxiliary officer Sheri Spader will be donating a horse in memory of Richard L. Spader, past American Angus Association executive vice president. The horse will be sold in the coming year, with proceeds going to the Auxiliary’s scholarship programs. “One of my goals as chair of the scholarship committee will be to focus on developing this project,” Rieff says.

This year’s executive leadership will continue to bring enthusiasm to the Auxiliary’s existing programs, such as Miss American Angus, the All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off, and the Silver Pitcher, Crystal and Achievement awards. Greiman plans to use her past experiences in all of the Auxiliary’s executive leadership positions to help her fellow officers continue to improve upon the success of Auxiliary programs, while also ensuring that the projects are fun.

“This will be a fun year,” Greiman says. “I’m looking forward to it, especially the exciting fundraising projects.” Creamer, who is the newest addition to the leadership cabinet, is also enthusiastic about the upcoming year.

“I’m excited to help out with all of these Auxiliary programs and learn more,” Creamer says. “I think it will be enjoyable to work on all of our projects, and I hope to help gain more members.”

The American Angus Auxiliary consists of individuals interested in the welfare of the Angus breed. Its members work to provide educational activities for junior Angus members, such as scholarship programs, awards and competitions. For more information about the American Angus Auxiliary, visit www.angusauxiliary.com.

Elected to serve as American Angus Auxiliary officers are (from left) Mary Greiman, Garner, Iowa, advisor; Nancy Thelen, Saline, Mich., president; Michelle Rieff, Bentonville, Ark., president-elect; and Kathi Creamer, Montrose, Colo., secretary-treasurer.

PHOTO BY AMERICAN ANGUS ASSOCIATION