News Update

News Update
Jan. 10, 2008

Cowman’s Classic 4-H and FFA Contest

The third annual Cowman’s Classic 4-H and FFA Beef Judging Contest is scheduled for Feb. 25 at the Interstate Fairgrounds in Spokane, Wash. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. The contest begins at 10 a.m. Four classes of bulls will be judged during this contest. The consignors of the 24th Annual Cowman’s Classic All-Breed Bull Sale will supply these contest animals.

“Opportunities to practice and participate in judging contests are becoming more scarce. The need for this contest was evident last year as over 100 youths participated in this contest,” said contest co-chairman Fran Maki of Moscow, Idaho. Sarah Smith of Ephrata, Wash., will serve as co-chairman of this event.

Awards will be presented to the winning teams for both the 4-H and FFA divisions. Northwest Credit Service is sponsoring this contest. Information concerning this contest can be obtained by contacting Maki at 208-301-1497 or stevemaki@cpcinternet.com; or Sarah Smith at 509-754-2011, ext. 413, or smithsm@wsu.edu.

This event will be part of the 24th Cowman’s Classic All-Breed Bull Sale scheduled for Feb. 24-26 at the Interstate Fairgrounds in Spokane. Information and sale books can be obtained by contacting Kendall Cattle Sales at 208-858-2163 or kendall@potlatch.com.

Ken Troutt Memorial Scholarship

Applications are now being taken for the 13th Annual Ken Troutt Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship fund has been established in memory of Ken Troutt, renowned auctioneer for the Northwest and Cowman’s Classic All-Breed Bull Sale. Scholarships of $500 will be announced at the “Cowman’s Classic” All-Breed Bull Sale in Spokane, Wash., Feb. 26.

To be eligible, youths (1) must be incoming freshman in the fall of 2008, enrolled in a college or technical school, and (2) be an individual or son/daughter of an individual that has consigned or purchased bulls in the Cowman’s Classic within the last three year’s sales.

Applications are due prior to Feb. 15 and can be requested by contacting Kendall Cattle Sales at 208-858-2163 kendall@potlatch.com.

Snacks – don’t ban them, plan them

Parents of young children probably often hear the words “I’m hungry” several times throughout the day.

Young children need to have healthy snacks on a regular basis, said Janice Hermann, Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cooperative Extension Service nutrition education specialist.

“Young children have small stomachs so they often can’t get all the nutrients they need through three square meals per day,” Hermann said. “Snacks can supply nearly one-fourth of a child’s food intake in a given day. This is why it’s so important to plan healthy snacks.”

Most children do best when they eat four to six times per day. Try to think of snacks as mini meals that help provide the nutrients and food energy your child needs to grow, play and learn. Snacks can help fill in the MyPyramid gaps by helping your child get enough of the foods and nutrients the body requires.

Hermann has the following suggestions to help children snack smart:

Keep food group snacks handy. For example: raw vegetables, fruit, juice, milk, cheese, yogurt, bread, peanut butter and hard-boiled eggs.
Let snacks fill the gaps. If your child misses juice for breakfast, offer fruit at snack time.
Time snacks carefully. Snacks should be consumed two to three hours before meals to ensure the child will be hungry for lunch or supper.
Offer snacks to satisfy hunger. Skip the urge to offer a snack to quiet tears, calm your child or reward behavior. This can lead to emotional overeating later on in life.
Keep snacks small. If your child is still hungry, he or she can ask for more. Let your child decide what is enough.
Encourage brushing teeth after snacking. This is especially important after eating bread, crackers, sweets or sticky foods.
Set a good example. Parents need to snack smart as well. Keep in mind that children learn snack habits by watching their parents. Be a good role model.

It is a good idea to limit snacks with high-fat content. Once a child turns 2 years old, it is important to get in the habit of low-fat eating. If family meals and snacks have less fat, the child will learn to eat that way, too. Keep in mind, however, that children under the age of 2 need more fat for growth and brain development.

Hermann said it’s important for parents to keep in mind that it is OK for children to eat foods with more sugar and fat on occasion.

– Release provided by Oklahoma State University.

National Beef widens loss in 1Q

National Beef Packing Co. on Tuesday reported a wider loss in earnings on higher-priced cattle.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Kansas City, Mo.-based processor said it lost $24.5 million during the three months ending Nov. 24, 2007, compared with a loss of $23.8 million in the year-earlier period. The company’s shares are not publicly traded.

Sales rose nearly 10%, from $1.27 billion to about $1.4 billion. The company cited an almost 6% increase in the number of cattle processed, higher live-cattle prices and heavier cattle during the period.

However, the increase in sales was more than offset by higher operational costs such as a 5% rise in cattle prices stemming from a tight supply of U.S. cattle resulting from extended droughts.

“Retention of females to replenish and grow the U.S. cattle herd remains slow, resulting in long-term cattle supplies that show no appreciable sign of growth in overall fed-cattle supplies over the next two to three years,” National Beef said.

Meantime, National Beef said higher cattle weights should spur improved beef production in the first half of 2008 but return to 2007 levels for the remainder of the year.

— From a MeatingPlace.com report.

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.