News Update

News Update
Feb. 18, 2008

Camp Cooley Ranch to host The Texas Challenge II Event

Klaus and Bonnie Birkel, owners of Camp Cooley Ranch, Franklin, Texas, are encouraging Texas Angus breeders and the Texas Angus Association to raise funds to support Angus education, youth and research efforts through the Angus Foundation. Camp Cooley Ranch will again host and underwrite a celebration at the ranch on Saturday evening, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. featuring a Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) dinner and live entertainment. All Texas Angus breeders and supporters are invited to attend.

In January 2007, the Birkels pledged $250,000 toward the Angus Foundation’s ambitious Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus goal to raise $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011, if Texas Angus breeders and the Texas Angus Association raised $250,000 in matching funds at $50,000 per year for the next five years.

“Far exceeding anyone’s wildest expectations, Texas Angus breeders and friends not only rose to the challenge, but committed more than $250,000 in outright cash gifts and multiyear pledges in the first year alone toward The Texas Challenge. It is safe to say that Texas Angus breeders met the challenge,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “As a member of the campaign’s leadership cabinet, visionary Angus breeder and a philanthropist at heart, Klaus viewed it his responsibility to invest significantly in the Angus breed and help add value to education, youth and research for the benefit of future generations of Angus breeders in Texas and across the United States by supporting the Angus Foundation.”

After the overwhelming success of last year’s event, the goal has been increased to $1 million, with Texas Angus breeders challenged to raise another $500,000. By hosting The Texas Challenge II, the Birkels are again showing their dedication and commitment to furthering the success of the Angus breed.

As Klaus has previously stated, “I am devoted to this because I believe it is essential that we provide the next generation of young cattle raisers with the knowledge and skills essential to stay competitive and to make a business out of raising cattle. Additionally, there are still many open questions that research can answer about how to manage and raise cattle in a better way. Education and research must be continual and focused toward our industry’s special challenges. Bright young individuals must be encouraged to stay in this business and must see what is possible.”

“After last year’s success, the Texas Angus Association felt that we as Angus breeders and friends of the Angus Foundation could do so much more to support this worthwhile cause. We applaud last year’s efforts, but also recognize that we have a long way to go,” said Rocky Bunting, Texas Angus Association president. “I am confident that we will rise to the challenge of completing our goal, but it will take the support of every Texas breeder and friend of the Angus breed.”

With the ultimate fundraising goal of $1 million by Dec. 31, 2011, The Texas Challenge II allows donors the freedom to designate how their gift will be used by the Angus Foundation, with choices including educational programs, youth activities and/or bovine-related research. As a part of this fundraising initiative, a Texas Angus Association Scholarship Endowment Fund has been created to enable donors to support the next generation of Angus breeders with educational scholarships awarded to Angus youth from Texas through the Angus Foundation.

All funds raised through The Texas Challenge II will count toward achievement of the nationwide fundraising initiative Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, which aims to raise $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011, to further support the Angus Foundation’s education, youth and research efforts. To date, more than $4.3 million has been dedicated to the campaign through cash gifts, pledges and planned giving commitments.

The Angus Foundation is the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association that funds and supports programs involving education, youth and research.

Beef Industry Vision Awards Announced

The 2008 Beef Industry Vision Awards, presented by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), were announced Feb. 9 during the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show in Reno, Nev.

The recipients were Robert Bruner, Bruner Angus Ranch, Huntsville, Texas; Paul Engler, Cactus Feeders, Amarillo, Texas; James Herring, Friona Feedyard, Amarillo, Texas; Jackie Moore and Steve Owens, Joplin Regional Stockyards, Joplin, Mo.; H-E-B, San Antonio, Texas; and Eldon Roth, Beef Products Inc., Dakota Dunes, S.D.

The Vision Award, sponsored by Micro Beef Technologies, recognizes individuals, businesses and organizations in the cattle industry who have incorporated innovation into their operation in an effort to enhance their business as well as the industry as a whole. The award honors winners in all segments of the beef industry: cow-calf operation, feeding operation, livestock market, packer/processor and retail. Nominees were evaluated on the basis of effective use of technology, impact on production costs, ingenuity of implementation, innovative marketing, impact on the industry and optimum resource management.

Fore more information on individual Vision Awards winners, visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org.

E. Coli Vaccine One Step Closer to Reality

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a Canadian biopharmaceutical company, announced Feb. 5 it received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that “the latest data for its E. coli O157:H7 cattle vaccine meets the ‘expectation of efficacy’ standard and is eligible for a conditional license.”

According to Bioniche, the conditional license, once granted, would provide the company with full access to the U.S. market. Two conditions must be met for that to occur: 1) At least one step in the manufacturing process must be performed in the U.S., and 2) Bioniche will not be permitted to use a trademark name for the vaccine.

According to a company release, the Bioniche vaccine would be “the world’s first vaccine that may be used as an on-farm intervention to reduce the amount of E. coli O157:H7 shed by cattle.”

USDA Invites Food Industry to Step Up for Nutritious Choices

USDA is inviting companies in the food and consumer electronic industries to Partner with MyPyramid — to step up and help families make nutritious food choices.

Shopping and eating nutritiously can be challenging. However, USDA’s Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid can help the grocery shopper and home chef make better decisions for their family with more readily-available information at the time of purchase and in their daily routines.

“Food companies can play an important role for the consumer in promoting MyPyramid’s comprehensive, science-based plans of how all foods fit into a well-rounded diet with choices that support a healthy lifestyle,” said Nancy Montanez Johner, undersecretary of USDA’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. “Food companies and consumer electronic companies will also have the chance to step up to provide opportunities for families to connect to good nutrition and activity where they work, play and where they purchase and prepare food,” said Dr. Brian Wansink, executive director of the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP). “This could involve the creative distribution of nutrition information or development of new products and new ways of encouraging physical activity.”

Partnering with MyPyramid recently introduced 25 trade associations to USDA-developed standards for connecting consumers through products, programs and messages. Information about the Partnering with MyPyramid: Corporate Challenge program is at www.mypyramid.gov/Challenge.

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