News Update

News Update
May 6, 2008

NJAS Entries Due June 1

The National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), scheduled for July 13-19 in Des Moines, Iowa, is fast-approaching. Busy juniors will want to mark June 1 on their calendars — it’s the ownership and entry deadline for the NJAS; as well as the deadline to submit writing, photography and graphic arts entries.

The deadline was incorrectly listed as May 15 in “Association Highlights” in the May Angus Journal. The correct deadline is June 1. Visit www.njaa.info for additional contest rules and information.

Order Black Books Now

Now is the time to place your order for the 2009 Beef Record Service (BRS)/AngusSource® black books. The pocket-sized books include a 2009 calendar as well as space to keep management records on your cow herd.

The books make a great promotional tool or gift for your commercial bull buyers. You can custom-order your books for $2.50 each, which includes your operation’s logo and contact information foil-stamped onto the back cover. Custom orders require a 100-book minimum order. If you would like to order smaller quantities with the Association’s logo on the back cover, those are available for $2.50 each.

BioZyme, through the Angus Foundation, is a major partner in the production of these books, and a VitaFerm® ad will appear on the inside front cover, which reduces book costs to producers. Custom orders must be placed by July 15.

To place orders, contact Kristin Toll, the BRS/AngusSource black book representative, at 816-383-5100 or send e-mail to ktoll@angus.org.

Books will be shipped to you by Nov. 15 — just in time to distribute to your customers during the fall marketing and holiday seasons.

AngusSource PVP Status Renewed by USDA

AngusSource,^® the American Angus Association Process Verified Program (PVP), was renewed May 1, 2008, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for one year. AngusSource has been the industry leader in qualifying Angus genetic-, age- and source-verified cattle since 2005 and continues to drive the beef industry toward quantifying true Angus genetics.

The program continues to show steady growth. March 2008 was the top enrollment month, qualifying 14,107 head for AngusSource and charting a 21.7% year-to-date increase in cattle enrolled.

“AngusSource goes beyond verification,” says Sara Moyer, director of AngusSource. “The program provides services to both ranches and feedyards and assists with marketing by offering support and additional outlets. Information is powerful. The more information a producer can document about his calves, the more opportunity he has to receive premiums.”

Producers who enroll in AngusSource have the opportunity to customize their verification certificates and add additional health and management information. Producers indicate their marketing date and method, which can include video, traditional auction markets and direct-from-the-ranch methods. Cattle are then advertised via the online cattle listing site and weekly e-mails that are received by more than 600 buyers interested in AngusSource calves. To date there has been a 17.4% increase in the number of cattle advertised at www.angussource.com/listings.html. Through the Association’s Commercial Programs Department, staff are working to organize special feeder calf sales and offer additional marketing opportunities and recognition of AngusSource cattle in traditional auction markets and video sales.

The scope of the AngusSource PVP expanded in 2007 to include a feedyard umbrella. Working mainly with farmer feeders, AngusSource has been able to assist producers in receiving premiums of up to $40 per head.

“The American Angus Association is pleased to work with USDA to offer this program to our customers,” says Jim Shirley, vice president, industry relations. “The USDA PVP status of AngusSource adds integrity to our program and opens the door to marketing avenues such as export markets and branded beef programs previously not available to all AngusSource cattle. We look forward to continuing this partnership with USDA to assist our customers and members with meeting requirements for country-of-origin labeling and other labeling programs.”

For more information about AngusSource, visit www.angussource.com, call 816-383-5100 or e-mail angussource@angus.org.

— Release provided by the American Angus Association.

Texas Challenge II Helps Angus Foundation Campaign Reach $4.5M Mark

A night of fun, food and fellowship welcomed Angus breeders from Texas and elsewhere to scenic Camp Cooley Ranch in Franklin, Texas, for The Texas Challenge II on April 26. This “kick-off” event for the second phase of The Texas Challenge was hosted by Klaus and Bonnie Birkel of Camp Cooley Ranch to raise funds to support Angus education, youth and research efforts through the Angus Foundation.

Event guests enjoyed delicious Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB^®) steaks, professionally cut by Freedman Meats Inc., Houston, Texas. Also featured was Gene Caddell’s famous chuck wagon beans and entertainment by three-time Grammy nominee Dave Alexander.

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.

“I feel that this year’s event only re-energized Texas Angus breeders to continue giving,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “Klaus and Bonnie Birkel are an inspiration to other breeders’ philanthropic spirit[s] and we can’t thank them enough for again underwriting and hosting an event of this magnitude on our behalf.”

After the overwhelming success of the 2007 event, the goal was increased to $1 million, with Texas Angus breeders challenged to raise another $500,000. By hosting The Texas Challenge II, the Birkels showed their dedication and commitment to furthering the success of the Angus breed. More than $65,000 was raised toward the new goal.

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.”

“It was wonderful to see so many Texas Angus breeders and our friends from allied industry come out in support of such a good cause,” said Rocky Bunting, Texas Angus Association president. “Not only did we have breeders add to their initial pledge, we had several new donors step up and make a difference by giving a gift for the first time. We even had several donors from outside the state of Texas, which tells me the work the Angus Foundation is doing reaches everyone.”

With the ultimate fundraising goal of $1 million by December 31, 2011, The Texas Challenge 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.

“As a college student and a longtime member of the Texas Junior Angus Association, it means the world to me to have the support of the Angus Foundation and Texas Angus breeders. From leadership conferences and scholarships to making friends across the country that show Angus cattle, I’ve benefited immensely from this breed,” said Jennifer Ann Smith, Texas Junior Angus Association president.

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 $4.5 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.

— Release provided by the Angus Foundation.

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