News Update
July 6, 2009

Iowa Juniors Push Vision Across The Halfway Mark

The Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, the first capital campaign launched by the Angus Foundation and American Angus Association® to support Angus education, youth and research projects, has now raised more than $5.5 million toward its $11 million goal, set to be raised by Dec. 31, 2011.

With a gift of $25,000 to the Angus Foundation, the Iowa Junior Angus Association helped bring the campaign to the halfway mark. Through the establishment of a permanent Iowa Junior Angus Association Scholarship Endowment Fund, the Iowa juniors have designated the funds be used for scholarships through the Angus Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Earnings from the fund will support one scholarship to be received by Iowa Junior Angus Association members and one scholarship designated for members of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA).

“After the completion of the 2008 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Iowa, we had a sum of money left over and we knew we wanted to use that money to make a difference in the lives of junior Angus members. After some research, we found out that the Oklahoma Junior Angus Association had also established a scholarship endowment fund with some of their remaining funds from the 2007 national junior show, and we decided to donate a portion of our funds to the Angus Foundation as well,” stated Austin Brandt, Iowa Junior Angus Association president.

“It’s profoundly meaningful and even symbolic that Angus youth took us over the halfway milestone as this campaign is about the future of our Angus breed. Investments today in our Angus youth, education and research will help tomorrow’s Angus breeders be the leaders of the beef cattle industry,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “It’s even more humbling when junior members see the benefit in giving back to their fellow junior members through the Angus Foundation.”

“Indeed, this investment by Angus youth in Iowa believing in the future of the Angus breed is very humbling. I encourage Angus breeders across the country to accept this as a challenge to also believe in the future of the Angus breed and make a contribution to the campaign,” said Phil Trowbridge, president of the Angus Foundation Board of Directors.

“Through this fundraising effort, the Angus breed will be empowered to continue its prominence in the beef cattle industry,” says Howard Hillman, who serves as chairman of the Angus Foundation’s campaign leadership cabinet. “Educational programs will grow, youth opportunities will expand and research will advance.”

The Campaign for Angus aims to raise $3.5 million to fund educational programs, $6 million to further support Angus youth and $1.5 million to bolster research activities. Cash gifts and planned giving commitments made to the Angus Foundation since Oct. 1, 2004, count toward fulfilling these campaign goals.

Now nearing the end of the third year of the campaign, the Angus Foundation continues to look for ways to advance the Angus breed. Through the support of past, present and future donors the mission of the Angus Foundation will be fulfilled.

“The American Angus Association and Angus Foundation truly appreciate the generous financial support from our members and friends to Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, especially in these challenging economic times. For Angus youth to step up to the plate and take us over the halfway mark toward our $11 million goal, we as parents and adults can only have enormous pride and confidence in the future of the Angus breed, our country and our Association,” stated Bryce Schumann, American Angus Association CEO.

The Angus Foundation, the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association, secures and stewards charitable gifts to foster the advancement of activities benefiting the agricultural industry and the Angus breed.

— Release provided by the Angus Foundation.

IBA Seedstock Breeder of the Year Award

Panther Creek Ranch of Bowen, Ill., received the Illinois Beef Association (IBA) Seedstock Breeder of the Year Award at the IBA Annual Meeting in Collinsville, Ill., June 25. Panther Creek Ranch comprises Mike and Kati McClelland and family of Bowen, Steve and Valerie Peterson and family, and Karol McClelland of West Point. The Seedstock Award is presented to elite purebred cattle operations that supply genetics of the future and utilize the latest technologies in seedstock breeding.

Panther Creek Ranch, formerly McClelland Angus Farm, has been in the purebred seedstock business since 1953. The 430-cow herd consists of 300 brood cows and 130 bred heifers, with about 90 calving in the fall and the remaining 340 in the spring.

The total farming enterprise consists of 3,000 acres, with 1,500 in row crops. The remaining 1,500 acres includes 200 acres for hay and 1,300 acres of pasture.

Complete performance information is collected, including birth, weaning and yearling weights along with scrotal and scanning of bulls and heifers at yearling. All of this data is processed through the American Angus Association’s Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) program so cattle have complete expected progeny differences (EPDs) for economically important traits.

— Adapted from article by Dave Seibert, animal systems educator, University of Illinois Extension.

K-State to Host First Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes Weekend

Kansas State University’s (K-State’s) Department of Animal Sciences and Industry will host the first-ever 2009 Kansas 4-H Livestock Sweepstakes Weekend Aug. 22-23 in Weber Hall.

“This exciting new event will challenge 4-H members’ skills in livestock judging, meats judging, Livestock Skillathon and Livestock Quiz Bowl,” said Sharon Breiner, K-State youth livestock coordinator. “All-around belt buckles are on the line for the team and individual earning the highest combined scores in the weekend’s activities.”

4-H members who want to learn new skills or polish skills they already have will break into groups to judge and place approximately eight classes of livestock. In addition, participants will learn how to identify retail cuts of meat and place classes of meat products, as well as classes of carcasses or cuts.

In the Livestock Skillathon, 4-Hers will rotate individually through stations that address areas of animal science knowledge. Those may include feedstuffs, breed identification, equipment identification and other areas.

The Livestock Quiz Bowl will start with a qualifying exam. The eight teams with the highest average scores will compete against one another.

Having fun while learning is part of the weekend, Breiner said, adding that there will be an ice cream social after the livestock judging contest on Saturday, followed by a dance. Animal science workshops and tours will be offered during the weekend.

More information, including registration, is available on www.YouthLivestock.ksu.edu. Interested 4-H members can also contact their county or district K-State Research and Extension office to join a team. Registrations and T-shirt orders are due to Extension offices by Aug. 1.

— Release provided by K-State Research and Extension.

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