News Update
April 14, 2011

Missouri High School FFA Chapter Takes Lead in 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge

With just more than two weeks to go, a Missouri high school FFA chapter is in the lead of a seven-state competition between FFA chapters seeking to make the most connections with area farmers.

West Plains High School in West Plains, Mo., leads the 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge with 532 votes. Lawrence County High School in Moulton, Ala., is in second place with 432 votes. Indiana’s John Glenn High School is third with 426 votes. McDonald County High School in Anderson, Mo., is fourth with 238 votes and Ariton High School in Ariton, Ala., is fifth with 205 votes.

The 2010 FFA Chapter Challenge began March 7. Sponsored by Monsanto through the National FFA Foundation, the competition involves FFA chapters in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Georgia and Alabama in the pilot program to connect local FFA chapters with their community’s farmers. FFA members must reach out to their local farmers, meet them, learn about their operations and connect with them by sharing what their FFA chapter is doing in the community. In turn, farmers are asked to go online and vote for their favorite chapter.

The chapter with the most votes by May 1 will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for six students and an adult advisor to the 2011 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis — valued at more than $6,500 — and a $1,500 line of credit they can use to buy FFA-related merchandise, fund FFA activities and help pay for FFA-related costs throughout the year. The top 125 chapters participating in the competition will also receive a $1,500 line of credit. For participating, each of the seven state FFA organizations will receive a $1,500 grant.

Participating FFA chapters that register online and have at least one vote by 11:59 p.m. CST Friday will be entered into a random drawing for a chance to win a free FFA merchandise gift certificate. Ten $100 FFA Merchandise Gift Certificates will be awarded to winners in the drawing.

All winners will be announced on www.FFAChapterChallenge by May 15.

More than 1,700 FFA chapters and their combined 117,824 FFA members remain eligible to participate in the 2011 FFA Chapter Challenge.

For more, visit http://www.ffa.org.

— Release by the National FFA Organization.

Producer Nominations Sought for Angus Award

Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) is searching for producers who use Angus genetics to raise the quality beef bar. Each year the company seeks nominations for two Annual Conference awards that honor producers for an enduring commitment to finding superior Angus genetics that enhance carcass traits.

“We celebrate those moments when producers excel and show the way for others,” says Larry Corah, CAB vice president. “So every year, we recognize one commercial and one seedstock producer who use every means in striving toward the ideal, from genetic selection to coordinated management and marketing.”
Since 1992, only 36 producers have received the aptly named Commitment to Excellence Award.

Eligible candidates must have a record of measuring genetic and management criteria, and acting upon the information to better drive the supply of Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand product. Additional consideration is given to producers who have been directly involved with CAB in its various programs and licensed feedlots through the years.

“We’re encouraging cattlemen to nominate those they work with, be it their genetic suppliers or their bull-buying customers,” Corah says.

Nominations, due May 1, can include detail on anything deemed relevant. They should contain the producer name and contact information, type and size of operation, number of years postweaning data has been gathered, years linked to nominator’s operation, and years involved with any specified CAB projects.

Winners will be selected and contacted, along with nominators, by June 1. CAB will produce feature stories about the individuals, who will receive an expense-paid trip to the company’s annual conference in Sunriver, Ore., Sept. 20-22.

To see a list of past winners and submit nominations, visit www.cabpartners.com/producers/nominate.php, contact Marilyn Conley at 1-800-225-2333 or email MConley@certifiedangusbeef.com.

— Release by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB).

Deadline for Atlantic National Merit Award Scholarship Fast Approaching

The deadline for the Atlantic National Merit Award is April 30. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to get some scholarship money for your education. The Merit Award is based on the junior’s involvement in the Angus industry, their community and the Atlantic National Angus Show. In 2010, nearly $7,000 was awarded.

Juniors can still apply by visiting www.atlanticnationalmeritaward.com where they will be able to download an application, pick an essay question and learn tips to help them through the application process. Applicants will also be required to submit a letter of recommendation. Finalists will be interviewed at the Atlantic National Angus Show Friday May 27, between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Applicants will find out if they have been selected for the Merit Award during the awards presentation prior to the selection of Grand Champion Female on Sunday.

To qualify for the scholarship you must:

1. Be an active participant or exhibitor at a previous Atlantic National Show;

2. Be an active member of NJAA or the American Angus Association;

3. Be a high school graduate or senior in good standing;

4. Be no older than 25 years of age as of January 2011; and

5. Must be available for a personal interview Friday, May 27, at 8 am. Applicants are asked to wait right outside the Show office for direction from the Scholarship Committee. Applicants should be present during the open show to see if they receive an award.

The Atlantic National Angus Show takes place every Memorial Day Weekend, and this year is the 25th Anniversary of the Show.

— Release by Atlantic National Scholarship Committee.

GIPSA Settles Two Cases Resulting in $4,575 in Civil Penalties

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) enforcement rules provide a mechanism to quickly resolve violations of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act. GIPSA may offer an alleged violator the option of waiving their right to a hearing and entering into a stipulation agreement to quickly resolve alleged violations.

GIPSA recently settled two cases resulting in $4,575 in civil penalties.

• T. Kenneth Emery, Chester Springs, Pa., waived his right to a hearing, entered into a stipulation agreement, and paid a penalty of $3,500 after GIPSA found that he had failed to pay when due.
• Toby Meyer, dba M&M Cattle and Cody Murray and Toby Meyer Order Buyer LLC, dba M&M Cattle and Toby Meyer Order Buyer LLC, Sylvan Grove, Kan., waived their right to a hearing, entered into a stipulation agreement, and paid a penalty of $1,075 after GIPSA found that they failed to pay when due.

The P&S Act is a fair trade practice and payment protection law that promotes fair and competitive marketing environments for the livestock, meat, and poultry industries.

— Release by USDA.

— Compiled by Shauna Rose Hermel and Linda Robbins, Angus Productions Inc.