News Update
June 10, 2011

Angus Juniors Recognized as BEST Winners

The 2010-2011 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) Program wrapped up on June 4 with its Annual Awards Banquet at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Several representatives of the program’s sponsoring partners were on hand to help with the presentation of more than $25,000 worth of awards in the form of U.S. Savings Bonds, luggage, jackets, cowhide tables, belt buckles and show materials. This year’s sponsoring partners included Bob Evans, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Green Oak Farms, M.H. Eby and the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. In addition, a BEST participant was awarded the use for the 2011-2012 BEST season of an 8-foot (ft.) x 26-ft. livestock trailer donated by Eby Trailers. The winner was drawn from more than 3,000 entries based on the number of shows and entries each participant had throughout the November through April show season.

The 2010-2011 BEST program featured 16 sanctioned shows and weaved its way across the state, from as far west as Greene County to as far east as Tuscarawas County. More than 415 head of cattle and more than 310 youth were entered in the program. 

The champion Angus heifer belongs to Kerrie Miller of Wapakoneta, Ohio. Kerrie’s heifer, SCC Queen Beyonce 023, is a Feb. 6, 2010, daughter of BC Lookout 7024. Cade Sterzbach of Louisville, Ohio, bred the heifer. For her accomplishments, she received an engraved belt buckle and a $200 savings bond sponsored by the Ohio Angus Association. Kerrie is the daughter of Ron and Kellie Miller.   

The reserve champion Angus heifer belongs to Brook Roberts of Mount Gilead, Ohio. Brook’s heifer, Cooper’s Miss Dunn C14X, is a Jan. 17, 2010, daughter of SAV Wall Street 7091 and was also named the reserve champion bred-and-owned heifer. For her accomplishments, she received an engraved belt buckle, embroidered jacket and a $100 savings bond sponsored by the Ohio Angus Association. Brook is the daughter of Mark and April Cooper.

One other Angus heifer was also recognized at the banquet. Aimee Bockelman, Napoleon, Ohio, exhibited the fifth overall novice heifer and third overall bred-and-owned heifer. DBCCN Miss 1044 is a Jan. 31, 2010, daughter of DC Big Block 507. For her accomplishments she received a cowhide table and embroidered jacket. Aimee is the daughter of Mark and Patty Bockelman.

The champion Angus steer was exhibited by Brook Roberts of Mount Gilead, Ohio. Brook’s steer, Cooper’s Traveler 004 104, is sired by Advance Mid 884 30T and was also named the champion bred-and-owned steer. For her accomplishments, Brook received an engraved belt buckle, embroidered jacket and a $200 savings bond sponsored by the Ohio Angus Association. Brook is the daughter of Mark and April Cooper.

Tylor Cooper of Mount Gilead, Ohio, exhibited the reserve champion Angus steer. Tylor’s steer, Cooper’s Pride C27, is sired by Advance Mid 884 30T and was bred by Cooper Angus Farms, Mount Gilead, Ohio. For Tylor’s accomplishments, he received an engraved belt buckle and a $100 savings bond sponsored by the Ohio Angus Association. Tylor is the son of Tammy and Mike Cooper.

BEST is a youth program of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors through a series of shows. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placing at each show. The OCA BEST program promotes educating Ohio’s juniors about the beef industry’s issues and rewards the successful accomplishments and hard work of those junior beef producers. For further information call Stephanie Sindel at 614-873-6736.

— Release by Ohio Cattlemen’s Association.

Obama Administration Establishes White House Rural Council to Strengthen Rural Communities

The White House announced June 9 the establishment of the first White House Rural Council. While rural communities face challenges, they also present economic potential. To address these challenges, build on the Administration’s rural economic strategy, and improve the implementation of that strategy, the President signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Rural Council. 

“Strong rural communities are key to a stronger America,” said President Barack Obama. “That’s why I’ve established the White House Rural Council to make sure we’re working across government to strengthen rural communities and promote economic growth.”  

The White House Rural Council will coordinate programs across government to encourage public-private partnerships to promote further economic prosperity and quality of life in rural communities nationwide. Chaired by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the Council will be responsible for providing recommendations for investment in rural areas and will coordinate Federal engagement with a variety of rural stakeholders, including agricultural organizations, small businesses, and state, local, and tribal governments.   

“Rural America makes significant contributions to the security, prosperity, and economic strength of our country,” said Vilsack. “The Rural Council announced by President Obama shows his continued focus on promoting economic opportunity, creating jobs, and enhancing the quality of life for those who live in rural America. Together with the rest of the Obama administration, USDA has worked to support families and businesses in rural communities so that their success will pay dividends for all Americans.”

In the coming months, the White House Rural Council will focus on job creation and economic development by increasing the flow of capital to rural areas, promoting innovation, expanding digital and physical networks, and celebrating opportunity through America’s natural resources.

The Council will begin discussing key factors for growth, including: 

• Jobs — Improve job training and workforce development in rural America
• Agriculture — Expand markets for agriculture, including regional food systems and exports
• Access to Credit — Increase opportunity by expanding access to capital in rural communities and fostering local investment
• Innovation — Promote the expansion of biofuels production capacity and community-based renewable energy projects
• Networks — Develop high-growth regional economies by capitalizing on inherent regional strengths
• Health Care — Improve access to quality health care through expansion of health technology systems
• Education — Increase post-secondary enrollment rates and completion for rural students
• Broadband — Support the President’s plan to increase broadband opportunities in rural America
• Infrastructure — Coordinate investment in critical infrastructure
• Ecosystem markets — Expanding opportunities for conservation, outdoor opportunities and economic growth on working lands and public lands

The Obama Administration has set goals of modernizing infrastructure by providing broadband access to 10 million Americans, expanding educational opportunities for students in rural areas, and providing affordable health care.

— Release by USDA.

Finding a Feedlot

When cow-calf producers add value through proper genetics and management, the best way to capture the value is to maintain an interest through the feedlot phase. Click here for a clip from Certified Angus Beef’s Paul Dykstra and Oklahoma State University’s Greg Highfill on how to find the right feedlot partner.

Colorado State University, East China Normal University Announce Joint Research Institute

Colorado State University (CSU) and East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai announced June 10 a Joint Research Institute for New Energy and the Environment that will capitalize on the strengths of the two institutions to develop new energy solutions and help deal with the impact of energy on climate, air quality, land use and water resources.

East China Normal University is one of Colorado State’s strategic partners in China with collaboration on student exchange programs and research initiatives in everything from music to clean energy.

“The partnerships we are pursuing with East China Normal University and other Chinese universities are built around common faculty research interests and shared global concerns — and are very much in keeping with the service mission of a land-grant university like CSU,” said Colorado State President Tony Frank. “Together, we are building an international alliance of scholars and scientists that is able to work across borders on some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today. Ultimately, this type of collaboration will benefit all nations and all people.”

“Finding solutions to some of the world’s most chronic, challenging problems in global sustainability requires partnerships beyond the laboratories and classrooms at Colorado State,” said Bill Farland, vice president for research.

“We must reach out to our strategic partners around the globe who share our expertise to carry out research for the benefit of our societies,” Farland said. “For example, ECNU mirrors our strength in several areas of energy and environmental research, including photovoltaics and scalable modeling of environmental issues. This collaboration could lead to important advances in science and technology in these areas.”

Frank signed the agreement with Lizhong Yu, president of ECNU, in Shanghai on Friday. Joining Frank and Farland on the trip from Colorado State:

• Jim Cooney, vice provost for International Affairs;
• Jim Sites, associate dean for Research in the College of Natural Sciences;
• Jan Leach, university distinguished professor in the College of Agricultural Sciences;
• Wei Gao, professor of Forest, Rangeland and Water Stewardship and director of China Initiatives;
• John Moore, director of the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory; and
• Bryan Willson, founder of CSU’s Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory.

Co-directors of the new Institute are Junhao Chu of ECNU and Willson of CSU; vice-director of the Institute is Wei Gao of CSU. Farland is co-chair of the JRI Advisory Committee, made up of CSU, ECNU and China’s State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs, or SAFEA, a group that met for the first time Thursday.

The joint institute will focus on science, technology, policy and education related to energy and the environment, said Willson, who also serves as director of the CSU Clean Energy Supercluster. About 150 faculty members at the university research various aspects of clean and renewable energy, with an even larger number working in the environmental field.

“On Thursday, the Chinese State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs indicated that this new partnership is so important that they will consider not only supporting the exchange of Chinese and U.S. faculty but they will also consider providing support for joint international projects between the universities,” Cooney said. “SAFEA is designating the ECNU-CSU Joint Research Institute as a 'special support sponsorship,' and SAFEA will work with the Institute to identify funding for international research projects.”

“Whether it is as competitors or collaborators, it is vitally important that our students and faculty understand what China means to this industry and what major changes are going to occur over the next decade,” said Willson, who is a frequent visitor to China as part of his ongoing research and outreach for university spinoffs generated from his laboratory. “We will work with ECNU to develop new energy solutions, but we can’t really talk about energy without also considering the impact on the environment — particularly on climate, air quality, land use and water resources.”

As part of its strategic plan, CSU is committed to growing areas of study that address global challenges and creating international partnerships to face those challenges. The university has sought like-minded institutions that share its vision and values for higher education in areas such as China, India, Mexico and Russia.

Colorado State has key strategic partners across China, Cooney said. In addition to East China Normal, those partners include Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Hunan University, China Agricultural University and Beijing Normal University.

In September, Colorado State’s Office of International Programs hosted an International Colloquium on China to showcase some of the university’s partnerships and research programs that directly address the challenges and opportunities facing China.

Last week, the university announced a new long-term agreement with Coca-Cola, which is expected to offer some new opportunities for additional research partnerships in China. The company has agreed to help facilitate faculty and student exchanges with Chinese universities in the areas of water resources, energy and environmental sustainability.

— Release by Colorado State University.

— Compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.