News Update
July 12, 2011

Congratulations to the NJAA/Angus Journal Photo Contest Winner

Congratulations to Grady Dickerson of Paradise, Kan., for winning the 2011 National Junior Angus Association/Angus Journal Photo Contest. Grady’s Junior Division entry first won the Angus Cattle Category before being named the top junior photo, and then the top overall photo.

We’ve uploaded galleries of the winning photos to our Angus Journal Facebook page. Visit www.facebook.com/AngusJournal to see all the winning entries and editor’s picks. Don’t forget to “like” our page while you’re there and continue to monitor the American Angus Association, National Junior Angus Association, American Angus Auxiliary and Angus Journal on Facebook this week for more news of the 2011 National Junior Angus Show.

Sydenstricker Genetics to Donate 2012 Angus Foundation Heifer

The Angus Foundation announced that Eddie and Connie Sydenstricker, owners of Sydenstricker Genetics of Mexico, Mo., will donate the 2012 Angus Foundation Heifer, set to sell in January 2012 at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS)
in Denver, Colo.

SydGen Forever Lady 9525 is the special heifer chosen from the 78 fall-bred replacement heifers at Sydenstricker Genetics. She is a September 2009 daughter of SydGen 928 Destination 5420. The female herself recorded the No. 1 weaning weight expected progeny difference (EPD), the No. 2 yearling weight EPD and the No. 1 $B index at the time of selection. She also posted the highest adjusted intramuscular fat (IMF) scan of the entire heifer calf crop, with a ratio of 143.

Expected to calve in September 2011, this heifer is bred to SydGen Dealer 9883, a son of SydGen Sure BET and maternal brother to SydGen Trust 6228.

“Eddie and Connie Sydenstricker have been long-time supporters of the Angus Foundation, and it’s truly an honor for our organization to further merit their confidence, endorsement and support through their donation of this outstanding Angus female,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president, noting the heifer was selected from the heart of the Sydenstricker’s fall 2009 replacement females.

Eddie was the first president of the first state junior Angus association ever formed, and he’s never forgotten his start — a start that’s encouraged him to give back to the breed.

“The Angus breed has been very good to Connie and me, and our daughters Kim and Lee Ann, and giving back through the Angus Foundation ensures that strong tradition of outstanding youth and education programs,” Sydenstricker says. “2012 will mark our 60th year breeding Angus cattle, so this donation is a fitting way to kick off our diamond anniversary.”

Ben Eggers, manager of Sydenstricker Genetics, says this elite heifer reflects the production goals of the operation and offers a balanced package to auction in 2012.

“This female exemplifies our mission statement, combining soundness and fertility with growth, productivity and superior carcass traits,” Eggers says. “To add to her value, she will be the very first Foundation Heifer to sell with a calf already at side.”

The sale of the Angus Foundation Heifer Package, an annual fundraising tradition initiated in 1980, supports the Angus Foundation, the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Angus Association that funds and supports programs involving education, youth and research in the Angus breed and agricultural industry.

For more information on the Angus Foundation Heifer Package, contact Angus Foundation President Milford Jenkins at 816-383-5100 or Sydenstricker Genetics at 573-581-1225.

— Adapted from release by Katie Allen for the Angus Foundation.

Advisor to National FFA Organization Named

The U.S. Department of Education has selected Steve Brown as national advisor of the National FFA Organization and chairman of the national FFA board of directors.

Brown is now responsible for providing catalytic leadership for FFA and will serve as chairman of the board. He’ll also advise national FFA officers, delegates and committees on policy matters and serve as an ex-officio member of all FFA committees. Brown will also review all applications for the American FFA Degree, awarded to students who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to and accomplishment within FFA.

An educational program specialist in agriculture, food and natural resources sciences with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., Brown had served as national FFA executive secretary since 2008. In that role, he provided leadership for FFA and agricultural education while coordinating activities between the FFA’s board of directors and the National FFA Foundation’s board of trustees.

With more than 30 years of service to agricultural education, Brown has served as the Missouri state FFA executive secretary, district supervisor in agricultural education for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and was an FFA advisor at Macon Area Career and Technical Center in Macon, Mo., where he taught agricultural education.

Originally from Orrick, Mo., he received his doctorate in agricultural education and both his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He and wife Rhonda currently reside in Alexandria, Va., and have four daughters and three grandchildren.

Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization provides agricultural education to more than 523,000 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,487 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

— Adapted from release by the National FFA Organization.

National Cowgirl Museum Receives Teacher’s Choice Award

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame has been awarded the 2011 Teacher’s Choice Award for content in the Best American History Museum category for distance learning. The museum delivered programs to more than 16,000 students nationwide; more students than any other participating museum or organization.

“Teachers continually search for programs that engage their students in ways they have not experienced,” said Diana Vela, museum director of education and exhibits. “The museum is truly honored to have been recognized by the educators we work to serve and we commend the efforts of Director of School Services Cindi Collins for her accomplishments.”

One of the most successful programs involved collaboration between the museum and the Dublin, Texas, based Sierra Dairy, through a live videoconference. More than 4,000 students experienced this event, the largest audience in the state for video conferencing.

Video conferencing provides live interaction between the classroom and a remote site. Students are able to see the host site and interrelate — as if they were in a live classroom. The museum offers nearly two dozen video conferencing programs, ranging from topics that cover social studies to courses on math and science. All courses are aligned with the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills curriculum).

Cindi Collins, the museum’s director of school services, content developer and deliverer for all programs provided by the museum noted that, “The success of this program has been phenomenal. The Vander Horst family was very accommodating — and we are getting requests for another program live from the dairy.” 

Through video conferencing, students get an authentic taste for the lives of women who were the early change agents in American history. Among the video conferences offered, students can learn about science by sorting, classifying and discovering how the basics of science play a role in the life of a rancher, or they can discover the story of the women of the American West during the late 19th and early 20th centuries who displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trail blazing efforts. While they’re at it, students learn that “cowgirl” is a word that is broadly construed and incorporates many people who all played a role in the West — from artists to ranchers.  

— Adapted from release by The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.

Enter Accelerated Genetics 2011 Photo Contest

Accelerated Genetics has two new themes for you to try your photography skills on for its 2011 Photo Contest: ‘Calves’ and ‘In Their Environment.’ Gift cards will be awarded for top entries in both categories.

Calf pictures should be of dairy or beef calves in any location: hutches, calf barns, on pasture, at the fair, etc. Calves must be relatively clean. Action shots are preferred. For the “In Their Environment” division, entrants should be of beef or dairy cows and/or calves “in their environment”: in freestall barns, on pasture, in the milking parlor, on a drylot, etc. Animals must be relatively clean. Action shots are preferred. Photos may include people.

All photos entered should be color. Digital images are preferred and need to be sent as a high-resolution (300 dpi) JPEG image with photo size at 8 inches (in.) by 10 in or larger. Digital images can be sent via email or on a CD. If you send a printed photograph, please make sure the image is printed from a photo center, as at-home printers do not print high enough quality photographs that can be utilized in print. Printed photographs will only be accepted at the sizes of 5x7-in. or 8x10-in. Other photo sizes will not be considered for the contest.

The entry deadline is Sept. 1, 2011. For each photo entered, please include name, address, phone, location photo was taken, photo title and photo category. Then send your entries to: Accelerated Genetics, Kelly Kendall, E10890 Penny Ln., Baraboo, WI 53913 or email kkendall@accelgen.com. If you have any questions, please call 1-800-451-9275 ext. 5423. All entries submitted will become the property of Accelerated Genetics and could be used in future publications or projects. Photographs will not be returned, so remember to make a copy for yourself.

— Adapted from a release by Accelerated Genetics.

AgriVisor, Doane and ProFarmer offering Crossover Insight Program

AgriVisor LLC, Doane Advisory Services, and ProFarmer have partnered to offer the Crossover Insight program, enabling row crop producers to diversify the way they manage price risk at participating elevators. 

“Grain marketing has never been more treacherous than in the current environment,” said Clayton Pope, manager, AgriVisor LLC. “We feel strongly that diversification of risk should be a key element of any risk management plan. This is an excellent vehicle to provide for such diversification, and what better way is there than to tap into the expertise of three of the industry’s key advisory firms?”

In the program, producers forward contract a certain number of bushels through any of the three participating analysts, who then use their individual strategies to determine when to sell the grain. Each time a sale is made, producers will receive a voice message explaining how much was sold and the reason why.

“Marketing grain can be stressful with today’s volatility,” said Cory Winstead, AgriVisor senior MaxVisor field representative. “With the Crossover Insight program, farmers are utilizing professional analysts to make the decisions on pricing enrolled bushels.” 

Producers who enroll in the Crossover Insight program by Aug. 31 will be covered by the “Rainy Days” promotion, which provides a 1¢ discount per bushel off the cost of the program for each day in April 2012 that receives more than 1.5 inches of rain. 

“Weather is the single most unpredictable risk that farmers face,” said Graham Utter, AgriVisor senior risk manager. “AgriVisor has a way to protect that risk through the use of weather derivatives. The Rainy Days promotion is a zero cost way all producers who enroll in the 2012 Insight Program can get a taste of how weather derivatives work.”

A series of meetings are planned during July, August, and September. Representatives from AgriVisor, Doane, and Pro Farmer will present their opinions of today’s markets and where they are heading in the future. To enroll in one of these meetings, contact your local elevator for more information. 

— Adapted from a release from AgPR.

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