News Update
December 11, 2012
Matching Gift Challenge Encourages
Angus Members to Support the Angus Foundation
In this season of giving, Angus breeder and commercial producer Mark Milano of Milano Land & Cattle Co. LLC, Tehachapi, Calif., will generously make available to the Angus Foundation a $10,000 matching gift in support of the Faces of Progress annual fund drive to raise unrestricted funds for youth, education and research. This matching fund offer will expire Jan. 31, 2013.
To participate and help the Angus Foundation receive these matching funds, make your unrestricted charitable gift, before Jan. 31, to the Angus Foundation. The deadline of Jan. 31 has been set to give individuals time to support this matching funds campaign and contribute in the year they deem most fitting for their financial and tax situation. All unrestricted outright cash gifts made in response to the Faces of Progress will count toward this matching offer. Upon achieving the $10,000 benchmark, the Angus Foundation will receive the matching funds from Milano Land & Cattle Co. LLC, to move the Foundation significantly closer to the $50,000 annual fund goal this year.
You can help Angus Foundation with your tax-deductible gift before Jan. 31, by sending a check to the Angus Foundation at 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. You can also make your contribution online by credit or debit card at www.angusfoundation.org, or by calling 816-383-5100.
Accelerated Genetics Sets Dates
for 2013 Leadership Conference
Producers interested in learning new things and networking with others should check out Accelerated Genetics’ Leadership Conference. This year’s event will take place March 15-17, 2013, in Warrens, Wis., at the Three Bears Resort. The conference goal is to “Develop Leaders Who Deliver Results.”
Accelerated Genetics has specifically tailored the Leadership Conference for persons who would like to improve leadership skills, participate in educational activities, network with other producers and have good time doing it. Speakers Jolene Brown, Stan Erwine, and Eliz Greene will be featured at the conference, along with other educational and fun-filled sessions designed to help producers manage and lead their family, farm and cooperative in the future.
The Leadership Conference is for emerging agricultural leaders who are positioned to lead the farm business and agricultural industry in the future. The event is designed for persons who have not previously attended.
More details about the Leadership Conference are available by clicking here.
To make reservations for the Leadership Conference, call 1-800-451-9275 or e-mail ProducerProgram@accelgen.com by Feb. 18, 2013. Register early, as the conference’s capacity is limited to 80 producers.
Three-day Training School to
Teach the Latest and Best Methods of AI
The ABS Global AI Management School offers students the opportunity to learn AI techniques and herd management under skilled supervision at Athens Georgia Northeast (NE) Georgia Livestock Auction, January 19-21, 2013, from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. The curriculum includes anatomy and reproduction, reproduction and fertility, heat detection, nutrition, principles of genetics and sire selection, herd management success, semen placement, and insemination practice. Also, synchronization of beef cattle and planned breeding of dairy heifers will be introduced. This is a comprehensive course consisting of 24 hours of instruction: 14 hours in the classroom and 10 hours in lab working with cattle. The classroom will be at NE GA Livestock Livestock Cafeteria at 1200 Winterville Rd., Athens, GA 30605. The lab work will be at NE GA Livestock Pens, Athens, Ga.
Registration fee is $350 for adults and $300 for college and high school students. This covers the cost of supplies and practice cows used at the school. This program is limited to 15 students in order to ensure as much one-to-one help during practice as possible. Therefore, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. We offer a $50 discount on the 2nd or 3rd attendee from the same family or farm operation.
Complete the form and return it with a check for the appropriate amount payable to Allen Southard at 5040 Hwy 52, Gillsville, GA 30543, or he can be reached at 678-617-2945.
Special note: Due to current cattle prices and limited availability of cows, all forms and fees must be received by Allen Southard by Jan. 10, 2013.
NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award Calls for Entries
The 23rd annual Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) has officially opened its nomination season for 2013. Established in 1991 by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the program has recognized the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers for more than two decades. Regional and national award winners are honored for their commitment to protecting the environment and improving fish and wildlife habitat while operating profitable cattle businesses.
Seven regional winners and one national winner are selected annually by a committee of representatives from universities, conservation organizations, and federal and state agencies. The nominees compete for regional awards based on their state of residency, and these seven regional winners then compete for the national award. Candidates are judged on management of water, wildlife, vegetation, soil, as well as the nominee’s leadership and the sustainability of his or her business as a whole.
“Environmental stewardship and conservation have long been the focus of farmers and ranchers, who are America’s foremost land stewards,” said NCBA President J.D. Alexander. “Responsible use of land and resources is a priority for cattlemen and women. The ESAP award highlights efforts by producers who are committed to conservation and sustainability efforts.”
For more information and the full release, click here.
MU Extension Livestock Specialist
Shows Youth the World of Agriculture
As a livestock specialist and a mother, Heather Smith is interested in how children perceive agriculture.
Most people are generations removed from the farm, says Smith, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Callaway County. That’s why she has been presenting the program “Ag in My World” to elementary school students.
“They don’t understand the scope of agriculture and everything it entails,” Smith said. “I think it is important for us to educate our youth about agriculture and the jobs and the products we get from agriculture so they have a better understanding of where their food comes from.”
A pilot program began during the summer, when Smith reached more than 400 summer school students through Columbia Public Schools’ Adventure Club after-school program. Smith says it was very well received and has continued into the regular school year.
In addition to the Adventure Club programs, she has visited Fatima Elementary School in Westphalia and a home school association in Columbia. “I’m also talking to a school in Jefferson City and the home school association of Callaway County, so it is growing,” Smith said.
During summer school, Smith did programs for kindergarten through fifth grade. She says it is really hard to do a program to reach all those grade levels, so during the regular school year she has cut it down to kindergarten through second grade for fall semester and then will present to third- to fifth-graders next semester.
For more information and the full release, click here.
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