News Update
April 1, 2013
Angus Association Seeks Applicants
for the Next Junior Breed Ambassador
Angus cattle play a role in every aspect of Lauren Adcock’s life. From the farm to the showring, and the classroom and into the working world, the Moweaqua, Ill., native is a prime example of how National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members are using their talents to promote the breed.
This year more than ever, the Angus business is the center of her attention. Adcock is the first-ever Angus Ambassador and has travelled across the country in the past year representing the Angus breed at major beef industry conferences.
“It is a year of unforgettable experiences,” Adcock says. “I gained a wealth of knowledge from an industry and personal standpoint; information I could not have learned in a classroom.”
“The Ambassador program is designed to allow our young Angus leaders a chance to get involved early in higher levels of the cattle business,” says Robin Ruff, American Angus Association director of junior activities. “This is a great opportunity for youth to get their foot in the door and create a network in the industry they are passionate about.”
On July 25, the Association will select a new Angus Ambassador to serve for a one-year term. During that time, the Ambassador will travel to the Association headquaters for an orientation in Saint Joseph, Mo.; the National Angus Conference and Tour in New York; a Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Building Blocks Seminar in Wooster, Ohio; the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn.; the Beef Improvement Federation Annual Research Symposium and Convention; and the Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders Conference in Canada. Additional travel options vary depending on the selected ambassador’s location, schedule and availability.
Ambassador applicants must be American Angus Association members, ages 17-20 as of Jan. 1, of good standing and who own purebred cattle. To apply, send a cover letter, résumé and two essay responses. More information on the application process can be found online.
All applications must be postmarked by June 15 and sent to the Association’s Junior Activities Department, 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506.
OSU Extension, OARDC Offer Beef Cattle
Artificial Insemination School April 30-May 2
Beef cattle producers who want boost their profit potential by increasing their success with artificial insemination can attend a school on the subject April 30 through May 2, taught by Ohio State University (OSU) Extension and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) experts.
The three-day program covers a broad range of artificial insemination topics including factors that influence reproduction efficiencies, heat synchronization, and semen handling and thawing, said Clif Little, OSU Extension educator in agriculture and natural resources.
The techniques taught at the school are important for beef cattle producers because they can influence how effectively a producer will succeed with artificial insemination, Little said.
“One reason we do this school is because it allows small cow-calf producers to bring in superior genetics to improve performance,” he said. “Using this technology for artificial insemination will allow producers to need fewer bulls or no bulls at all on their farms.”
Producers will learn the basics of utilizing expected progeny differences, techniques for artificial insemination, semen handling, reproductive anatomy and physiology and estrous synchronization, Little said.
Participants will also practice artificial insemination on live cows, he said.
The school will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station, 16870 Township Road 126, in Belle Valley. Registration is $80 and includes all materials and lunch daily. The deadline to register is April 26 and the class is limited to 20 participants.
For more information or to register, contact Little at 740-489-5300 or by email at little.16@osu.edu. For the full release, click here.
Zoetis and American Association of
Bovine
Practitioners Announce Call for
Applications
for Veterinary Student Scholarships
For the fifth year, Zoetis and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) Foundation are teaming up to award scholarships to deserving bovine veterinary students. Applications are now being accepted for the 2013 AABP Foundation–Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarships.
The AABP Foundation–Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarships are funded through a unique partnership with veterinarians, animal health suppliers and dealers. Scholarships are awarded to bovine veterinary students to help offset the cost of veterinary school. In 2012, 15 students each received $5,000 scholarships through the AABP Foundation–Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Fund, for a total of $385,000 in awards in four years.
“Each year, we’re excited to learn about the future leaders of the veterinary profession. Students should take advantage of this opportunity to reduce their debt and focus on their studies,” says M. Gatz Riddell Jr., executive vice president of AABP.
“While reviewing applications, AABP and Zoetis look to support well-rounded veterinary students — those that not only excel in the classroom and clinical work but are also involved in industry-related activities rise to the top of our list.”
Scholarship applicants must be students graduating with their veterinary degree in 2014 and enrolled in colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. Eligible veterinary students can visit www.foundation.aabp.org/zoetis for additional details regarding the scholarship program and to access the online application form.
Applications must be submitted via the AABP website by June 15. Membership in college chapters of AABP or Food Animal Club is strongly encouraged.
The scholarship program is administered by the AABP Foundation with the assistance of the Amstutz Scholarship Committee. Scholarship recipients will be notified prior to the 2013 AABP Annual Conference, which is Sept. 19-21, 2013, in Milwaukee, Wis. To receive recognition, scholarship recipients will be encouraged to attend the AABP Annual Conference, with expenses paid, but attendance is not required to receive the scholarship.
Chicago Food Dialogues
The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), funded in part by the beef checkoff, recently announced the dates and locations for its next round of panel discussions designed to answer Americans’ questions on some of today’s most provocative issues surrounding food. The two-part series will take place in Chicago, with the first panel discussion taking place Monday, April 22, at the BIO International Convention, and the second taking place Wednesday, June 19, at Kendall College.
Both events will stream live online from www.fooddialogues.com, click here to learn more.
High Plains Ranch Practicum Now Taking
Applications for 2013-2014 Class in Kimball, Neb.
A national award-winning livestock extension program is again being offered for 2013-2014, beginning in June and concluding in January 2014.
The High Plains Ranch Practicum School is an in-depth ranch management school hosted jointly by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) Extension and the University of Wyoming Extension.
Enrollment is limited to 35. Participants must submit an application form by May 3.
For additional information or to obtain an application, contact UNL Extension Educator Aaron Berger at 308-235-3122 or aberger2@unl.edu, UW Extension Educator Dallas Mount at 307-322-3667 or dmount@uwyo.edu, or visit the website at http://HPRanchPracticum.com.
The High Plains Ranch Practicum is an eight-day, four-session hands-on educational program designed to give participants the skills and application of management tools needed to be successful in today’s complex ranching industry, said Mount, an instructor in the program.
Sessions will be hosted in Kimball and on area ranches. The hands-on experiences combined with time in the class room help to solidify concepts learned in the Practicum. The course will focus on providing ranchers tools to understand and integrate four areas of ranch management: range and forage resources, integrating nutrition and reproduction, cost of production analysis and family working relationships.
“Ranchers able to integrate these four areas into decision-making will find they can use a systems approach to improve the long term profitability of the ranch operation,” said Berger, also one of the instructors.
Participants will benefit from instruction and current research in range livestock production, financial management and marketing systems from nationally recognized experts.
Mount said attendees enjoy the camaraderie with other participants, instructors and facilitators throughout the three seasons of the practicum.
“Friendships and exchanges of ideas among participants will be some of the most-valued aspects of the program,” he said. “High-quality educational materials are used in the program and include software, notebooks with laminated field guides and an outstanding collection of university publications.”
There is a $600 fee for individuals or $900 for a couple that covers materials, instructor costs and meal expenses. However, due to support through a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant, producer participants who complete the course requirements will receive a 50% tuition scholarship.
Missouri State Fair Exhibitor Information Now Online
The Missouri State Fair Online Premium Guide is now available, providing detailed information on competitions planned for the annual agriculture event Aug. 8-18 in Sedalia. The Guide includes show schedules, official rules and other details and is available now at www.mostatefair.com.
The 2013 Missouri State Fair will include several new competitions in addition to favorites from past years. Last year exhibitors showcased more than 28,000 entries. Fair Director Mark Wolfe is optimistic that the fair will experience similar numbers again this year, due in part to some of the new competitions.
“The air will include new opportunities for exhibitors in livestock and floriculture competitions,” Wolfe said. “Beefalo and Pinzgauer classes are new this year, as are an Open Meat Goat Carcass Show and a sweepstakes for the 4-H and FFA Carcass Shows.”
New shows in floriculture will include a 4-H and Youth Show, Hostas and Elephant Ears Show and Dried Flowers and Designs Show. These additions and other changes are available in the Online Premium Guide and through the competition updates page, click here.
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