News Update
December 6, 2013
Saddle & Sirloin Club Honors
2013 Inductee Dave Hawkins
The Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery is one of most unique art collections in the world, and the largest portrait gallery of its kind devoted to a single industry. It began in 1903, shortly after the founding of the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago. Industry leaders believed it was important to recognize individuals who had made significant contributions to the livestock business, and display their achievements to inspire the future generations to greater things.
Today, nearly 350 portraits are displayed in the West Wing of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. In this collection hangs a wide representation of animal agriculture — including educators, publishers, editors, judges and breeders.
Dave Hawkins’ first trip to the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery was in 1956. His parents took him to the Chicago International, and together they made a tour around the famous portraits hanging on the walls, each depicting a lifetime of service to the livestock industry.
More than a half a century later, Hawkins is now among those given the ultimate recognition for his efforts.
“Seeing the gallery really made an impression on me that day,” Hawkins says. “To think that I have been able to put together a career to be eligible for not only for consideration, but also selection is an unimaginable honor.”
On Nov. 17, the industry celebrated Hawkins career during a special presentation of the 2013 Saddle and Sirloin Portrait Award, held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Angus Foundation Recognizes Lifetime Donors
At the core of the Angus Foundation there is a myriad of supporters who believe wholeheartedly in advancing the next generation. These donors are the strength of the Angus Foundation who provide inspiration and remind youth to reach for the sky.
To say thank you to the generous donors who have, over the lifetime of the Angus Foundation, contributed $25,000 or more, the Angus Foundation this year launched the lifetime donors recognition program.
More than 80 individuals, families and companies were applauded for their commitment during the annual Donor Recognition Event Nov. 16 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, Ky., in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).
“With each passing year of the Angus Foundation, Angus breeders and allied industry leaders recognize the increasing value of the Foundation and take ownership of the organization’s future through their charitable giving,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “For all of their charitable support, the Angus Foundation conveys its heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported and will in the future.”
These contributions have enabled the Foundation to provide even more support for the future of the Angus breed. In fact, in fiscal year 2013 alone, Angus Foundation revenue eclipsed $2 million — a first for the organization. These accumulative totals include outright cash gifts, sale-proceed amounts of gift-in-kind items for both donors and buyers, and those planned giving commitments available for public disclosure.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Genomics Test Strategies Explored
Every day, bulls and breeding stock are selected with the help of genomic tools. Whether producers know it or not, DNA testing affects most cow herds by way of their seedstock suppliers.
Those who are more intentional about it are reaping the benefits.
“I am still a big believer in making visual appraisal on phenotype, but the main thing that you’re doing there is for soundness,” says Sam Hands of Triangle H, near Garden City, Kan. His family operates a cow herd and feedlot where they have retained ownership of calves for 40 years. They use all the data for culling the herd, so when Hands got DNA results back on some of his mature females he says he was shocked.
They used GeneMax™ (GMX) to evaluate their potential for gain and grade, which is ranked on a scale from 1 to 99.
“As we went through this herd, I was happy we had 60% to 70% of them, but it was a good 10% that, I’m embarrassed to say, snuck by me,” Hands says, noting their scores ran the whole gamut from 1 to 99.
“The younger ones in the herd were mostly at the upper end, so at least that told me that my genetic source was doing a good job,” he says, yet it still bothered him to see those low scores. “They were counterfeits.”
Hands says this could help producers sort cattle from home first, generating a pool that they can select from. In his case, Hands is looking for the ones that will make the most money in the feedlot.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Official Complaint Filed Against Humane Society
of the U.S. for Violating IRS Rules
On Dec. 4, the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) announced that it has filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) calling for an investigation into years of incorrect tax returns filed by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The complaint comes on the heels of a new report by the independent charity watchdog CharityWatch, which finds that HSUS improperly inflated its revenue for at least three years in violation of IRS instructions.
According to CharityWatch, HSUS has counted donated PSA airtime as revenue despite the fact that “reporting donated PSAs in the financial statements of charity tax filings violates IRS reporting rules.” This revenue-inflation scheme allows HSUS to appear more financially efficient to the public and to be spending more on its programs than it really is. HSUS reported a massive $17.7 million in donated PSAs in 2011 and $15.7 million in 2010. In addition to 2010 and 2011, HSUS counted donated PSAs as revenue in its 2008 and 2009 tax returns.
IRS regulations provide that organizations can be fined $100 per day, up to $50,000, for filing a tax return with “incorrect information.”
Tellingly, HSUS did not continue this alleged impropriety in 2012 — but only after the issue had been made public. “By discontinuing this practice in 2012, HSUS implicitly acknowledges that there is at least some legitimacy to our claim, to say the least,” said Will Coggin, senior research analyst for the Center for Consumer Freedom in Washington, D.C. “Not only that, but HSUS also decreased its 2011 revenue by $17.7 million to reflect this change in accounting practices. If the return was already correct, why make the change?”
For more information, please view the full release here.
NCBA Announces Impressive Speaker Lineup
for 2014 Cattle Industry Convention
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is pleased to announce the lineup of speakers for the 2014 Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Captain Richard Phillips will kick off the convention with keynote remarks during the general opening session, scheduled for Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. and sponsored by Boehringher Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc.
Captain Richard Phillips is the inspiration for the movie, Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. The movie is based on Phillips’s book, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs and Dangerous Days at Sea, a fascinating and suspenseful recounting of the first hijacking of a U.S. ship in more than 200 years.
General Session II, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health, takes place Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. and features all-American and NFL quarterback Archie Manning, who transcends his athletic achievements. People far and wide have been inspired by his warm personality, his drive and sense of humor.
Recognized as a 14-year veteran quarterback and father of two Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli, Manning believes the greatest rewards don’t come from winning the game — they come from playing the game. His other principles for success are leadership, depending on others and being flexible. Manning takes these lessons, along with countless others, to inspire audiences to achieve greatness in their journey for personal and professional success.
“Convention attendees can expect inspirational and thought-provoking speeches from each of our keynote speakers,” said NCBA President Scott George. “We are thrilled to have Captain Phillips and Archie Manning join us in Nashville to help set the tone for a productive and engaging week ahead.”
For more information, please view the NCBA Convention page here.
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