News Update
May 27, 2014
Jay Nordhausen Joins the American Angus Association
The American Angus Association welcomes Jay Nordhausen of Grant, Neb., as the new regional manager for Nebraska and Colorado. A talented young professional in the livestock industry, Nordhausen will play a significant role in helping Association members identify herd goals, learn new programs and services, and grow into the future.
“The Angus breed and the Association mean a great deal to the beef business,” Nordhausen says. “I look forward to being part of that tradition, and working with Angus cattlemen and their customers in my area.”
As a regional manager, Nordhausen will represent the Angus breed at various cattle events, sales, shows and other activities throughout the territory. Breeders are encouraged to ask him questions about Association programs and services or for help locating Angus seedstock. He can also advise producers on marketing opportunities available through the Association, including advertising through the Angus Journal and other avenues.
“Jay will be an outstanding asset for Angus breeders across the Midwest,” says Bryce Schumann, Association CEO. “His previous experience is a solid foundation for this new role, and I encourage breeders to reach out to him for the latest in programs and services from the Association.”
A native of Nebraska, Nordhausen graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a master’s degree in animal science and agricultural leadership. He served as a livestock buyer and broker at Wright Livestock Inc. in North Platte, Neb., where his responsibilities included buying and selling feeder cattle and bred cattle, and coordinating delivery dates and trucking accommodations between buyers and sellers.
Nordhausen also served as the interim head livestock judging coach at UNL for the 2012-2013 year. He coached students to compete at the highly competitive collegiate level and coordinated the Nebraska State FFA livestock judging contest for 575 contestants. He also recruited potential livestock judging team members and animal science students within Nebraska and throughout the Midwest.
Contact Nordhausen at jnordhausen@angus.org or 308-289-1548. He looks forward to getting to know more Angus breeders in the area and finding ways to be of service.
Angus Names Director of Information Systems
The American Angus Association has named Jason Kenyon its new director of information systems. Kenyon brings nearly 20 years experience in computer programming and management to the Association, which is constantly incorporating new technologies to improve service for its more than 25,000 members.
“Technology is always evolving and will not slow anytime soon,” Kenyon says. “I look forward to the new opportunities that arise and how we can apply those tools to help our members have everything they need at their fingertips — from cattle evaluation data to genetic test results.”
Kenyon joined the Association in 2005 as an information systems team member to help overhaul the internal database system and organization websites to adapt to the latest technology. Since that time he has been involved in many other key initiatives, including the launch of the weekly National Cattle Evaluation, the Angus Mobile smartphone app and the programming power behind genetic data reporting from Angus Genetics Inc.
“The user-friendly tools our members enjoy today are thanks to dedicated professionals like Jason, who understand how to integrate innovative technology into the cattle business,” says Bryce Schumann, Association CEO. “As these opportunities continue to grow, Angus programs and service will only be stronger.”
Kenyon will lead the information systems team at the Association and focus on enhancing both internal and external tools and applications to better serve Angus breeders and their customers. Looking long-term, he hopes to automate processes to achieve faster turn-around times, improve user experience online and evolve programming to meet member needs.
“When I first joined the Angus team, I was amazed at the amount of data we track and how we apply that information,” Kenyon says. “It is on par with what I’ve seen in my previous career experiences, including healthcare, in terms of the amount of data and the complexity of the process.”
Kenyon worked seven years with Western Auto in Kansas City, Mo., and then spent six years with United Health Group, starting as a senior software developer and moving up as a team leader over internal systems. He and his family have spent the last four years in Austin, Texas, and are looking forward to relocating to Kansas City.
Together with his wife, Kathi, they have four children, Ashley, Austin, Hunter and Emily.
Legislation Introduced to Ensure State Management of Sage Grouse
United States Representatives Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Rob Bishop (R-Utah) introduced legislation to the House May 22, along with Senator Enzi’s (R-Wyo.) companion legislation in the Senate, that would prohibit the Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) from listing the Greater or Gunnison Sage Grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 where a state management plan is in place. The Sage Grouse Protection and Conservation Act will allow for the protection of sage grouse habitat while balancing the needs of western citizens and their economies. If signed into law, this bill would require the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to approve or disapprove of a state sage grouse management plan 120 days after it is submitted.
Sage grouse are found in 11 states across the western United States and their habitat encompasses 186 million acres of both federal and private land. Public Lands Council (PLC) President Brice Lee said a listing would be devastating, leading to decreased agricultural production, outdoor recreation, and renewable and traditional forms of energy development, severely limiting multiple use on public lands.
“State and private landowners have already spent millions of dollars and a considerable amount of time developing management plans, improving habitat and implementing conservation measures,” said Lee, a Colorado rancher.
“Listing of the sage grouse under the ESA would undo all of this work and would have a negative impact not only on ranchers on both private and public lands, but on the sage grouse and its habitat,” said Lee.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President and Texas cattleman Bob McCan said this legislation is a step in the right direction to take wildlife management out of the hands of Washington D.C., bureaucrats and ensure it stays with local and state offices on the ground.
“Livestock grazing and wildlife habitat conservation are complementary efforts,” said McCan, “Ranchers care for the land and the natural resources their livelihoods depend on. The cattle and sage grouse benefit more from native grass and lush forage than endless lawsuits filed by special interest groups.”
As a result of a court settlement with radical environmental groups, the USFWS has a deadline of September 2015 to make a listing decision on the Greater Sage Grouse. PLC and NCBA urge members of Congress to co-sponsor this legislation to ensure management remains with the states where the best decisions for the sage grouse can be made.
For more information, please view the full release here.
AgriLife Extension Sets Range, Pasture Program in Coleman
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the 2014 Range and Pasture Management Program from 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. June 24 at the Bill Franklin Center in Coleman.
“This program is meant to update our producers on the new range-related technologies and programs now available to them,” said Michael Palmer, AgriLife Extension agent in Coleman County. “This type of program generally generates plenty of questions, so the beauty of this one will be our speakers who should be able to answer most, if not all the questions producers might have in their particular area of expertise.”
Individual registration is $10 for those who RSVP by June 17 and $20 thereafter. Payment is due upon arrival. The fees will include supper. For more information and to RSVP, call the AgriLife Extension office in Coleman County at 325-625-4519.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
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