News Update
March 10, 2015
Never Too Late to Improve
Arizona rancher Chuck Backus understands that it’s never too late to make genetic improvements. He started AI-ing his cows to Angus bulls as a way to enhance carcass quality, while also keeping his cattle adaptable in the challenging desert climate.
“After seven years now, and getting 80 percent of the calves qualified for Certified Angus Beef, you can do it. If I can do it in Arizona, anybody can do it anywhere,” Backus says.
How did he accomplish his goal? Find out in this week’s The Angus Report.
Katy Kemp to Represent Angus
at Young Cattlemen’s Conference
The Angus Foundation has selected Katy Kemp of Bridgeport, Texas, to represent the American Angus Association and the Angus breed during the 2015 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) May 27 to June 5.
One of the industry’s most esteemed conferences, YCC allows young leaders the chance to see firsthand the complete beef production chain and further understand all aspects of the business. Attendees participate in a nationwide tour from the ranch to the feedlot, and the packing plant through to foodservice.
The Angus Foundation, which has sponsored an attendee for the last 13 years, will sponsor Kemp’s registration and travel expenses. To qualify for participation, a man or woman must be nominated by one of NCBA’s affiliate members, be between the ages of 25 and 50, and be an NCBA member.
“All credit for our ability to support an Angus representative each year to YCC goes to our supporters who see the importance of investing in our future,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president.
Kemp has been an active member of both the American Angus Association and the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). She graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Oklahoma State University. In addition, she also serves as an industry information intern for Certified Angus Beef and maintains the marketing and communications for ABS Global’s beef division.
Kemp was the junior activities intern for the American Angus Association in 2007 and also participated in Beef Leaders Institute in 2011.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Western National
The 63rd Western National Angus Futurity (WNAF) and 42nd Western Regional Junior Angus Show will be April 15-19 at the Reno Livestock Events Center, Reno, Nev. The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino will serve as the headquarters hotel.
Cattle must be checked in by noon Friday, April 17. Randy Daniel of Colbert, Ga., will judge the junior regional on Saturday. Jack Ward of Plattsburg, Mo., will evaluate the WNAF open classes on Sunday. Other activities include the Western States queen competition, junior showmanship contest, educational program, junior social, WNAF Committee meeting, and both board and general membership meetings of the Western States Angus Association.
Additional details are available on the website. For more information, contact Rod Wesselman, WNAF show manager, at PO Box 746, Moses Lake, WA 98837; info@wnaf.org; or 509-750-2185.
Educator Scholarships Help Encourage Agriculture Literacy
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has recognized 10 educators for their exceptional efforts to encourage agricultural literacy. The educators will each receive $1,500 scholarships to attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Louisville, Ky., June 16-20. The Foundation, through the White-Reinhardt Fund for Education, sponsors the scholarships in cooperation with the American Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Committee.
This year’s recipients are: Sarahbeth Belvado, Jack Barnes Elementary, Mesa, Ariz.; Stacy Deveau, University of Arizona, Yavapai County Cooperative Extension, Prescott, Ariz.; Kevin Duplissie, Child Study Center University of Maine, Brewer, Maine; Robin Halicki, Mary Lou Cowlishaw Elementary School, Naperville, Ill.; Dawna Major, Cache County School District, Avon, Utah; Kathy McLean, Trimble Elementary, Newbern, Tenn.; Donald Meyer, Sauk County School District, Loganville, Wis.; Becky Panzer, School for Agricultural and Environmental Studies, Fox Lake, Wis.; Dianna Rose, Palm Lakes Elementary, Hialeah, Fla.; Andrea Seagraves, Stratford Academy, Musella, Ga.
Educators nationwide attend the conference to learn to incorporate real-life agricultural applications into science, social studies, language arts, math and nutrition lessons. Scholarship recipients were judged on past use of innovative programs to educate students about agriculture, as well as future plans to implement information gained at the AITC conference in their own lesson plans and share the information with other teacher and volunteer educators.
The AITC conference joins a diverse group of organizations and speakers to address how to improve agricultural education and literacy, showcase successful programs and offer educational materials. The Agriculture Department coordinates the AITC program with the goal of helping students gain a greater awareness of the role of agriculture in the economy and society.
The American Farm Bureau Federation and state Farm Bureaus also support and participate in the program’s efforts. The White-Reinhardt Fund for Education honors two former American Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee chairwomen, Berta White and Linda Reinhardt, who were leaders in early national efforts to educate about agriculture and improve agricultural literacy.
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