News Update

May 20, 2015

Preparing for the NJAS Cook-Off

The All-American Certified Angus Beef® Cook-Off contest is a long-held tradition that provides a unique educational experience for junior Angus members. The popular competition at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) not only teaches youth about the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) product, but also how to communicate beef’s nutritional importance.

For juniors participating in the contest during the 2015 NJAS in Tulsa, Okla., the American Angus Auxiliary offers a few tips for preparing and showcasing their recipe to impress the judges.

“The first thing, besides learning about Certified Angus Beef, is to have fun,” says Anne Lampe, American Angus Auxiliary Cook-Off co-chair. “Think outside the box to come up with good recipes, skits and things that are different.”

More than 40 teams will compete in the Cook-Off, and six participants are entered in the Chef’s Challenge, which is an event open to both National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members and adults.

For more information on the All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off, visit the Auxiliary’s website or view the full news release.

— Adapted from a release by Sarah Harris, Angus Media.

House Ag Committee Approves Bill
to Repeal COOL Requirements

On May 20, the House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 2393, a bill to amend the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946, by a recorded vote of 38-6. A combination of 68 Democrats and Republicans joined Chairman K. Michael Conaway in introducing this bipartisan bill that will effectively repeal Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) requirements for beef, pork and chicken, while leaving intact the requirements for all other covered commodities.

“This bill is a targeted response that will remove uncertainty and restore stability for the United States by bringing us back into compliance,” Conaway said. “We must do all we can to avoid retaliation by Canada and Mexico, and this bill accomplishes that through full repeal of labeling requirements for beef, pork and chicken. We will continue working to get this to the House floor as quickly as possible to ensure our economy and a vast range of U.S. industries and the men and women who work for them do not suffer any economic implications of retaliation.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Philip Ellis applauded the committee’s action.

“Following the WTO’s ruling Monday, the next step for Canada and Mexico is retaliation, which could take place as early as this summer,” Ellis said. “The time to negotiate and consider alternatives is long past; COOL has been around in one form or another for over a decade without benefit, and now is time to act to repeal this broken legislation.”

For more information please view the full news releases from the House Ag Committee and NCBA.

— Adapted from a release by the House Ag Committee
and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Eastern Canada Manager of the Canadian Angus Association

The Canadian Angus Association (CAA) is pleased to announce that Cheryl Hazenberg has relocated to Ontario as the Eastern Canada Manager of the association. Effective immediately, Hazenberg is based at Oakwood, Ont., where the new position is in a trial period. She was previously based at Angus Central, CAA’s National Headquarters, in Rocky View, Alta., serving as the director of technical services.

The CAA looks forward to the opportunities this will provide to enhance overall CAA member value. Hazenberg’s move to eastern Canada will allow the association to have a greater presence at industry events in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. She has been an integral member of the CAA staff team since December 2006 and remains available to our members on a nationwide basis. Hazenberg can be reached by phone at 1-888-571-3580 extension 5605 or via email at chazenberg@cdnangus.ca.

— Adapted from a release by the Canada Angus Association.

Beef Industry Scholarship Challenge

The dates for the Georgia Junior Cattlemen’s Association Beef Industry Scholarship Challenge have been set for June 19-20. Please encourage your students to consider the intellectual challenges and opportunities offered by this event. It will be hosted on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens. This outstanding program is designed to offer scholarship funds to students, while at the same time providing opportunities to participate in hands-on, real world scenarios beef cattle producers deal with every day. More than $10,000 in scholarships will be available.

Due to recent questions about ages on the teams, it has been decided to extend the deadline for entries until noon on Friday, May 22. We will now accept teams that have two seniors (students who were in 11th or 12th grade for the 2014-2015 school year) and one student that was in 9th or 10th grade for the 2014-2015 school year. Please call Bailey Toates if you have questions at 478-474-6560. Go online to access the entry form.

Entries need to be faxed (478-474-5732) or emailed to Bailey@gabeef.org.

— Adapted from a release by Bailey Toates, Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.

North Dakota Junior Beef Expo

Mark your calendars for the North Dakota Junior Beef Expo (NDJBE) at the Livestock Expo Barn on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot, N.D., on Friday and Saturday, June 26-27. This fun, two-day junior beef field day is open to all youth, 21 and younger.

Friday’s activities begin with registration at 1 p.m. followed by the steer weigh-in and ultrasound scanning. The junior heifer, steer and cow-calf shows and showmanship contests will be Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The winners of the NDJBE Scholarship and Hardest Worker Award will also be recognized that day.

The NDJBE, a project of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, will be in conjunction with the Ward County Shootout that is scheduled for June 25-26. Both shows are sanctioned by the North Dakota Junior Point Show Association.

For more information, contact the NDJBE show coordinator, Laiken Steckler, at 701-223-2522 or lsteckler@ndstockmen.org or find the NDJBE on Facebook. Entry forms are available at www.ndstockmen.org and are due June 2.

— Adapted from a release by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.