News Update
June 21, 2016
Preserving Virginia Angus History
Angus breeders in Virginia are taking steps to preserve Angus history in their state. In 1957, the Gall family donated an Angus bull statue to the Virginia Angus Association, and for nearly 60 years, the bull resided at the state organization’s office. The statue was recently sold for $10,000 to a group of Angus enthusiasts, and proceeds established a junior scholarship program.
Now, plans are under way to move the Virginia Angus bull statue to a permanent home at the Virginia State Fairgrounds in Doswell, Va., and all are invited to attend the rededication ceremony at 1 p.m. Sept. 27 during the Virginia State Fair.
The Angus show will be hosted the following day, Sept. 28, and all are invited to celebrate as the treasured piece of Angus history is displayed on the state fairgrounds.
For more information, read the complete Angus news release online.
Changing Perspectives
For most beef cattle producers, “reality” is comprised of what’s happening on and near their own farms and ranches. Reality is something different for a great majority of consumers. They see things from different perspectives. Cattle producers need to become more in tune with how consumers view beef and the ways it is produced. That’s reality.
John Stika, president of Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), shared that message with the audience gathered in Manhattan, Kan., for the 2016 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Meeting and Symposium. The conference’s opening general session focused on opportunities for beef industry participants to become more efficient and more profitable. With that in mind, Stika stressed the fact that the only source of new money for the beef industry comes from beef-buying consumers.
Said Stika, “Consumers respond by spending real dollars; sending real signals indicating their preferences.”
To continue reading, view the Angus Media news article online.
Feed and Grain Event Comes to Iowa
Feed & Grain proudly announces that registration is now open for the inaugural Feed & Grain LIVE conference, taking place Aug. 22-23. Feed & Grain LIVE will be in the heart of the grain belt at the Prairie Meadows Hotel in Altoona, Iowa.
The conference will feature breakout educational sessions centered on three tracks: feed, grain,’ and safety and management. Sessions will be delivered by experts in their field including Richard Sellers, senior vice president of public policy and education, American Feed Industry Association; Erin Bowers, postdoctoral researcher, Iowa State University; John Foltz, special assistant to the president for agricultural initiatives, University of Idaho; and Whitney Romero, regional account manager, Environmental and Safety Investigations Inc.
For more information, view the Farm Bureau news release online.
Ashland Veterinary Center Expansion
Ashland Veterinary Center (AVC), a diversified mixed animal practice serving a four-state area, welcomes Tonia Traas to the AVC team.Traas, a native of Waunakee, Wis., is a recent graduate of Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Traas earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her academic pursuits are reflected in a diverse résumé including small animal, beef cattle, and dairy, as well as equine. Traas has gained valuable clinical experience through externships, internships and mentorships in progressive practices in Wisconsin, Kansas and Tennessee.
In welcoming Traas to the AVC team, Randall Spare said, “We are so fortunate to have such an accomplished young veterinarian join our team. Tonia’s enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to learn make her a perfect fit for Ashland Veterinary Center.”
Eastern Kansas Grazing School
The 6th annual Eastern Kansas Grazing School will take place Sept. 20-21 at the Perry Community Building in Perry, Kan. The event is a hands-on school for management intensive grazing (MiG) for beginning and experienced grazers. It provides a unique combination of hands-on activities, as well as classroom activities and demonstrations in the field.
Topics to be covered on the first day include: art and science of grazing, grazing arithmetic, farm visit pasture allocation, animal behavior and interaction, soil and plant basics, resource inventory and stocking rate, and fencing.
Day 2 will include the following: watering presentation, pasture allocation and field exercises, economics of grazing, layout and design, and will wrap up with a question-and-answer session. There will be a farm visit to Melvin Williams, where participants will observe a rotational grazing system and unique watering systems.
The event is capped at 35 farms and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration is $50 for the first person from each farm; registration includes lunches, snacks and handouts. Additional people from the same farm are $25, and that registration includes lunches and snacks.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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