News Update
July 28, 2016
Committed to Herdsmanship
Angus juniors from across the nation spent countless hours getting cattle ready to show at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS). A successful herdsman displays dedication, an eye for detail and the ability to encourage fellow breeders in and out of the showring.
During the recent NJAS, National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) member Jake Smith of Cullman, Ala., was named the 2016 Junior Herdsman of the Year. An honor voted on by his peers, Smith was selected for his commitment to the Angus breed and the NJAA.
An NJAA member since he was 9 years old, Smith has attended nearly every NJAS since. This year, he brought two bred-and-owned heifers, a bred-and-owned cow-calf pair that won reserve in her division, as well as an owned heifer. Smith works alongside his dad in their operation, Black Knight Cattle Co.
The Junior Herdsman of the Year award recognizes NJAA members who display a dedication to their animals, a strong work ethic, the ability to work with other junior members, and the skills to necessary to prepare cattle for show.
Read more in the news release online.
Bob Switzer Inducted into Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame
Canadian Angus Association (CAA) Past President Bob Switzer will be inducted into the Canadian Agriculture Hall of Fame this fall.
In 1966 Switzer purchased his first registered-Angus from the Corydon dispersal at Elbow, Sask., eventually leading to the establishment of Sandy Bar Ranch at Aneroid. He served as CAA President in 2008 and as Canadian Angus Foundation Chair in 2009.
Switzer was instrumental in organizing the first Angus and Angus-influenced feeder calf sale in Moose Jaw, which led to sales in Assiniboia, Maple Creek, Mankota, Medicine Hat and in subsequent years, throughout Canada. He helped form Red Coat Cattle Feeders in 1998 to feed cattle and employ local people to stop the outflow of cattle, grain and people from the region.
For more information, view the CAA news release online.
Feedlot Nutritionist ‘Boot Camp’ Prepares Students
Aug. 1 marks the beginning of the third biennial Feedlot Nutritionist Boot Camp, which will bring 30 feedlot nutrition graduate students from across the country to Amarillo, Texas, to learn about the realities of commercial feedlot management.
The Feedlot Nutritionist Boot Camp is a chance for graduate students to meet with and learn from leading scientists, nutritionists, executives and feed suppliers in the feedlot industry. Over the course of five days, students will attend lectures, complete nightly assignments, and observe feedyards, a millwright shop, and other aspects of the industry firsthand.
The goal is for the students who attend the program to leave graduate school with a more thorough understanding of how their expertise can be applied within the commercial feedlot industry.
For more information, view the news release online.
Annual East Texas Regional Forage Conference
The annual East Texas Regional Forage Conference has been set for Aug. 25 in Marshall. The event is hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District 5 County Agricultural Agents Association.
“This year’s program will feature outstanding speakers, as well as topics that are sure to pique beef and forage producers’ interest,” said Randy Reeves, AgriLife Extension agent.
The conference agenda will feature topics including:
- Feral Hog Management — Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Overton.
- The New Veterinary Directive — Tom Hairgrove, AgriLife Extension livestock and animal system coordinator, College Station.
- Pasture Weed Control Updates — Clint Perkins, AgriLife Extension agent, Wood County.
- Cost Comparisons of Winter Forage vs. Conventional Supplementation and Nutritional Aspects — Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, College Station.
- What the Future Trends are in Cattle and Commodity Prices — David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist, College Station.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Seeking Member Input
The American Angus Association seeks member input in order to establish the long-range plan and strategic vision of the nation’s largest beef breed organization. Members were emailed questionnaires, which are also available within AAA Login (www.angusonline.org).
Survey responses submitted online will be accepted through July 31, and respondents may enter to win a cash drawing. The Association’s long-range initiative encompasses insight from all areas of the beef cattle business, and member input is vital and appreciated.
Contact the Association at angus@angus.org if you have questions regarding the survey.
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