News Update

December 28, 2016

Angus Cowboy Earns
Reserve Champion Title

When cowboy Matt Reeves, Cross Plains, Texas, competed each night during the 10-day National Finals Rodeo (NFR), he proudly displayed the Angus logo on his shirt. A six-time contestant at the finals, fans cheered him on as he competed among the steer wrestling contestants during the crowning event of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Now back home on the farm in Texas, Reeves shared what it’s like to compete at the NFR.

“The NFR is the largest, scariest thing you’ve ever been to whether it’s your first time or your last time. Think about doing the one thing you’re going to do all year, and now do it on television. It’s fun though. The best part of this year is that Carson was able to be there. He was born last year right before I went. I don’t think a 1-year-old is ever going remember any of it, but he was there and that was special.”

Continue reading in the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Jena McRell, Angus Media

National Western Angus Bull Sale

David Gazda, American Angus Association director of field services, was a recent guest on Angus Talk, a weekly radio program on Rural Radio, Channel 147. Tune in at 10 a.m. CST each Saturday morning on SiriusXM Radio.

The National Western Stock Show is a major event of the year for Angus breeders. The National Western Angus Bull Sale, the only bull sale managed by the American Angus Association is a highlight of the event for many attendees. This year’s bull sale will be on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 5 p.m. in Stadium Arena.

Q: How long has the American Angus Association hosted a bull sale at the National Western?

A: If my research is correct, the Association has sponsored and/or been a part of the National Western Angus Bull Sale since the early 1980s.

Q: How is the 2017 National Western Bull Sale going to be different from previous years?

A: We’re actually going to change venues from the sale arena there on the Hill. We’re going to move from the sale arena there out into the Stadium Arena.

Read more in the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Doug Medlock for Angus Media.

Scholarships Available to Allied Users of Angus Genetics

Young people who use Angus genetics in their commercial cattle breeding program or whose parents use Angus genetics are eligible for one of three $1,000 Allied Angus Breeders scholarships from the Angus Foundation. Emphasis is placed on applicants’ knowledge of the cattle industry and their perspective of the Angus breed.

Scholarship applications are available online at www.angusfoundation.org, and are due May 1. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior or enrolled at a junior college, four-year college/university or other accredited institution and have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Recipients are announced in July.

For more information, view the Angus news release online.

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

Winter Car Care

Cold weather is hard on cars and trucks, but a little preparation will keep vehicles running well throughout winter’s coldest days.

A simple checklist starts with the battery. A cold car battery can’t deliver as much current. If your car has an aging battery, you might want to have it load tested to see if it will be up to the job. “It should have at least 12.5 volts measured across the terminals,” said Bob Schultheis, University of Missouri (MU) Extension natural resource engineering specialist.

“A load tester, available at auto parts stores, may be a worthwhile purchase for checking sealed, maintenance-free batteries,” Schultheis said. “Many auto parts stores will test batteries for free or for a nominal charge.”

If the battery cell caps are removable, pry them off and check the acid level. Add distilled water until the liquid “puckers” in the fill hole of each cell. Replace the caps, then either use a battery trickle charger overnight or run the engine for 15-20 minutes at road speed to restore the battery charge.

For more information, view the MU news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Robert Schutheis, University of Missouri Extension.

Navigating Taxes for Small Farms Workshop

April 15 is just around corner. It’s time to gather documents to prepare for filing income taxes. For small acreage farmers, the task includes knowing the tax laws to help them reduce their tax burden.

New Mexico State University’s (NMSU’s) Cooperative Extension Service in Valencia County is responding to a cry for help from small acreage farmers by hosting a workshop titled Navigating Taxes for Small Farms from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Valencia County CES office, 404 Courthouse Road in Los Lunas.

“We’ve had several requests for this type of workshop,” said Newt McCarty, Valencia County CES agricultural agent. “NMSU agriculture economics professor Jim Libbin and Don H. Umbrage, an Albuquerque certified public accountant, will conduct the workshop.”

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by Jane Moorman, New Mexico State University.

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