News Update
February 28, 2018
Angus Sponsored Steer Wrestler
Wins Big at RFD-TV’s The American
As Matt Reeves stepped into AT&T Stadium after a late-night drive from San Antonio to Dallas, thoughts of anticipation and excitement ran through his mind. The American Angus Association® -sponsored steer wrestler qualified for RFD-TV’s The American rodeo, and on Feb. 25, he took home top honors and split the $1 million payout after competing in Dallas.
The third steer wrestler of the final four to run, Reeves was up against some of the fiercest competition on the “pay dirt” in all of American rodeo. Despite the competition, the screams of the crowd or the pressure of the paycheck, Reeves and his horse Roy were focused on the steer in front of them. Reeves’ skill and Roy’s speed led the pair to a 3.73-second time and a $433,000 check at the richest single-day event in rodeo history.
“Winning The American will be great for myself and my family,” Reeves said. “It gives us a chance to pay off our home and buy more Angus cows. Having those things taken care of will allow me to continue to rodeo with less stress.”
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
Texas A&M AgriLife, Colorado State Team Up
for Beef Export Project
Texas A&M AgriLife and Colorado State University (CSU) researchers are teaming up to evaluate production practice risks to beef trade, develop educational materials and programs to assist producers with meeting requirements for exporting to China, and helping the U.S. beef industry capitalize on future export trade revenue.
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has awarded Texas A&M AgriLife Research and CSU $750,000 to develop the program.
“One purpose of this joint project is to develop and disseminate best practices to help U.S. beef industry members meet the requirements for marketing beef to Chinese markets,” said Russell Cross, professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist in the department of animal science at Texas A&M University in College Station.
“Those best practices will be based on a series of answers to research questions regarding the types of production practices that could inject compliance risks in exporting beef to China,” said Keith Belk, professor of animal sciences at CSU.
Joining Cross on the research team are animal science faculty members Kerri Gehring, Ashley Arnold and Penny Riggs, all in College Station.
Read the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Young Angus Breeders Receive Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships
Kansas State University students Dean Klahr, Holton, Kan., and Cameron Hayden, Cassopolis, Mich., were recently awarded Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships for the 2018-2019 school year.
Henry C. Gardiner scholarship applicants complete applications and participate in a thorough interview process conducted by a panel of Kansas State University (K-State) faculty and industry leaders. Students selected are examples of the best and brightest animal science and industry undergraduates enrolled at K-State and already have relevant work history. Their academic standing, community service, work ethic and future goals are taken into consideration by the panel.
Dean Klahr, a young seedstock producer and former National Junior Angus Association member, plans to continue his education to graduate school with a future goal of a postgraduate degree in agricultural economics. Cameron Hayden is also a young producer who plans to pursue a graduate degree in beef cattle breeding and production.
Henry C. Gardiner Scholarships are awarded annually to rising junior or senior K-State animal science students meeting the criteria and exhibiting a passion to improve the beef industry. The scholarship is made possible through generous contributions of Gardiner customers, friends and family continuing the legacy of Henry Gardiner.
Learn more in this Angus news release online.
Farmers For Monarchs Collaboration Announced
at Commodity Classic
Farmers For Monarchs, a broad-based collaboration aimed at addressing on-farm conservation efforts, was launched Feb. 28 at Commodity Classic, America’s largest farmer-led convention and trade show. This unprecedented, united effort by farmers, ranchers, landowners, the agriculture industry, conservation groups and others seeks to encourage and enable the voluntary expansion and establishment of pollinator and conservation habitat. The initiative includes planting milkweed and other habitat along the monarch butterfly seasonal migration route in North America.
“This is a unique moment in time for pollinator health and populations. There are many factors impacting declines in monarch population: loss of habitat is one of them,” said Peter Berthelsen, The Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund Partnership coordinator. “That’s why farmers can make a huge difference by identifying the opportunities within their current farm and ranch operation that can benefit and support their habitat needs.”
Every fall, monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles, from the upper Midwest to Mexico, to spend the winter. Upon their return in the spring, monarchs need milkweed plants along the migration route to lay their eggs, as it is the only source of food their young will eat.
For more information, read the Farm Bureau release online.
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