A WORD FROM THE CEO

by Dustin Hurlbut, CEO, American Chianina Association

They say times flies when you are having a blast! Well we must be having a blast because it is already the end of April! Once again this spring has been challenging on all levels for our members whether it be record amounts of snow and late blizzards to the extreme droughts we are seeing in western Kansas and west Texas. Everyone I have talked to is ready to get in the fields to plant crops and cattle to grass! It’s a busy time of year for everyone in the agriculture sector. Spring means new crops, new calves and fresh starts to the growing season. People are wrapping up calving, making breeding decisions and breeding cows for next year already. It seems to be a vicious cycle we live in and it’s hard to find a day off if you are in agriculture.

We have been busy on the home front of the ACA. The year started with Oklahoma City where we had our biggest show of the year and a very successful National Sale. Then it was straight to Denver for the National Western. We had really good traffic at the booth in the yards and a nice show on the hill. Next it was time for the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo where Heather reported we had good numbers and high quality cattle representing us. We are very busy and on the road a lot the first 45 days of the year and we enjoy seeing everyone along the way.

This year marked the return of a Chianina sale at the Ohio Beef Expo in Columbus. It went well and I think it will only grow in numbers. We had a good crowd looking at the bulls and heifers and buyers excited to see the Chianina breed back in Columbus.

Another exciting highlight was the addition of a Chianina/Chiangus division in the Midland Bull Test in Columbus, Mont. I would like to thank Dennis Clarahan of Iowa and Brandon Rock of South Dakota for sending bulls out to be put on test and then sold through the Midland Sale held first week of April. Bulls must perform in the top 70% of all bulls in the test in order the make the sale. Plans are already underway for the 2024 test. Breeders who participate in the test receive a lot of data back on their bulls, so this is a great opportunity for all breeders. Bulls are sent out in the fall at weaning time. If you have interest in participating in this, please let me know.

As you are thinking about making decisions for marketing this years calf crop be sure to keep in mind the options we have for you through the association – The -C- The Difference National Sale held in Oklahoma City in January, the Ohio Beef Expo Sale held in March and the Midland Bull Test in April. Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

I recently traveled to the Clarahan Bull Sale and if you have never been, I suggest you make an effort to go. The quality of the 37 bulls Dennis and G put together was outstanding! Dennis always goes above and beyond for his friends and customers who show up for the sale on the hospitality side of things. Be sure to be there early if you want a seat in the stands because it’s a standing room only crowd. Congratulations to Dennis and his family on an outstanding set of bulls!

Be sure to go through your cow herd and get everything up to date on registrations this summer while you have some down time. We are running the Cow Catch Up Special this summer. Be sure to look in this issue for details on it. Also, as a reminder, as you are working calves this spring it is a great time to get DNA on your calves while going through the chute. The tissue sample is as easy and quick as any. If you get them out of the way now you won’t have to worry about not having time this fall. Be sure to contact Jennifer in the office for all your DNA needs.

We are very excited for the office to be completed (hopefully by July 1) and the girls moved back in to Platte City! They have done an outstanding job with all the delays and interruptions they have had to go through. It will be nice to get back to our office and get back to our normal…if there is such a thing.

The most exciting week of the summer is right around the corner…”The Sweet Life” in Grand Island, Nebraska is quickly approaching and the entries have been flying in. We hope to see everyone June 19-23 at Junior Nationals. There is fun for all ages from the Lil’ Peeps to the adults. We always look forward to hosting all the kids and making it one of the best times of their summer! Heather and crew who put on the week-long event have been planning for almost a year now and I hear its going to be SWEET!!

See ya down the road!

~ Dustin