Letter from the AICA President

American- International Charolais Association

11700 NW Plaza Circle • Kansas City, Missouri 64153 Phone: (816) 464-5977 • Fax: (816) 464-5759 www.charolaisusa.com

September 19, 2021

Dear AICA Membership, After more than two decades of service as Executive Vice President of the AICA, J. Neil Orth announced his retirement shortly before the Spring meeting of the AICA Board of Directors. A national search was started with a press release in several publications and we began receiving resumes soon thereafter.

After reviewing the resumes, conducting interviews of the top candidates, and careful deliberation the search committee unanimously selected one candidate to recommend to the Board of Directors.

On August 27, 2021 the full board approved the hiring of Dr. Clinton Rusk as the Executive Vice President of the AICA. Dr. Rusk will begin his employment on November 1. Neil’s retirement will begin the end of the year allowing a transition period.

Dr. Rusk is the current Department Head of the Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University.

I had never met Dr. Rusk until we held his interview. His resume is beyond impressive and his interview was just as impressive. But I believe what impressed me were the comments I received from people who know him. Willing to help everyone, first to arrive and the last to leave and his extraordinary work ethic were brought up in every recommendation. Honest, ethical and loyal were used to describe him. We believe Dr. Rusk is the right individual to lead our Association.

Dr. Rusk will be at the November Board meetings in Louisville to meet the members.

I want to congratulate Neil, Marilou Wegner and Lewis Meyer on their upcoming retirements. I wish them nothing but the best and thank them for their service to the AICA.