Loggains No Stranger to Change by Linda Eck

Dr. Clint Rusk, Eddy, David Hobbs at the Castlewellan Agricultural Show 2022 Northern Ireland Charolais Show during the World Congress

The Loggains Family – Eddy, Matt, Lori, Will and Georgia Eddy Loggains, 2021 – 2023 AICA Board of Directors President, giving his report at the 2022 AICA Annual Membership Meeting

Matt, Eddy, Will Lori and Eddy at the 2022 World Congress Final Gala dinner in Belfast, Northern Ireland Chore-time – Eddy and Penny

LOGGAINS NO STRANGER TO CHANGE

by Linda Eck

A witness to growth of the livestock industry over the past fi ve decades, like many, Eddy Loggains is no stranger to the ups and downs of change.

Loggains, who is currently serving as president of the American International Charolais Association, like every other producer has been onboard the express train of climbing input costs, but has also led the association through a transitional phase of personnel.

“I took o ce and everybody quit and went home,” Loggains said jokingly summing up the situation he found himself in last summer when the board of directors was faced with fi lling the position of past Executive Vice President J. Neil Orth. Additionally, the association also felt the retirement of Recording Secretary Marilou Wegner and Controller Lewis Meyer, two additional positions that needed fi lled.

“During my time on the board, we’ve had some guys that have done a super job in helping us get in the position we are,” said Loggains crediting his predecessors for keeping the association “moving in the right direction.”

“Our fi nances are good, our numbers are good, people are doing a good job of promoting our product,” he added. “We’ve had a lot of people pointing us in the right direction. David Hobbs has been there forever and does a super good job. It’s all really made my job a lot easier.”

All the change and hiring, “took a lot of time last summer, but it went about as smooth as it could possibly go,” he said. “The executive committee was great. We did some stuff on short notice and they pitched in and it went well.”

“I can’t tell you it wasn’t scary for a while,” he continued. “We had a lot of good candidates and I think we wound up with the right man (in the hiring of Dr. Clint Rusk). Any breeder that’s not met Clint and hasn’t sat down and talked to him, well he will impress you. He’s a promoter and I think he does a whale of a job.”

Change Impacts Everyone

Back home on his farm between Violet Hill and Melbourne, Ark., Loggains joins other producers in feeling the pain of mounting input costs. “I’m sure breeders have been faced with problems throughout the years, but it seems like it’s really getting us in a bind right now.” “Input costs have just become unbearable,” said Loggains referencing the cost of feed, fuel, fertilizer and just about everything else. “It all goes together and they’re getting us from all sides. People say cattle prices are good, but when you fi gure cost, the cattle market is still not where it needs to be.”

Growing up in the livestock industry, Loggains describes himself as “a commercial cattleman that got into the purebred deal.”

“My family has been in the cattle business forever. My dad always ran Charolais bulls and that’s where I started in the late 80s, when the taller they were, the better they were,” he said noting the Charolais breed has experienced a lot of positive changes over the years. From birthweight, size and even carcass quality, “We’ve sure changed, and Charolais have become really functional cattle.”

“We’ve come to a point where a lot of breeders are focusing on carcass traits and that’s really helping us in many ways. The association has done a great job in promoting that.”

It is evident to Loggains that with a focus on carcass quality, along with the breed’s strength for growth and increased weaning weights, Charolais are a good option and are becoming more and more popular within the beef industry.

“Charolais calves will outgrow anything,” said Loggains. “I think we’ve proven that. And, our cross females are as good as anything walking the pastures. These cattle are doing the job.”

AIJCA – Good for the Kids, Good for the Future

Looking to the future, Loggains is confi dent that thanks to the strengths of the American International Junior Charolais Association (AIJCA), the AICA will continue moving forward as a leader in the beef industry.

“Our junior association is amazing,” said Loggains, who along with his wife, Lori, appreciate the opportunity they had to raise their two sons, Wilson and Matthew, on the farm and showing cattle.

“I’ve always thought, if you want to teach a kid respect, work ethic and responsibility, showing cattle was a great way to do it. Kids that get involved (in AIJCA) and participate can do anything.”

He also credited the association’s Youth Activities and Foundation staff for keeping the AIJCA vibrant and relevant to today’s industry. “Kaitlyn Chism does a super job working with those kids, they’re really impressive. They’re the future of the breed.”