PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

THE COMEBACK

by Chris Heptinstall, International Brangus Breeders Association president

When I was officially elected as president at the International Brangus® Breeders Association (IBBA) Annual Meeting on March 5, 2020, I could have never imagined the ride it would be. At the time, I was actually not at the meeting in Houston, Texas. Instead, I was at home with my wife, Alexis, expecting our first child any day. Sure enough, five days after the annual meeting, our daughter, Vivian Rose, entered the world. Two days after that, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (HLSR) became the first, of an endless number of shows, to cancel its remaining events due to a precaution from COVID-19.

As an association, there are major things that we didn’t get the opportunity to be a part of this year. Namely, the re-introduction of the Brangus Summit, originally scheduled for June 2020 had to be canceled. Two IBBA Standard of Excellence (SOE) Points Shows were canceled in the fall. Upcoming events, such as the 2021 Annual Meeting at its traditional home in Houston is already canceled. And, unendingly, state Brangus and cattlemen’s associations saw havoc on their annual meetings, field days, sales, and gatherings.

But, let me tell you what else I saw: When one door closed, the Brangus breed came back stronger. When the Western National in Oklahoma City and the National Show of Merit in Shreveport canceled their shows, causing detriment to the SOE show season, the IBBA Show Committee and staff rallied. They gathered with other Bos indicus breeds and hosted replacement shows in Texarkana and Fort Worth. They took on extra work that they didn’t have to in order to give opportunity for our breeders to show off their livestock. Lori Edwards, IBBA director of membership and marketing, went above and beyond the call of duty to organize entries and coordinate shows that she wasn’t required to do. Allen Goode, IBBA Show Committee chairman, led a committee through what could have been troubled times. Allen’s strong leadership and level head will serve our association well in his upcoming presidency, and I am grateful to have such a strong leader to fill the position.

A lack of events to promote the breed could have set the association back. IBBA Promotion Committee chairman, Joe Fuller, answered the call. Joe led the committee to take on a new marketing strategy, to get creative and challenge the status quo. Simply settling and waiting until events opened back up was not an option for this progressive committee. They’ve taken a new approach to marketing the breed which will be unveiled at our new IBBA Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City. I think you’re going to be impressed.

The IBBA Breed Improvement Committee, as led by chairman Mark Cowan, has also helped to re-evaluate the internal breed structure. They’ve asked questions and made recommendations that are on the forefront of genetic advancement. This smart-minded committee has used their time to better the cattle in your pasture, whether you know it or not.

Mike Weathers, chairman of the IBBA Finance Committee made big progress in the financial state and organization of the association. We hired on a new controller, Brian Sadovsky, who’s taken his duties seriously. Mike and Brian have tremendously improved the financial organization of our systems, they’re working behind-the-scenes making sure everything that needs to be done “front of house” can be done.

Our Regstr system has been a thorn in the association’s side for many months, it is no longer. The staff at the association has bailed the membership out of a rut. Darrell Wilkes, alongside project manager, Andrew Sicotte, and director of genetics, Macee Prause, have dedicated their time to incorporating DNA into the Regstr system. From this time last year, the online registration process has become a breeze, and we, as members, should be nothing but grateful for their continued push to better the member experience.

Of course, we can’t forget the work the IBBA Long Term Planning Committee, as chaired by Tracy Holbert, did that came to fruition with the publishing of the association long term plan this year. Their 10-year vision for the breed is groundbreaking. I’d encourage you, as members, to pick up the publication you received back in October and put time into implementing the bigger picture.

And, last but certainly not least, I need to thank all the members of the IBBA Board of Directors. Lee Alford, Mary Douglass, Troy Floyd, Allen Goode, Shiloh Hall, Jeremy Jackson, Darrel Law, Greg Romans, Rob Singleton, Vern Suhn, and Mike Weathers have volunteered, read again – volunteered – time, that they didn’t have to. They’ve sat through more Zoom meetings and conference calls than I think they ever imagined.

It’s been an honor. It’s been something I never thought I would get to experience, and this year has certainly humbled me in the events that have transpired. I’ll be seeing all of you soon at the new IBBA Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City in just a few weeks.

Don’t be afraid to go where the data takes you, Christopher G. Heptinstall