EXECUTIVE CORNER

ReflectionsON HOUSTON 2022

by Darrell Wilkes, Ph.D., International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) executive vice president

Houston 2022 was a great event. We had a good contingent of Brangus breeders at every event and meeting. I witnessed plenty of folks having fun at the barn parties, and the auctions were well attended and well supported from everything I could see. The Foundation raised a generous amount of money from the embryo auction, and the Juniors were able to generate over $50,000 from the Legacy heifer donated by Cavenders.

Speaking of the Juniors, it has been reported to me by more than one person that when our Junior Board members manage the ring at a show, they truly impress people who are watching and many people make it a point to say so. They are always polite and sharply-dressed. They also know exactly what they’re doing and manage the show ring as professionally as can be done.

Like many others, I sat in the stands and tried to outguess the judge. I always give the judge the benefit of the doubt because he or she is up close and can see the cattle from every angle. There were a good number of classes where the difference between the class winner and others was exceedingly small – right down to the point of personal preference, which is why we hire a judge. The quality in many of the classes ran very deep. Anybody watching the show who was not familiar with modern Brangus surely came away impressed with the quality of cattle being shown. I was in the ring when the champion drive was taking place for the females. I didn’t envy the judge. He had his work cut out for him selecting the “best” female from an incredibly good line up of division champions.

Every breed of cattle has the “show folks” and the

“performance folks”. I think the distance that separates the two camps is smaller than we sometimes think. In simple terms I see it this way: it is impossible to win a show with an animal that lacks performance; and people who focus on performance also insist on cattle that are put together in an eye-appealing package. That’s why, at any performance bull sale, people spend the morning walking through the pens looking at the cattle. Its why we take pictures of cattle to put in catalogs. Looks matter! Different people see different ways to promote their breeding programs and to experience the joy and the challenges of their chosen approach. So long as everybody is putting their best foot forward and operating in a fair and ethical manner, both “camps” can bring value to the equation.

Events like Houston bring people together, and that’s the biggest prize of all. The Membership Meeting was very well attended. Committee leaders gave their reports, including their list of priorities for the coming year. Those priorities are summarized later in this issue. What should be obvious is that our approach to the marketplace is multi-faceted which is really our strength. Different people have different interests, which is why some people prefer to dig into the details of EPD computation and others are more interested in promotion or international marketing or feeder cattle marketing. Some are interested in beefing up the services provided to members, while others are willing to study the association’s financial statements to ensure we are on a steady and sustainable financial footing. But everybody is interested in seeing Brangus advance and capture the larger footprint in the beef industry that we know they deserve. With so many dedicated people working virtually every angle, that’s how we’ll get there.

We also had the honor of recognizing individuals for the incredible accomplishments they have chalked up in their Brangus careers. This issue features Stalwart Ranches, the IBBA Commercial Producer of the Year Award recipient. In the next issue, you can read about Tracy Holbert and Blackwater, the IBBA Breeder of the Year Award recipient, and also Don Cox’s Excalibur Brangus, the Pioneer Award recipient. We recognized Brandon Belt as the Top Hand because his service to IBBA is truly never ending. Villa Ranch and GKB Cattle were recognized as Herdsman of the Year for Red Brangus and Brangus, respectively. Timmy Lucherk received the Jake White Lifetime Achievement Award. It’s great to see these people recognized for their accomplishments. They darn sure earned it.

Houston 2022 was a great event. If you missed it, start thinking about the NJBS and Futurity to be held in late July, or even the 2023 Houston event. It’s worth it.

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