2013 dec newsletter

ONTARIO SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2013

Hello Everyone:

Holy Cow another year has almost passed us by. I hope each of you have had an exceptionally good year with your Simmental enterprises. With calf prices very strong and feed prices somewhat down and most importantly the high demand for Simmental genetics, 2014 looks pretty promising.

The OSA AGM will be held in Peterborough on March 01, 2014 Best Western Hotel at 1:30 pm.

Looking forward to seeing old and new friends at the meeting.

OSA will be hosting the National Simmental Show at the 2014 Royal Winter Fair. You better start your selection plans early if you are thinking about attending this exciting and very competitive event.

While on the topic of the National Show a reminder that nominations for the Royal Judge must be received by Debbie Elliott by December 31, 2013. Each nomination must have a mover and a seconder and both must be Members in good standing of OSA Clair Sullivan generously donated a heifer to raise funds for OSA youth programs. The heifer was consigned to the Elite Sale at the 2013 Royal and was purchased by a consortium of three Breeders. Thank you to Hi Tech Farms (Larry & Rhonda Barkley), Elm Tree Farms (Glenn and Pamela Wotten), and Kingfield Farms (Charles and Michael Burns).

Ron & Carla Nolan were inducted into the Canadian Simmental Hall of fame. This award is given to individuals who have given freely of their time to Simmental projects and have promoted Simmental for many years. Congratulations, Ron and Carla you are both great Simmental Ambassadors We will be publishing a Spring edition of the Advocate which will be in the mail before Feb 11th 2014. We have had difficulties making the deadlines with the last few issues being late getting to the Printer and thus being late for the mailing date. Melissa has been instructed that if an ad or an article is late being submitted it will not be included in the issue. Please do not take it personally if your ad is excluded because you were late submitting.

We encourage you to think about placing an ad in this cost effective magazine which reaches most of the Simmental enthusiasts in Ontario and beyond.

Futurity Class 2013 winners Champion Bull was IRCC Android 311A Champion Heifer was IRCC AT A Girl 335A

Both Champions are owned by Indian River Cattle Company, The Reserve champion Heifer was RTC 57A, Destiny Broker Black Blush, owned by Destiny Simmentals The 2014 Futurity Class will proceed on a trial basis. If Debbie receives a minimum of 75 entries (with payment) postmarked before Jan 01 2014 the contest will carry on to the 2014 Royal. If less than 75 entries are received by Jan 01 the contest will be cancelled and all cheques will be returned uncashed to the sender.

Strict adherence to payment deadlines will be enforced.

This year’s Ron Wooddisse Memorial Carcass Class had 47 bulls and 29 heifer entered. The class winners were announced at the Royal.

The winner of the heifer class was MWY 72 Z, Waydamer Juanita 72 Z and the reserve heifer was MWY 34 Z Waydamar Black Crocus 34Z. Both heifers were bred and owned by Waydamar Simmentals.

The winner of the bull class was , DAL Black Upgrade 145Z bred by O’Brien Farms and owned by Scott and Sharon Graham from St. Isidore de Clifton, Quebec the Reserve Champion was TOPS 212Z, IRCC Zeus ET 212Z bred by Indian River Cattle Company and owned by Skibbbereen Farms Peterborough, ON The contest will run again in 2014 and is open to all calves born between July 01 2012 and June 30th 2013 that have been ultra-sound scanned by BIO ( in late 2013 or in spring 2014 ) entries must be registered with CSA. The Simbelles are looking for new members. If you are interested in joining this organization please contact Carla Nolan or Grace Oesch.

Simbelles are also looking for an Ambassador to represent Simmental at events throughout 2014 including at the National Show. If you would like to nominate a young person for this event please forward their name to Carla or Grace.

On behalf of the OSA Board I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and all of the best in the New Year. We would also like to send our thoughts and prayers to our Members and friends who have lost loved ones in the past year.

Sincerely Dan O’Brien President OSA

Clair Sullivan generously donated a heifer to raise funds for OSA youth programs. The heifer was consigned to the Elite Sale at the 2013 Royal and was purchased by a consortium of three Breeders. Thank you to Hi Tech Farms (Larry & Rhonda Barkley), Elm Tree Farms (Glenn and Pamela Wotten), and Kingfield Farms (Charles and Michael Burns).