ANGUS NEWS Angus breeders gather for a legendary weekend. Fort Worth hosts 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show. The American Angus Association capped off a successful 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show packed with passion, innovation, and achievement. The three day event attracted 1,600 attendees and nearly 100 trade show vendors. “This year’s Convention was a tremendous success,” said Mark McCully, American Angus Association chief executive officer. “We were so grateful to have our Angus family gathered together in person again to celebrate what we’ve accomplished and where we’re headed. The breed’s current reputation is a testament to the collective efforts of hard-working producers and vast industry advancements.” Each day was loaded with informational sessions, networking events, and wall to wall trade show vendors. On day one, Angus enthusiasts had a chance to partake in various tours such as an in-depth look at nearby Angus operation, Gabriel Ranch, and a cowboy culture tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards. Cattlemen and women also attended the Beef Blitz tour hosted by the Certified Angus Beef brand. They toured several Fort Worth eateries that partner with the brand to provide top-of-the-line Angus beef to consumers. Throughout the convention were educational Angus University workshops. Each session was hosted by an industry expert and was geared to inform cattlemen and women about topics ranging from AAA Log In and improving the bottom line to the importance of genetic advancement. For the American Angus Auxiliary, the convention kicked off their 70 th Anniversary celebration. The organization hosted several events, including its Annual Meeting, the 70 th Anniversary Kickoff Reception, the Annual Auxiliary Breakfast, and the Miss American Angus competition. Leadership Panel - A leadership panel with representatives for each entity of the Association reported on the previous fiscal year’s successes and what the future holds. The over-arching theme of the panel’s conversation was the importance of the Association’s membership and how to best provide
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tools and opportunities for them and their commercial cattlemen customers. Kelli Retallick-Riley, president of Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI), spoke about the strides in genomic data information that will better the current tools AGI offers members. She also stressed the economic value of genomics from a maternal standpoint. Combining these factors will allow the Association to make improvements to better serve its members. Brett Spader, president of Angus Media SM, celebrated producing more new sale catalogs than ever before. He explained a new technology called “extended reality,” allowing cattlemen to use their mobile devices to bring print media alive similar to “virtual reality.” Spader discussed new market research being conducted in January, giving insight to producers on their buyer audience. John Stika, president of Certified Angus Beef (CAB), discussed the importance of simplifying the complex information consumers must sort through. He shared a new advertising campaign for the holidays, emphasizing, “If it’s not Certified, it’s not the best.” A report from Thomas Marten, executive director of the Angus Foundation, rounded out the panel. He touched on the growth of the Talon internship program, stressed the importance of mentors for young people, and looked ahead to a year of impacting the lives of Angus youth. American Angus Association Awards Dinner and Reception - The highly anticipated American Angus Association Awards Dinner and Reception recognized several distinguished people. Honored as Angus Heritage Foundation inductees were Billy Maples of Alabama; Frank Schiefelbein of Minnesota; Bob Funk of Oklahoma; Margaret Dreesmann of Missouri; and Charles A. McPeake of Georgia. Taking home the Roll of Victory Show Heifer of the Year award was Seldon Rest Sandy 9080, owned by Suter Clark of Virginia. The award for Roll of Victory Show Bull of the Year was Silveiras Forbes 8088, owned by Chris and Sharee Sankey of Kansas; Silveira Brothers in California; and Rockin S Ranch Inc. in California. Concluding the Roll of Victory recipients was Breeder of the Year awarded to Express Ranches in Oklahoma.
The Carolina Cattle Connection q DECEMBER 2021
During the dinner reception, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) recognized three recipients of producer awards. Achieving the Seedstock Commitment to Excellence award was Yon Family Farms in South Carolina. Honored for the Ambassador Award category was Pfeiffer Angus Farms in Oklahoma. Finally, topping the Sustainability Award category was Bradley 3 Ranch in Texas. Mary Wood of North Carolina was named 2021-2022 Miss American Angus. 138 th Annual Convention of Delegates - Highlighting the final day of the convention was the 138th Annual Convention of Delegates. Jim Brinkley of Missouri was re-elected to a second term of the Board of Directors. Paul Bennett of Virginia, John Dickinson of California, Greg McCurry of Kansas, and Loran Wilson of Indiana were elected to serve their first three year term. Serving in chairman positions for the year are President and Chairman of the Board – Jerry Connealy of Nebraska; Vice President and Vice Chair of the Board – Chuck Grove of Virginia; and Treasurer – Barry Pollard of Oklahoma. Angus breeders inspired to achieve at National Angus Convention and Trade Show. Speaker and former U.S. Navy SEAL CDR Rorke Denver delivers achievement keynote. The American Angus Association members celebrated Angus passion, innovation, and achievement at the 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show. In accordance with the Convention theme, the event featured three keynote addresses highlighting each of these concepts for attendees. The Association welcomed Rorke Denver, former U.S. Navy SEAL Commander, to address achievement and the role it plays in the pursuit of progress. Whether it’s securing higher premiums, maximizing performance in the pasture, or succeeding in the
show ring, Angus breeders have made achievement a priority since the beginning. Denver, who has run every phase of training for U.S. Navy SEALs prior to starring in the film “Act of Valor,” is also no stranger to the desire for constant improvement. “Every great team will find a way to constantly improve in an elite environment,” Denver said. “They’re always trying to figure out a way to get a little bit better.” Denver encouraged attendees to consider ways to position themselves optimally for what they hope to achieve, relating it to his experiences training for the battlefield. “If you can make a big leap that’s great, but it’s often small measures of improvement that make teams better,” Denver said. “It’s the idea of asking ourselves, ‘is there anything more I can do? Is there a better place I can fight from or think from?’” Throughout its history, the Angus breed has proven its dedication to achieving new feats, even in times of adversity. Denver acknowledged that those in the beef industry have what it takes to continue seeking out opportunities for progress. He shared his appreciation for the values of those in agriculture, which resonate closely with his own experiences. “It’s not hard talking to folks that have the grit and toughness of this organization,” Denver said. “People in agriculture tend to be my favorite audiences, because it’s just folks that care about all the things we care about, so it makes for a special event when I can be at something like this.” Angus breeders learn the power of embracing innovation. Jeff DeGraff discusses accepting change in the beef industry. Profound Angus passion, embracing innovative objectives,
