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CGA 2022 Scholarship Winner
The cattle industry and more specifically, the Gelbvieh cattle industry formed me into the person that I am today. I, Aspen Blake, am a nineteen-year-old purebred cattle enthusiast and did not have a real love for cattle until 2014 when I became a 4-H member and began to attend junior livestock shows. Through showing cattle, I met many great people who mentored me and allowed me the time to learn and practice. This built my perspective of the Gelbvieh community positively over the years that I have been involved. I began putting time into our Gelbvieh/Angus commercial herd and realized that the cross between these breeds is truly impeccable. I have been competitive with Gelbvieh-influenced steers for all my eight years in 4-H. My most recent steer was a twin who finished at 1425 pounds. Aside from the commercial cattle, my family also has a small purebred Gelbvieh herd. The people who helped us build this herd are some of the most generous, hardworking, and honourable people I have ever met. I look up to them as I continue to strive for success in the cattle industry. We enjoy breeding a few of our purebred Gelbvieh cattle to top-end Angus AI sires, producing the most eye-catching calves on the ranch. When looking at a Balancer female, you will be blown away by the amount of carcass the animal has, while still holding on to the femininity necessary in productive dams. The cow that I have been showing the last two years is 75% Gelbvieh and has turned out to be a fantastic female, raising a potentially even better heifer calf. We have showcased our genetics at Canadian Western Agribition and plan to continue to attend these high-caliber competitions. The number of people associated with the Gelbvieh community is smaller than many other breeds, making it extra special to be a part of. I am proud to inform fellow producers about the Gelbvieh breed and show off my own Gelbvieh influenced animals in shows across Alberta and Saskatchewan. By showing the cattle we raise, juniors can shine some light on the breed. I will continue to give back to the breed by improving my knowledge of Gelbvieh genetics throughout many years to come as well as participate in organizing events for juniors as I age out of the junior program.
NOVEMBER 18-19, 2022
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STETTLER AG SOCIETY, STETTLER, AB
$400 MEMBERSHIP
Provides the member with one voting card, the chance to win their pick of the Futurity Bulls and draw down prizes. Draw down prizes will include but will not be limited to cash value vouchers to purchase animals from any Bull Futurity Member either privately or from a sale.
RULES $200 PER BULL ENTRY FEE
Only Futurity Members are eligible to enter bulls.
• Futurity Entries must be born on or after January 1st of the previous year (2021). • Bulls will only be allowed to enter the Futurity once. • Futurity Member must be the registered owner of their Futurity Entries by August 1 of the current year. • All entries must be CGA or AGA registered PC88, Purebred or Fullblood • All Futurity Entries must be virgin bulls and not have had semen collected. • All entries must have a minimum of complete SNP parent verification on file (both parents) with the CGA or AGA by Monday November 14th, 2022. 100K, polled and color DNA testing is up to the discretion of the Futurity Member but is recommended. • All bulls will be tattoo checked and weighed at the event. • All bulls must have videos taken before the Futurity that can be made available on-line." • The Bull Futurity Entries may be cataloged in conjunction with the Wish List Sale catalog. Entry deadline to be included in the catalog is October 1st. Late entries and substitutions can be made up until November 14th. • The Bull Futurity will provide a stall card that must be displayed. All other promotional signage is at the discretion of the Futurity Members. • On-Line voting will be available for Futurity Members who are unable to attend the event, there will be no proxy voting. • The Futurity Entry that receives the most votes will be named the Bull Futurity Champion. • The last name to be drawn will be the Draw Winner and have their choice of the Futurity Entries. This bull will be the Selected Futurity Bull. • The Draw Winner is not eligible to choose their own bull. • The Bull Futurity Committee has the discretion to assign pay out amounts to each of the winners and other prizes. • Full ownership of the Selected Futurity Bull is assumed by the Draw Winner and the prize money paid to the owner of the Selected Futurity Bull when the bull passes a breeding soundness evaluation or if the Draw Winner chooses to take ownership before that. Until ownership is assumed the care of the Selected Futurity Bull is the responsibility of the owner. • The owner of the Selected Futurity Bull Champion may draw in herd semen. They may not sell this semen or use it to breed cows they do not own. • Purchase of insurance of the Selected Futurity Bull is up to the discretion and/or responsibility of either the owner of the Selected Futurity Bull or the Draw Winner. • The Draw Winner has the option to sell the Selected Futurity Bull any time after they take ownership.
For further information contact: Aaron Birch - Ph: 403-485-5518 • aaron@tbfarms.ca
