PRESIDENT’S NOTES, by robert mills

BY: ROBERT MILLS, UBB PRESIDENT

2020 has proven to be a very interesting and challenging year. I do not think it will be soon forgotten. Three major issues have made news that changed our normalcy: the worldwide pandemic, the U.S. presidential election, and a hurricane season that has devastated our friends and fellow breeders in Louisiana.

The COVID-19 virus has changed and/or cancelled many events since March. Some of our smaller hometown businesses are closing. Livestock events and cattle trade shows have been cancelled or have been forced to go to a virtual-type setting. Many bull sales and production sales have gone to an online sale system. Even our very own “Advancing the Breed” sale has also been moved to the online system. I know that we are all missing the excitement of a live sale as well as the fellowship; still, it is better to move to this system than to have to cancel the event altogether. More information will be coming soon on this sale that will be held Dec. 1-4.

Please remember the Adams Ranch Sale on November 12. If you have never attended their sale, you are missing out on a spectacular event. Mike Adams and the rest of the Adams family are carrying on the tradition of this exceptional and educational event. Please try to add it to your “must do” trips of the fall. You will not be disappointed.

For our members who like to show at the open “major” stock shows, this fall 2020 show season has been nothing but disappointments with cancellations. However, the Texas Braford Breeders and Elliott Stanton are hosting an event on Dec. 4 and 5. Check on their new website www.texasbrafords.org for scheduling and the list of activities for this first annual meeting and show. Elliott has gathered major sponsorship to put together an event that will be fun, memorable and open to all.

In closing, let us not forget the most important challenges that our fellow breeders are facing. Many have lost everything – including their homes, equipment, cattle and personal belongings – because of the horrific hurricanes. I know that many have sent supplies, as well as their labor, to help where they can. If you find yourself with free time on your hands this fall, consider reaching out to these people to help rebuild fences – or to help in whatever else they could use extra hands to clean up and rebuild. The South Louisiana families are tough, resilient people who will recover and rebuild their communities. Please continue to keep these friends and families in your thoughts and prayers.