S.D. Stockgrowers Will Hold Annual Convention in Rapid City
Texas Angus Association Plans Field Day at Falcon Seaboard Ranches
Montana Angus Tour Set for September 17-19
Nebraska Angus Tour Will Visit The Scenic Panhandle
Texas Auction to Benefit Angus Youth
The U.S. Justice Department and the Nebraska Cattlemen (NC) have each requested a review of an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision concerning the beef checkoff. In July, a three-judge panel from the appeals court considered an appeal of District Judge Charles Kornmann’s ruling and upheld his verdict that the checkoff is unconstitutional.
In support of the Justice Department and the checkoff, NC and the other intervenors in the case filed their petition for rehearing by the full Eighth Circuit panel. The petition stated a rehearing is warranted for several reasons:
- The court should not take lightly the implications of declaring an act of Congress to be unconstitutional.
- The decision conflicts with Supreme Court precedent concerning government speech.
- The decision also conflicts with a 1989 case, United States vs. Frame, in which the Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the constitutionality of the beef checkoff.
Although NC (a membership dues-funded association) doesn’t have a financial stake in the checkoff’s future, it sees value in the beef industry’s only self-help program. According to its member-established policy, the association will continue to defend the checkoff aggressively with help from USDA, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, other state associations and individual producers.
“It’s interesting that this petition comes at a time when producer support for the beef check continues to grow,” said NC Executive Vice President Greg Ruehle. “Last month a Cattlemen’s Beef Board survey of beef cattle and dairy producers from across the country who pay the checkoff showed that support for the self-help programs has increased 3 percent since January to 63 percent. And among those considering themselves informed, support reached nearly 70 percent.”
The Nebraska Cattlemen association, www.nebraskacattlemen.org, serves as the spokesman for the state’s beef cattle industry and represents nearly 5,000 professional cattle breeders, ranchers and feeders, as well as 48 county and local cattlemen’s associations. Its headquarters are in Lincoln, and second office in Alliance serves cattlemen in western Nebraska.
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The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association Board of Directors (SDSGA) invites cattle producers, businessmen and women, and local, state and national political representatives to their Annual Convention and Trade Show to be held September 17-20 in Rapid, S.D., at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn.
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association President Bill Hutchinson, White River, S.D., said he hopes to meet some first-time convention goers while in Rapid City, and also catch up with old friends. "The Annual Convention is a time of fellowship with longtime members as well as with young producers who are just getting started. It’s also a chance to hear outstanding speakers from across the country. I hope ranchers and all others involved in the cattle industry will mark September 17-20 on their calendars and make plans to attend," he said.
Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw and the Civil Air Patrol Color Guard will welcome convention goers to Rapid City just before the opening lunch on Thursday, September 18.
Thursday evening, Derry Brownfield, Common Sense Coalition will speak to the dinner crowd, using humor and common sense to address various agricultural issues such as marketing and trade as well as environmental concerns. The new Miss Stockgrower will be crowned that night as well.
Two of Friday’s featured speakers will travel from New Mexico to discuss property rights issues, including the hidden truths of conservation easements. Both J. Zane Walley and G.B. Oliver represent the Paragon Foundation, Alamogordo, New Mexico, and will be on hand throughout Thursday and Friday for personal discussion and questions.
R-CALF USA’s Executive Director John Lockie will speak to the Friday noon crowd regarding R-CALF’s latest endeavors.
Chief Brand Inspector Jim Reed, Belle Fourche, S.D., will recognize brand inspectors Clay Claymore, Gettysburg, S.D.; Rayford Anderson, Buffalo, S.D.; Raymond Abbey, Carter, S.D.; and Scott Hicks, Martin, S.D.; Friday evening for their years of hard work and dedication to a successful brand inspection program.
Throughout the day Thursday, SDSGA Committees will meet, including Animal Health, Animal ID, Marketing, Wildlife Management, Education/Taxation/Legislation and others. Committees will hear from such distinguished speakers as S.D. State Veterinarian Dr. Sam Holland; Steve Cady Organization for Competitive Markets (invited); Representative Larry Rhoden and Senate Majority Leader Eric Bogue. An expert on Coal bed Methane Water will speak to the Ag and Natural Resources Committee at 9:30 a.m.
On Friday afternoon, the SDSGA membership will come together under the leadership of President Bill Hutchinson, White River, S.D., to elect officers and set policy for the coming year.
The SDGA Board of Directors will meet following breakfast on Saturday morning.
South Dakota CattleWomen activities scheduled to date include a silent auction, an executive board meeting and a general membership meeting. All interested ladies are encouraged to attend.
To kick off the convention, Past Presidents of the SDSGA and South Dakota CattleWomen will convene for a relaxing evening of conversation and reminiscing at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 17.
For more information or to pre-register for the convention, contact Carrie Longwood at 605-342-0429. On-site registration will be available throughout the convention.
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Texas Angus Association Plans Field Day at Falcon Seaboard Ranches
Make plans to attend the 2003 Texas Angus Association field day, Saturday, September 13. The event will take place at Falcon Seaboard Ranches, Snaffle Bit Ranch Division, midway between Fredericksburg and Kerrville on Highway 16. The day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with registration.
Producers at all levels and ages will benefit by attending the day, which includes programs and speakers and a variety of events for junior Angus members.
David Lust, West Texas A&M—Canyon, will moderate a panel of producers and industry experts, including the following individuals. Willard Jordan and Ken Jordan, Jordan Livestock Company, of Mason and San Saba, who will describe the benefits of Angus influence in the market place. John Menzies and Dub Sims, trust officers for Bank One, Fort Worth, will discuss using Angus bulls on Brahman-influenced cow herds and commercial cow herds with British influence. Both are also involved in beef production at various levels. Troy Dodd, AzTx Cattle Company, Hereford, will give an overview of marketing Angus from a feeders’ perspective. Marcine Moldenhaur, director of procurement for Excel Corporation, Wichita, Kan., will round out the panel. She is involved in supplying and marketing beef to retail outlets as well as the consumer.
In addition to the panel, Tommy Perkins, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Mo., will discuss ultrasound technology and how it affects commercial and registered producers. Veterinarian Robert Lastovica, Fredericksburg, will present a program on animal health.
Falcon Seaboard Ranches and the Mid-Texas Angus Association will provide a free lunch. The directors of the Texas Angus Association will also meet during the day.
For more information about the field day, contact Falcon Seaboard Ranches at 1-866-997-2100.
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South Montana Angus Association members are inviting Angus enthusiasts to join them on the South Montana Angus Tour, scheduled for September 17-19, 2003.
A game of golf will start off the event at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, at the Bridger Golf Course in Bozeman, Mont. For $50 you can join your friends and fellow Angus breeders for 18 holes of golf. The cost also covers golf cart rental.
That evening, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., registration and entertainment will take place at the Grand Tree Inn.
The following morning, the buses will depart from the Grand Tree Inn at 7 a.m., and will first stop at TransOva Genetics, Belgrade, Mont., where breakfast will be served. Other stops on Thursday will include Meyers & Watson, Livingston, Mont.; Reyher Embryonics, Belgrade, Mont.; Alberda Angus, Bozeman, Mont.; and Hyline Ranch, Bozeman, Mont. Lunch will be served at Leachman Angus, Bozeman, Mont., and supper will be served at K G Ranch, Three Forks, Mont.
On Friday, the buses will once again leave at 7 a.m. from the Grand Tree Inn. Breakfast will be served at the first stop, Sitz Angus Farm, Harrison, Mont. Other stops on Friday will include Armstrong Angus, Cardwell, Mont.; Talon Ranch, Twin Bridges, Mont.; and a drive past Rice Ranches Inc., Harrison, Mont.
A one-hour stop will be made in Virginia City, Mont., to tour the historic gold mining town.
Lunch on Friday will be served at Twin Bridges Fair Grounds, where Giem Ranches Inc., Twin Bridges, Mont., and Wheeler Mountain Angus, Bozeman, Mont., will have some of their herd on display. Dinner will be served at Van Dyke Land and Livestock, Bozeman, Mont.
The cost for attending the tour is $75 per person. Registration forms can be found on the Montana Angus Association Web site, www.mtangus.org. For further information, please contact Halane Van Dyken at (406) 388-4494.
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Angus enthusiasts—mark your calendars for the 2003 Nebraska Angus Tour, which will make its way through the heart of cattle country in western Nebraska. The tour will take place September 19-20 and will begin each morning in Chadron.
Buses will depart the West Hills Inn at 9 a.m., Friday, September 19. The first stop will be at the Randy Schommer Ranch, near Chadron. Following this commercial cattle stop, the buses will make their way east to the Hay Springs area. A stop at Alcorn Angus will be featured. Marcy Cattle Company will host the lunch stop. Leonard Smith will also display cattle at the noon stop. A pasture stop to view some of the Rock Ridge herd will complete the Hay Springs stops.
Following the pasture stop, the tour will head to Gordon. Sandage Angus will host a stop with guests Conroy Angus having cattle on display. Next, the tour will stop at Whitestone Krebs. Bohlender Angus will display cattle at the Krebs stop, where a cutting horse demonstration will also take place. The final stop on day one will be at TK Angus, Gordon. Dinner will be provided, and E D Angus, Ashby, will display cattle.
The second day of the tour will take participants west of Chadron, and buses will leave the hotel at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 20. Area producers will have cattle on display at the first stop of the tour, the Crawford Sale Barn. Sellman Angus and Oetkin Angus, both of Crawford, and Dockweiler Angus, Chadron, will display cattle.
Next, the group will stop at Lovers Leap Winery for a brief tour. Then, the buses will take a scenic drive down Pants Butte Road to a commercial stop at the Dan Staudenmaier Ranch near Harrison. Gray Angus, Harrison, will be the final stop of the tour, and lunch will be served. Buses are scheduled to return to Chadron by 3:30 that afternoon.
"We are very excited to tour the northwest part of the state," says Jennifer Svoboda, Nebraska Angus Association secretary/manager. "I encourage any person who is interested in good company and top Angus genetics to come on our tour."
A golf tournament at the Gordon Country Club will precede the tour on Thursday, September 18, and begins at 2 p.m. Contact Tim Marlatt at (308) 282-1726 for more information about the golf outing.
Registrations for the tour are due to Svoboda by September 1. Cost for the tour is $35 and includes bus transportation and all meals, except breakfasts. Contact Svoboda at (308) 628-4379 to make your reservation. A block of rooms at the West Hills Inn will be held until August 28. Call 1-877-432-3305 to make your hotel reservation.
All times listed are MST. For more information, go to www.nebraskaangus.org.
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Make plans to attend a fun and informative event, with the chance to support Angus juniors, October 12, 2003, at the Premium Gold Angus Field Day at Hartley Angus, Chalk Mountain, Texas.
The day’s events will include informative talks and a fund-raising sale, which will benefit junior Angus members throughout the country. The auction starts at 4 pm, and will offer a variety of lots for bidders to purchase. Proceeds from the sale will directly benefit the Angus Foundation and the Texas Junior Angus Association.
"We are excited about the opportunity Premium Gold Angus Beef has given the Angus Foundation, as well as the Texas Junior Angus Association," says James Fisher, director of junior activities for the American Angus Association. "Money raised in this special auction will benefit youth across the country through education and leadership activities."
Five frozen embryos out of GAR Precision 1110 will be offered in the sale. The embryos will by sired by the bull of the purchaser’s choice. GAR Precision 1110 is a full sister in blood to GAR Precision 819, which sold for $250,000 in the Gardiner Angus sale.
Another lot will include the right to flush one of six full sisters sired by GAR Precision 1680. The females will be on display, and will calve to Bon View New Design 878.
Premium Gold Angus Beef boxed beef products will also be a lot offered for sale, as well as a signed-and-numbered western art print by Casey Worrell, regional manager for the American Angus Association in Texas and New Mexico.
Cattle will be on display at noon, followed by a welcome from Dwight Hartley, the founder of Premium Gold Angus Beef, Inc.
Premium Gold Angus Beef products will also be on display. Chef Mark Pierce will be on hand to visit about product development and preparation.
Second-generation rancher and seedstock producer Rob Thomas, Baker City, Ore., will talk about the benefits of raising Angus cattle.
Those interested in participating in the Premium Gold Angus program will be able to learn how during a presentation by Al Johnson of Jordan Cattle Auctions, Mason and San Saba, Texas; and Cal Siegfried of Heartland Feeders, LLC, McCook, Neb. The benefit sale will be at the conclusion of the event.
For further information, contact Tom or Merridee Wells at (254) 386-3780 or (254) 223-0054.
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