Angus breeders win BIF awards

Angus breeders win BIF awards
April 27, 2006

Angus breeders won a variety of prestigious awards at the Beef Improvement Federation’s 38th annual meeting and research symposium April 18-21 in Choctaw, Miss. Angus Productions Inc. (API) is pleased to provide online coverage of these award winners. Summaries of select award winners follow. To read full releases about all of the award winners, visit www.bifconference.com/bif2006/awardwinners.html.

Sauk Valley Angus named Seedstock Producer of the Year

BIF named Sauk Valley Angus its 2006 Seedstock Producer of the Year. The Seedstock Producer of the Year Award has been presented to outstanding seedstock firms throughout the United States and Canada since 1972.

Headquartered southwest of Rock Falls, Ill., in Whiteside County, Sauk Valley Angus is owned by Gary and Kathy Sandrock and managed by Jay King, Ben Sandrock and Matt Sandrock. King serves as a director on the American Angus Association Board.

The cattle operation is composed of 480 registered Angus cattle and 190 commercial Angus females that are used as embryo transfer (ET) recipients. The breeding program is focused on production of functional, balanced-trait cattle that are designed to create value in every segment of the beef industry, while yielding an end product that will exceed consumer expectations.

One of the key elements in the operation is its performance recordkeeping system. Special programs offered by the operation include the Sauk Valley-sired Feeder Calf Sale at the Walnut Sale Barn, a preconditioning program facilitated with a commercial company, and the Sauk Valley Herd Builders Program, which aims to help new producers develop their herds. The Sauk Valley Angus Country Store also offers Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) products.

To read the entire release, visit www.bifconference.com/bif2006/awardwinners.html.

Angus breeders dominate seedstock award nominee list

Angus nominees for the Seedstock Producer of the Year included Benoit Angus Ranch, Esbon, Kan.; Champion Hill, Bidwell, Ohio; EE Ranches Inc., Winona, Miss.; Earhart Farms, Wyoming; Figure 4 Cattle Co./Volk Ranch LLLP, Somerset, Colo.; Lawler Farm, Okelika, Ala.; and Quaker Hill Farm LLC, Louisa Co., Va.

To read about all of the nominees, visit www.bifconference.com/bif2006/awardwinners.html.

BIF Honors Pingrey with Pioneer Award

BIF honored the late Dave Pingrey with the Pioneer Award. The award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle.

Pingrey developed and managed his first Angus herd at Prairie Point Farms in Macon, Miss. In 1970 he and partner Harris Swayze established Black Bull Cattle Co. in Yazoo County, Miss.

Pingrey served two three-year terms on the board of directors of the American Angus Association. He served as vice-president of the association in 1979 and as president in 1980. During his years on the board, he helped shape and guide the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR^SM) program and the Angus sire evaluation program.

To read the full release on Pingrey and the other Pioneer Award winners, visit www.bifconference.com/bif2006/awardwinners.html.

— compiled by Meghan Soderstrom, assistant editor, API