News Update
April 12, 2012
Commercial, Seedstock Nominees Posted to www.BIFconference.com
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) has announced nominees for its elite Producer of the Year awards, recognizing seedstock and commercial cattlemen who typify the ideals upheld by the organization. Bios of the nominees have been posted to http://www.bifconference.com/bif2012/awards.html.
All nominees will be recognized during an awards luncheon hosted during the 2012 BIF Research Symposium and Annual Meeting, and one in each division will be declared an overall winner. This year's event is scheduled for April 18-21 in Houston, Texas. It is sponsored by Texas A&M University and hosted by the American Brahman Breeders Association (ABBA). Additional information, including registration information and a schedule, is available at http://www.bifconference.com.
Individual Giving Council Promises to Match Gifts to FFA
Eight people from throughout the country who comprise a special advisory council for the National FFA Foundation are issuing a challenge to FFA and agricultural education supporters everywhere: Give to FFA and we'll match your gift.
The National FFA Foundation's 2012 Individual Giving Council is comprised of volunteers Elin Miller of Oregon, Paul Mulhollem of Kentucky, Mark Timm of Indiana, Jack Pitzer and Corey Rosenbush, both of Virginia, Rick Malir of Ohio, Lynette Marshall and Glenn Stith, both of Iowa, and founding member Charlie Fischer. Through individual giving, the group has collectively contributed more than $312,000 to FFA over the next three years to create a new matching-gift program called the Leadership Challenge.
Effective today, each new gift, regardless of the amount, or any increase in prior giving that allows an FFA contributor's total gift to meet or exceed $1,000 will be matched dollar for dollar by Leadership Challenge funds up to $100,000.
The council's goal is to lead the way in individual giving to support FFA and agricultural education, create a new culture of philanthropy dedicated to FFA and its members by emphasizing the importance of individual contributors and motivating them to give.
Lean Finely Textured Beef Summit Announced
for AMI Expo, May 1
In response to the recent intense media attention about lean finely textured beef (LFTB), American Meat Institute (AMI) will host a Lean Finely Textured Beef Summit at the AMI Meat, Poultry & Seafood Industry Convention and Exposition at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 1. The LFTB Summit will detail how LFTB is produced, its safety record and nutrition profile, USDA regulations that govern it and the economic impact that decreased use of LFTB could have on livestock producers, meat companies, retailers and consumers. The session will wrap up with a discussion of the media coverage and social media landscape.
LFTB Summit speakers include Ron Plain, D. Howard Doane professor of agricultural economics and extension economist, University of Missouri; Jim Dickson, professor, department of animal science, Iowa State University; Robert Hibbert, partner, K&L Gates; and Janet Riley, senior vice president of public affairs, AMI.
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and United Fresh Produce Association (UFPA) members who are registered for the co-located FMI Convention are welcome to attend for free.
For more information about the 2012 AMI Expo, go to http://amiexpo.com/.
Angus Foundation Scholarship Deadline Approaching
Each year, the Angus Foundation, the nonprofit entity of the American Angus Association, makes available scholarships to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in higher education. Applications for Angus Foundation scholarships must be postmarked by May 1, 2012.
The scholarship funds are meant to assist deserving Angus juniors in paying for the cost of higher education. Angus breeders, allied industry interests and friends trust the Angus Foundation with their generous gifts of endowed and non-endowed monies to make these scholarship awards possible.
Two $5,000 undergraduate scholarships will be given in memory of Richard "Dick" Spader, former Association executive vice president. A number of $3,000 and $1,000 undergraduate scholarships will also be awarded. In addition, the Angus Foundation will award five $5,000 graduate student scholarships.
As determined by the Angus Foundation, applicants may also be eligible for other Angus-related named scholarships, permanently endowed and managed by the Angus Foundation. Past recipients of Angus Foundation general undergraduate scholarships can continue to apply for named scholarships unless specified otherwise by the Angus Foundation.
In 2011, the Angus Foundation awarded $210,000 in youth scholarships at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Harrisburg, Pa. This year's scholarship recipients will be recognized at the 2012 NJAS in July in Louisville, Ky.
"I encourage our Angus youth to apply for Angus Foundation scholarships," says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. "Young people are the future of the Angus breed, and Angus breeders and other supporters of the Angus Foundation continue to rise to the occasion to provide the resources needed to support these young people and help move the industry forward."
Britney Creamer, a graduate student at Oklahoma State University pursuing a master's of agriculture with a focus on international agriculture, has been awarded four scholarships — one graduate and three undergraduate — from the Angus Foundation during her college tenure. Creamer says the financial support from the Angus Foundation has allowed her to take out less money in student loans to pay for her education.
"I wouldn't have been able to do the things that I've done within my education and gone the places I've gone without the support of the Angus Foundation," Creamer says. "I've been allowed to participate in things I normally wouldn't have been able to, because I took the time to participate in junior programs and be active and fill out the scholarships that were available to me. I hope that all juniors out there realize that maybe the hour or two that it takes to fill out the scholarship application is well worth it in the end."
The Angus Foundation reserves the right to also award scholarship(s) to eligible applicants based on financial need, personal and/or family hardship, physical handicap, medical disability, other extenuating circumstances or combination thereof when determined such sufficiently exists to warrant special consideration by the Angus Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee for this purpose.
More information about Angus Foundation scholarships and a link to the application can be found online at www.angusfoundation.org.
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