News Update
April 16, 2018
American Angus Association
Hires Director of Angus Link
The American Angus Association announces the hiring of New Jersey native Christopher Engel as the director of Angus Link™, the new Association feeder-cattle program, which is set to be unveiled this summer.
Engel will be instrumental in leading the development of business strategies; managing the Angus Link field staff; developing relationships with Angus breeders, commercial producers and the fed cattle sector; and executing key tactics for the program. The director of Angus Link will work closely with the chief executive officer, director of commercial programs and the Certified Angus Beef LLC vice president of production.
The ultimate goal of the feeder-calf program is to strengthen the link between the Association and commercial cattlemen, a strategic priority set by the Board of Directors in 2016. Establishing a feeder-cattle program built on the use of quality registered Angus genetics provides a direct connection between quality feeder calves and the registered Angus bulls that sire calf crops.
“As the Association looks to the future of our feeder-cattle marketing initiatives, we are extremely excited to have Chris at the helm of the innovative and groundbreaking platform — Angus Link,” Association CEO Allen Moczygemba said.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
2018 Auxiliary Scholarships Available
for Junior Angus Members
The American Angus Auxiliary scholarships are presented annually. Ten scholarships will be awarded. The total amount awarded will range from $16,000 to $17,000. The exact amount of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth place awards given to both boy and girl qualified applicants will be determined May 1, 2018. Scholarships may be defined as financial grants for which no equivalent work is required.
Each state Angus Auxiliary is entitled to submit one girl and one boy application for the national scholarships. The two applications must be submitted by the state or regional scholarship chairperson to the American Angus Auxiliary chairperson. The recipients will be announced at the National Junior Angus Show in July.
The application for the American Angus Auxiliary Scholarships is available online. Interested junior Angus members may download the application, access directions and general information. The post-mark for applications from the state contact is May 1. Additional questions about the American Angus Auxiliary scholarships can be directed to:
Cindy Ahearn, scholarship chairperson
1615 Van Zandt CR 3416
Wills Point, TX 75169
Phone: (214) 957-4895
Perdue Applauds Trump’s Selection for USDA’s Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue April 14 applauded President Donald Trump’s selection of James Hubbard to be the USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment. Following the announcement, Perdue said:
“I am very excited by the selection of Jim Hubbard for this leadership role at USDA. Congress passed and President Trump signed into law meaningful reforms and forest management tools that will help us better maintain our national forests. Under Jim Hubbard’s leadership, we will put these tools to use, restore our forests to health, and get them back to work for the taxpayers. Jim’s service with the Forest Service and the Department of Interior makes him exceptionally qualified for this post, and I am eager to have Jim join the team.
“At the same time, there are several other qualified USDA nominees still awaiting Senate confirmation. I urge the Senate to take up these nominations as quickly as possible.”
Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation Launch Fire Relief Fund
A relief fund has been established by the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Foundation (OCF) to help cattlemen who have been affected by ongoing wildfires in western Oklahoma.
“Oklahoma wind and drought conditions spurred several large fires on the western side of the Oklahoma yesterday (April 12) affecting many cattlemen,” said Tiffani Pruitt Coordinator of the OCF, a charitable arm of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. “One thing we’ve learned from the wildfires in the past few years is that folks are quick to want to help those in unfortunate situations, and that is truly humbling. The OCF is happy to provide a place for funds to be held. We will coordinate with the Extension Offices in the affected areas to organize relief efforts and to identify ranchers that are in need.”
According to Michael Kelsey, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, “OCA is coordinating with Extension, the Farm Service Agency and others to bring information to ranchers about disaster assistance. We humbly ask for prayers for ranchers, firefighters and folks in the paths of these devastating fires.”
Learn more in the full news release online.
American Agriculture Needs a Strong Farm Bill,
Draft House Bill Doesn’t Deliver
On April 12 House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) introduced his draft of the 2018 Farm Bill — the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2). In response, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) issued the following comments:
“The Conaway draft is clearly not a serious effort toward a bipartisan farm bill. By torpedoing decades of work by American farmers and advocates to advance sustainable agriculture and food systems, the chairman has given this bill little chance of passing as written on the House floor. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition strongly encourages Chairman Conaway and the members of the House Agriculture Committee to work toward a bipartisan solution that will not just give lip service to America’s vulnerable families and food producing communities, but one that will provide real support to farmers, consumers and our natural resources.
“We are deeply disappointed with the direction that the chairman has taken the country’s most important package of food and farm legislation. By eliminating all funding for innovative programs like the Value-Added Producer Grants Program, Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program, and Organic Certification Cost-Share, the bill shuts out key segments of agriculture, including farmers and business owners taking advantage of fast-growing markets for locally and regionally produced food and value-added products.”
For more information, please view the NSAC news release online.
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