Nov. 29, 2010

For photos contact Kelli Armbruster at (816) 383-5175 or karmbruster@angusfoundation.org.

‘BLACKONTRACK! Angus Magic at Churchill Downs’ Grosses More Than $330K to Benefit the Angus Foundation

BLACKONTRACK!, the Angus Foundation biennial gala and auction on Nov. 13, raised more than $330,000 in gross income to support the Angus Foundation’s Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus goal of raising $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011.

Held at the prestigious home of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., the magical night drew nearly 400 Angus supporters from across the country who gathered for fine dining, horse racing entertainment, and a live auction featuring elite Angus genetics and other unique items.

Providing entertainment for the guests was the first-ever mock horse race, titled the Angus Steaks Race. Eight corporate entities sponsored horses to run in the mock race and dinner stations for event guests. The sponsors included: Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Igenity, INTRUST Bank, Pfizer Animal Health, Superior Livestock, Sysco Specialty Meat Companies, TransOva Genetics and VitaFerm.

New to the Angus Foundation Gala and Auction was the Vision of Value: Elite Heifer Genetics Offering. Donating heifer genetics and also serving as the hosts of the evening were: 44 Farms, Texas; Basin Angus Ranch, Montana; Champion Hill, Ohio; Daltons on the Sycamore, Virginia; Deer Valley Farm, Tennessee; Evans Farms, Texas; Express Ranches, Oklahoma; Gardiner Angus Ranch, Kansas; SandPoint Cattle Co., Nebraska; Schaff Angus Valley, North Dakota; Southern Cattle Co., Florida; Sydenstricker Genetics, Missouri; Thomas Angus Ranch, Oregon; Three Trees Ranch, Georgia; Vintage Angus Ranch, California; and Wehrmann Angus, Virginia.

To provide leadership to the elite heifer genetics offering, a committee of Angus leaders was formed. Members were Ryan Cotton, Cotton & Associates; John Dickinson, Parnell-Dickinson; Rance Long, American Angus Hall of Fame; representing the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus Leadership Cabinet, Dick Beck, Three Trees Ranch; Mark Gardiner, Gardiner Angus Ranch; and representing the Angus Foundation Board of Directors, Phil Trowbridge of Trowbridge Angus Farms.

Welcoming guests to the event, co-emcee Ryan Cotton stated, “On behalf of the Angus Foundation, I’m honored to welcome you to this beautiful venue. With your support tonight, we will advance the future of the Angus breed by increasing the funds available to the Foundation’s education, youth and research programs.”

With donated auction items ranging from art to jewelry to exclusive trips to Angus collectibles, the live auction and trunk show raised more than $225,000.

Donated by Wehrmann Angus, Lot 13 of the Elite Genetics Offering was the top-selling item. Half-interest in a bull pregnancy by GAR Progress and Rita 5M46 of 2536 PRED sold for $43,000 to Belle Point Ranch of Lavaca, Ark., and Express Ranches, Yukon, Okla. Wehrmann Angus will retain possession through weaning and yearling carcass scan collection.

“We’re extremely grateful to the various Angus breeders and friends from across the country who supported the auction and other aspects of the event,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation President. “We also wish to express our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated team of volunteers who unselfishly invested an enormous amount of time and effort in making BLACKONTRACK a success.”

The event steering committee was led by co-chairs Julie McMahon French of Beaverton, Mich., and Wynn Dalton Herbers of Lynchburg, Va., and included Betsie Michaels of Staunton, Va.; Teresa Mrocka of Howell, Mich.; and Lynn Hill of Bidwell, Ohio.

For more information about the Angus Foundation or the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, visit www.angusfoundation.org.

###