July 24, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Holly Martin, director of communications
816-383-5143
hmartin@angus.org
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A Lifetime of Impact – 2020 Honorary Angus Foundation Announced
David and Carolyn Gazda honored at the 2020 National Junior Angus Show.
David and Carolyn Gazda of Athens, Georgia, are household names in the Angus family. The couple is known across the country for their service-leadership style and commitment to the Angus breed and its vast community. Over three decades of service is just a small indicator that proves the Gazdas to be more than deserving to be the 2020 inductees into the Honorary Angus Foundation.
“There are few more recognized faces in the Angus family than the Gazdas,” said Mark McCully, American Angus Association®, CEO. “David’s 32 years of service to the Association and its members is a commitment that is truly worth recognizing.”
It wasn’t until his high school graduation that David Gazda and his father purchased their first few cows. Quickly enough, they both became members of the Georgia Angus Association, and the rest was history.
Before David began his career with the Association, he managed a three-species unit at Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University as Carolyn finished her master’s degree at the same college. Soon after, David managed RSE Farms, and later they both took positions at Quercus Farms in Gay, Georgia.
Upon returning to Athens, David accepted his current position as a regional manager for the American Angus Association® in 1988. Today, he still covers the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. More than 30 years later he is the longest standing regional manager to have worked for the American Angus Association. In addition, he serves as the director of field services where he manages the other 12 regional managers throughout the country.
To the Gazdas, the American Angus Association has become like a second family. From assisting on national, state and local levels on a volunteer basis to David’s role at the Association, much of their time is occupied by Angus activities. David has partnered with the states to plan six Eastern Regionals and two National Junior Angus Shows. He has been active in the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association, serving on the executive committee and as president in 2013. In 2014, the Young Cattlemen’s Council established the David Gazda YCC Visionary Award and made him the recipient of the first award. Then in 2014, he was inducted into the North Carolina Angus Hall of Fame, and later in 2018, the Georgia Angus Hall of Fame.
“The commitment and servant leadership the Gazdas have exhibited is truly second to none,” said Thomas Marten, Angus Foundation executive director. “We are extremely thankful for their support.”
Carolyn also has devoted much of her time to the business breed, specifically, to the Georgia Junior Angus Association (GJAA). In 2010, she was recognized as the Advisor of Year at the 2010 National Junior Angus Show for her efforts as a longtime advisor of the GJAA. Later in 2019, she served on the committee of judges for the acclaimed National Junior Angus Show Showmanship Contest.
Among their core values of hard work and dedication, the value of family has always remained the top priority of David and Carolyn. The couple raised two daughters, Katie and Taylor, in the Angus breed. They also have one grandson, David Hudson Stipe, who is already a member of the National Junior Angus Association and has his own small herd of Angus cows.
Their qualities of support and vision for the Angus breed have helped the Association become what is today, and the Gazdas will surely leave a lasting impact for many years to come.
For information on how to nominate someone for the Honorary Angus Foundation Inductee award, go to http://www.angus.org/njaa/Awards.aspx.
— Written by Karen Hiltbrand, Angus Communications
About the Angus Foundation
Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth and research. The organization has distributed more than $3.5 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research throughout the past decade.
For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100 or visit www.angusfoundation.org.
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States, Canada and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by nearly 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.
For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.
