November 30, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Holly Martin, director of communications
816-383-5143
hmartin@angus.org
To download photo, click here.
Cutline: The American Angus Auxiliary National Officers and Regional Directors at the 70th Anniversary Kickoff Reception held at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, TX on November 6, 2021. Pictured left to right, bottom to top: Pam Velisek, MD; Cindy Worthington, CA; Karla Knapp, IA; Julie Conover, MO; Rebecca Knott, IN; Deanna Hofing, IN; Christy Perdue, NC; Valerie Trowbridge, PA; Stacy Erdmann, ND; and Amy Griffin, TX.
American Angus Auxiliary hosts annual Convention events
Organization acknowledges leadership, award winners and camaraderie.
The American Angus Auxiliary provides educational, promotional and social programs and activities to benefit Angus juniors and has since its inception in 1952. Each year, the Auxiliary uses the Angus Convention as a channel to educate members, discuss promotional ideas and raise funds for future Angus generations. The Auxiliary held numerous events including their Annual Meeting, Miss American Angus competition, Auxiliary Breakfast and 70th Anniversary Kickoff Reception in conjunction with the 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show in Fort Worth, Texas.
During the annual meeting, members elected new directors, officers and voted on changes to by-laws said Pam Velisek, American Angus Auxiliary outgoing president.
A complete list of newly elected directors and officers follows:
Region 2 – Rebecca Knott, IN
Region 4 – Christy Perdue, NC
Region 6 – Valerie Trowbridge, PA
President – Deanna Hofing, IN
President Elect – Julie Conover, MO
Secretary/Treasurer – Karla Knapp, IA
Advisor – Pam Velisek, MD
The Miss American Angus competition consisted of five young ladies who underwent a written quiz, an interview and presented a speech to a panel of judges. This year’s contestants included Jonwyn Ayres, OR; Amelia Miller, IL; Elizabeth Rone, MS; Rachel Smith, NE; and Mary Wood, NC. The 2021 Miss American Angus, Ellie Kidwell, concluded her reign by crowning Mary Wood as her successor.
“Miss American Angus serves as our ambassador in the public eye to promote the Angus breed at shows, sales, schools and conferences throughout her reign,” Velisek said. “These young ladies never cease to amaze me with their knowledge of Angus and agriculture in general.”
Though selecting the new Miss American Angus typically serves as the highlight event, the Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary provided the women with a new celebration. Surrounded by western glitz and glamour, five live auction items sold at the reception by female auctioneer, Wendy Lambert.
“The other highlight this year was the 70th Anniversary Kickoff Reception that the Auxiliary hosted at the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame in Fort Worth,” Velisek said. “It was a great venue to celebrate women who work so hard for the Auxiliary. We had a live auction to benefit our Scholarship and Education endowments and met our goal of $20,000.”
The mark of the Auxiliary reaching its 70th year acknowledges the organization’s tenacity and devotion to Angus youth.
“The fact that this organization has been supporting and educating juniors for 70 years is truly an accomplishment,” Velisek said. “In 1957 we gave out one $300 scholarship, this year we awarded 10 scholarships totaling $18,000. The Auxiliary is always working to promote our junior members and looking for ways to support the breed we love so much.”
The American Angus Auxiliary Breakfast capped off the weekend full of events where they announced the Distinguished Woman of the Year. This year’s honor proved to be particularly special by awarding not just one woman, but a family of women. Sandy Trosper and her three, past Miss American Angus daughters, Lindsey Trosper DeWitte, Whitney Trosper Renfro and Mallory Trosper, received the award for their long-established dedication to the breed and service to the Auxiliary.
Looking forward, the Auxiliary plans to prepare for their Angus Women’s Connected Conference and incorporate new ideas and projects during the year.
“Our in-coming president Deanna Hofing has a lot of exciting ideas up her sleeve and I am looking forward to some fun activities in the coming year,” Velisek said. “There will be an Angus Women’s Connected Conference in March of 2022 and that is always an amazing event. We are very honored the Foundation continues to support us and make that activity possible for the Auxiliary.”
Velisek said she enjoyed networking with fellow Angus women through the Auxiliary.
“I love that I have had the opportunity to meet so many talented women who share the same interests I do,” Velisek said. “I love that the Auxiliary has such a strong foundation of tradition. It is important that we evolve and keep up with the times but in doing so we can’t forget where we came from. I think keeping that foundation strong is what makes us so successful.”
The 2021 National Angus Convention and Trade Show was held Nov. 6-8, 2021 in Fort Worth, Texas. For more news and information about NACTS, visit www.angusconvention.com. To learn more information about the American Angus Auxiliary, visit www.angusauxiliary.com/.
Written by Briley Richard, Angus Communications
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 more than 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.
