Virginia Represented in 2017 Beef Leaders Institute

July 11, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Morgan Marley, communications intern, at 816-383-5236 or mmarley.intern@angus.media; or

Caitlyn Brandt, events coordinator of events and education, at 816-383-5189 or cbrandt@angus.org.

PHOTOS: Available via prphotos@angus.org or 816-383-5100.

Virginia Represented in 2017 Beef Leaders Institute

Jennifer Shaver Friedel, Blacksburg, Va., attended the five-day educational event hosted by the American Angus Association.

Jennifer Shaver Friedel joined an elite group of American Angus Association members by attending the tenth-annual Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) June 19-23. BLI is a complete pasture-to-plate experience for young leaders in the Angus industry that explores quality genetics, performance programs, genomic technology, herd health, the Certified Angus Beef^® (CAB) brand and much more. This year’s class consisted of nearly 20 individuals from all areas of the country.

Friedel, Blacksburg, Va., with Point Pleasant Angus said there is a lot to be learned from an event like BLI just by getting to network with other producers.

“I really enjoyed getting to know the other participants and getting to learn about their operations,” Friedel said. “Getting experience at different operations and knowing how they handle different situations stimulates the whole thinking process of becoming more innovative and forward-thinking.”

The five-day event, funded by the Angus Foundation, began in Saint Joseph, Mo., at the Association headquarters. Participants interacted with staff and learned how each department works to serve its nearly 25,000 members.

BLI toured throughout the Midwest and ended in Wooster, Ohio, at CAB headquarters. Along the way, participants were able to visit GeneSeek Neogen Operations in Lincoln, Neb.; Feller & Co. Cattle Feeder in Wisner, Neb.; Greater Omaha Packing Co. Inc. in Omaha, Neb.; Trans Ova in Sioux City, Iowa; a Sysco distribution center in Cleveland, Ohio; and a retail tour at Giant Eagle’s Market District Supermarket in Cleveland, Ohio.

Caitlyn Brandt, event coordinator for the American Angus Association, explains that BLI targets young leaders in the Angus industry, ages 25-45, and gives them opportunities to see all sectors of the industry and how Angus plays a role in each of them.

“BLI is designed to provide Angus producers the opportunity to see all sectors of the beef industry after cattle leave their farms,” Brandt said. “By having the chance to network with other producers, feeders, packers, processors, retailers and other industry experts in the areas of genetics, reproduction and marketing, participants go home with knowledge and information that provides better insight into making production decisions on their operations.”

The livestock industry is quickly evolving and BLI gives an inside look to producers at the source of innovation.

“Our industry is always evolving and agriculture, as well as other industries, are becoming very innovative,” Friedel said. “Things are moving so quickly, if we don’t continue our education and stay up to speed, we won’t be able to move forward as an industry.”

A complete list of 2017 BLI participants follows. For more information on how to participate in the leadership event, visit www.angus.org. Applications for the 2018 class will be available online starting next winter.

–– Written by Morgan Marley, Angus Media

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association^® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving nearly 25,000 members across the United States and Canada. It provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on the power of 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’s programs and services, visit www.angus.org.

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Beef Leaders Institute – Class of 2017

Martin Allison, Waverly, Tenn.

Jordan Davis-Cook, Cordell, Okla.

Jason Jagels, Davenport, Neb.

Samantha Jensen, Morris, Minn.

Brad Johnson, Shawano, Wis.

Jeremy Leister, Stillwater, Okla.

Rick Marlatt, Wood Lake, Neb.

Tyler McAlpin, Diamondhead, Miss.

Traves Merrick, Miller, Mo.

Alisha Nord, Valley City, N.D.

Clay Richardson, Carlsbad, N.M.

Jennifer Shaver Friedel, Blacksburg, Va.

Chad Stevenson, Arlington, Wis.

Dereck Washam, Pierce City, Mo.

Coy Young, Blythedale, Mo.

Kristi Poss, Scotia, Neb.

Jocelyn Washam, Wentworth, Mo.

American Angus Representatives:

Gayle Billups, Saint Joseph, Mo.

Melissa Hanway, Saint Joseph, Mo.

Adam Conover, Cameron, Mo.

Drew Feller, Wisner, Neb.