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.

 

Wisconsin Represented in 2017 Beef Leaders Institute

Brad Johnson and Chad Stevenson attended the five-day educational event hosted by the American Angus Association.

 

Two Wisconsin Angus breeders joined an elite group of American Angus Association members by attending the 10th 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.

Brad Johnson, Shawano, Wis., noted the importance of events like BLI for continuing education off the farm.

“It’s important for anyone to continue their education, regardless of their field,” Johnson said. “I think it’s important for young people to start with that mindset early on and continue that throughout their life.”

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 the 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, aged 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 operation.”

BLI sponsors want young producers to have the opportunity to be open to learning and expanding their knowledge. Johnson says he learned how the different sectors of the beef industry work together toward a common goal.

“BLI is really nice because it gives you that whole perspective, all the way from the calf crop on the ground, that we’re all so familiar with, all the way to the consumer,” Johnson said. “It’s absolutely essential that we keep that whole process in mind even when we go back to our own farms and ranches.”

Chad Stevenson, Arlington, Wis., said seeing the industry in a big-picture format allowed him to understand how everything and everyone works together within the industry.

 “The networking, meeting other people, talking to other producers from across the county and learning the challenges they have versus the challenges I face is presented by attending BLI,” Stevenson said. “Seeing the industry broad spectrum puts it in a different perspective, like going to the Association and correlating it to what I do at home and how I can be more efficient.”

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.


 

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