Bonnie Dredla engages in premiere education at Beef Leaders Institute (BLI)
Young Angus enthusiasts gather for a week of producer education and development.
June 27, 2023
June 27, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Holly Martin, director of communications
816-383-5143
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Cutline: Twenty-one American Angus Association® members from across the globe attended the 2023 Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) June 13-17. BLI allows young Association members to experience the beef value chain from pasture to plate.
Bonnie Dredla engages in premiere education at Beef Leaders Institute (BLI)
Young Angus enthusiasts gather for a week of producer education and development.
Bonnie Dredla, Luling, Texas, attended the 2023 Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) June 13-17. The annual event is hosted by the American Angus Association and funded by the Angus Foundation and Certified Angus Beef® brand (CAB®). BLI provides Association members the opportunity to experience the beef value chain from pasture to plate.
“It’s truly a privilege to welcome a new Beef Leaders Institute class each year,” said Mark McCully, Association CEO. “This unique experience fosters growth for attendees and provides an opportunity to connect with their fellow breeders.”
Participants began the week at the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Missouri. While at the breed’s headquarters, attendees met with staff to learn about the many departments and programs housed within the Association. Several Association employees offered insights, including Mark McCully; Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) president; and Clay Zwilling, Angus MediaSM president.
Attendees then hit the road, departing from Saint Joseph to further explore the production and processing sectors of the beef industry. They toured Tyson Fresh Meats in Dakota City, Nebraska, and Weborg Feedyards in Pender, Nebraska.
For the next leg of the trip, attendees traveled to Ohio to continue studying the beef value chain. While visiting Buckhead Toledo, Northwood, Ohio, participants experienced the preparation of value-added CAB® products. They explored the impact of genetics in the beef industry at STgenetics, Tiffin, Ohio.
The final days of the experience were spent in The Culinary Center at the CAB® brand’s headquarters in Wooster, Ohio. From a “Taste the Difference,” steak tasting to a hands-on beef fabrication demonstration in the meat lab, participants explored the specifications behind putting a CAB® steak on the dinner table. Their newly-gained knowledge was even put to the test as they prepared their own steaks with the assistance of world-class chef, Venoy Roggers, III.
During a week fully immersing themselves in the industry, the BLI class realized how the cattle they raise influence the industry well beyond their pastures.
“We’re always selling bulls and you see the commercial people, but you don’t really see what happens to the beef after it leaves,” said Trevor Hinkle, an attendee from Nevada, Missouri. “It’s just a really interesting process to see what happens after it gets to the packer, leaves the packer, and how there’s value made along the whole chain, and how many people are really working to do that. — it’s a really eye-opening experience.”
Hinkle said he’s eager to take what he learned home and share it with his operation’s customers. He expressed his gratitude for the knowledge, perspective and new friendships gained throughout the week.
“We are proud to support educational opportunities like Beef Leaders Institute for our members,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “Providing experiences that prepare our breeders for success is a vital part of the Foundation’s mission to ensure a bright future for the breed.”
Providing continued education for the Angus membership is a priority for the Association. BLI is designed to equip members ages 25 to 45 with the resources to understand all segments of the beef industry. Attendees leave as stronger, more effective leaders for the Angus breed and beef industry. To learn more about BLI, visit www.angus.org/Event/BLIEntryForm. The 2024 application will be available in early November.
— Written by Peyton Schmitt, 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 $3.9 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research in the past decade.
For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 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.
