Aug. 20, 2010

For more information contact:

Crystal Albers, assistant director of communications/web editor, at 816-383-5100 or calbers@angus.org

Angus Honors at BIF

The Beef Improvement Federation honored several Angus breeders and Association staff this summer.

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) hosts their highly anticipated annual meeting and research symposium every summer — and every summer, the industry-leading organization of breed associations, state and national cattlemen’s groups, academics and researchers honors its finest for their contributions to the beef cattle business.

Several Angus leaders were among those honorees June 28-July 1 at the 42nd Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Research Symposium and Annual Meeting in Columbia, Mo. Like other BIF meetings, the “Gateway to Profit” conference remained focused on improvements in cattle genetics, performance and methodologies.

Continuing Service: Bill Bowman

Bill Bowman, American Angus Association chief operating officer, was among four individuals honored for their contributions to leadership and research in the beef industry.

Bowman is a University of Missouri graduate in animal science and worked for Sydenstricker Angus and the American Angus Hall of Fame before holding several positions with the American Angus Association, including vice president of information and data programs, director of performance programs and president of Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI).

He has been an active leader in BIF through encouraging Angus leadership and members to participate, and he has served on BIF’s board of directors, Long-Range Planning Committee and as chairman of the Emerging Technologies Committee.

BIF conference co-chairs Bob Weaber, University of Missouri, and Ben Eggers, Sydenstricker Genetics, presented the Continuing Service Awards.

Eggers said Bowman’s dedication to improving the Angus breed —from establishing the Beef Record Service (BRS) to incorporating DNA measures to create genomic-enhanced expected progeny differences (EPDs) — makes him worthy of the Continuing Service Award.

“He has focused his efforts on increasing efficiencies within the office and providing members and their commercial customers the tools to improve profitability through Angus genetics,” Eggers said.

Bowman said he was honored by the BIF award.

“Serving Angus breeders and the beef cattle business is what I’ve always enjoyed doing,” he said. “Collaboration with organizations like BIF allows the industry to make great strides in beef production.”

Other Continuing Service Award winners included: Michael Tess, a retired professor in animal genetics from Montana State University; Dave Patterson, University of Missouri researcher in beef reproduction; and Twig Marston, director of the University of Nebraska’s Northeast Research and Extension Center in Norfolk.

Commercial Producer of the Year: Downey Ranch

Downey Ranch Inc., Wamego, Kan., was named the BIF 2010 Commercial Producer of the Year. Located just southeast of Manhattan and nestled in the Flint Hills, Downey Ranch has ensured the proper handling of its cattle since its formation in 1986 by Joe Downey.

Joe Carpenter and Barb Downey manage the ranch and accepted the award from BEEF magazine Senior Editor Burt Rutherford.

The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), located in Topeka, nominated the ranch.

“The Downeys make a great commercial producer nominee because they work hard every day to make sure that a good quality product makes it to the consumer’s plate,” said Scarlett Hagins, communications program manager for the KLA. That has been their focus since Day 1, she added.

Today the ranch encompasses more than 6,300 acres occupied by 550 cows. Along with its 140 registered Angus cows, Downey Ranch is home to commercial Angus, F-1 baldies and Red Angus and Angus-cross cows, 425 that calve in the spring and 125 that calve in the fall.

The operation conducts low-stress handling, integrated disease management, fenceline weaning, early weaning, research- and feedback-based management and individual end-point management to efficiently produce high-quality beef.

Most of the calves are marketed through U.S. Premium Beef (USPB) on an age- and source-verified grid, while commercial bred females and registered bulls are sold at an annual production sale.

For more information about Downey Ranch visit www.downeyranch.com.

Pioneer Awards

Four individuals were honored during the BIF conference for their pioneering methods in raising beef — each of the honorees are affiliated with the Angus business.

“When you think of a pioneer, you think about settlers moving west and overcoming obstacles,” said Ben Eggers, co-chair for the BIF conference. “In the same way, these [pioneers] have led our beef industry through difficult times.”

John and Bettie Rotert. The first pioneer award was presented to Montrose, Mo., natives John and Bettie Rotert, who have raised cattle since 1956. What started out as one registered Angus heifer grew into a partnership with Bob Harriman and the development of Rotert/Harriman Full Service Genetic Providers. The farm currently has an Angus, Gelbvieh and Simmental crossbreeding system and sells about 300 bulls per year.

Not only have the Roterts dedicated their lives to producing great cattle, they have also been active in the beef industry and have attended BIF meetings for more than 40 years. Blind since age 21, John has found much success and gained much admiration in the industry for his ability to know what it takes to raise cattle without the use of his sight.

“John served as an inspiration to many stockmen who are continually amazed at his ability to analyze conformation in cattle with the touch of his hands,” said Eggers, who recognized the Roterts as recipients of the Pioneer Award during the luncheon.

Glen Klippenstein. The second pioneer award was presented to Glen Klippenstein of Glenkirk Farms in Maysville, Mo. Glenkirk Farms has roots in the Angus breed and also includes Hereford seedstock.

Klippenstein not only tends to business on his farm, but he has also played instrumental roles in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), American Polled Hereford Association and American Chianina Association. Klippenstein has been involved politically, serving as a senator for the state of Missouri.

“He has traveled more, spoken more, visited more beef herds, judged more shows, motivated more youth and promoted the beef industry both domestically and globally more than anyone can imagine,” said Darla Eggers, member of the BIF conference planning committee.

Richard McClung. The third award was given to Richard McClung, who has served as managing partner at Wehrmann Angus in New Market, Va., since 1978. After completing his animal science degree at West Virginia University in 1964, McClung worked for many cattle operations with the goal to produce “complete” cattle — those with low birth weight expected progeny differences (EPDs), enough milk, adequate growth with a moderate frame size, good fleshing ability and positive carcass merit from muscle, marbling and pounds. His dedication to Wehrmann Angus helped the operation win BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year in 1997.

“He has devoted his life’s work in the pursuit for cattle that excel for traits and add profitability to the business,” said Brian House of Select Sires Inc., and BIF board member. 

Daryl Strohbehn. The final award was presented to beef Extension educator and researcher Daryl Strohbehn, who has served as a state Extension beef specialist at Iowa State University for 34 years.

Known by colleagues as “Stroh,” his research has spanned across many different areas, including reproduction, nutrition, genetics and production economics. His many contributions on a national scale have included developing Beef Cow Business Records, which have become a part of the NCBA’s National Standardized Performance Analysis; the Midwest Beef Cattle Handbook; and BRaNDS (Beef Ration and Nutrition Decisions Software). He has garnered respect among his peers for his research and efforts to move Extension forward.

“He’s the guy in the group who makes the synergism happen,” said Bob Weaber, co-chairman for the BIF conference.

The award winners were given plaques to recognize their accomplishments in serving as beef industry pioneers.

Elected BIF Leaders

BIF is led by a dedicated board of directors and officer team made up of cattle producers, association representatives, academics and researchers representing different sectors of the cattle industry.

Angus breeder Ben Eggers of Sydenstricker Genetics, Mexico, Mo., took over the reigns as 2010 BIF president during the annual meeting from 2009 President Brian McCulloh, Viroqua, WI. Both are former American Angus Association board directors.

Meanwhile, Angus cattlemen Joe Hampton, Mount Ulla, N.C., and Steve Munger, Mansfield, S.D., were elected to serve three-year terms on the BIF board, which also includes: Eggers, president; Larry Mehlhoff, Sheridan, Mont., vice president; Joe Cassady, North Carolina State University, executive director; Twig Marston, University of Nebraska, historian; Mark Enns, Colorado State University, regional secretary-West; Jane Parish, Mississippi State, regional secretary-East; Bob Weaber, University of Missouri, regional secretary-Central; Larry Keenan, Red Angus Association of America; Sally Northcutt, American Angus Association; Wade Shafer, American Simmental Association; Chris Shivers, American Brahman Breeders Association; Jack Ward, American Hereford Association; Susan Willmon, American Gelbvieh Association; Mark Cowan, Sallis, Miss.; Hampton; Troy Marshall, Burlington, Colo.; Munger; Gordon Stucky, Kingman, Kan.; Steve Whitmire, Brasstown, N.C.; Darrh Bullock, University of Kentucky; Tom Field, NCBA; Brian House, Select Sires, Inc.; Don Mackenzie, Canadian Beef Breeds Council; McCulloh; Mike Tess, Montana State University; and Mark Thallman, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC).

Scholarship winners

Students with a passion for the beef industry were offered competitive scholarships to assist with their educational and travel expenses to attend the 42nd Annual BIF Research Symposium and Meeting.

Kent Gray, doctoral candidate at North Carolina State University, was the winner of the 2010 Frank H. Baker Memorial Scholarship. Gray is focusing on beef cattle efficiency in his graduate research and has focused much of his research specifically on Angus cattle.

The Baker Scholarship Award is a $1,000 travel scholarship given in memory of Frank H. Baker. Applicants were asked to write an essay, and a panel of animal science faculty judged all submitted essays.

The Roy A. Wallace Scholarship Award was given for the first time this year at the BIF conference. Winners this year included undergraduate student Sally Yon, a young Angus breeder and sophomore majoring in agricultural education and animal science at Clemson University. The graduate student award was presented to Paige Johnson Alexander, a doctoral candidate at Texas Tech University. Alexander was raised on a commercial Angus operation and conducts research centered on animal breeding and genetics.

The Wallace Scholarship Fund was established to honor the life of Roy Wallace and his contributions to beef cattle improvement. More than 40 applicants applied for the two awards this year.

BIF conference travel fellowship recipients included Alexander; Rich Chapple, University of Missouri; David Daniel Jr., Auburn University; Jared Decker, University of Missouri; Allison Echols, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Jose Alberto Barron Lopez, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Tera Loyd Black, University of Florida; Landon Marks, Mississippi State University; Allen Munger, Kansas State University; Jordan Paulsrud, Iowa State University; Megan Rolf, University of Missouri; and Tasia Taxis, University of Missouri.

The student travel fellowships were supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture Animal Genome, Genetics and Breeding Program.

For other award winners and more extensive coverage of the BIF symposium including BIF presentation summaries, proceedings, audio files, award winners and more, visit www.bifconference.com.

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— Adapted from news releases by Katie Allen and Katie Maupin for the Beef Improvement Federation.