Sept. 20, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Virginia Angus Association at 540-337-3001 or http://vaangus.org

Virginia Field Day Draws Large Crowd

The aroma of a prime rib dinner on barbecue smokers, the sound of Blue Grass music and pleasant weather greeted 315 guests Aug. 28 as Jerry and Connie Hall of Hill Crest Farm and Poor House Angus in Delaplane, Va., rolled out the red carpet for the 2010 Virginia Beef Cattlemen’s Field Day.

Forty-one trade show vendors and supporters provided displays of cattle handling equipment, tractors, implements and animal health products. Cattle displays provided by some of Virginia’s most progressive herds were also available. The event was cosponsored by the Virginia Angus Association and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.

A special display of the Hill Crest Farm and Rucker Family was available. Pictures of Hill Crest sale and show champions, family activities, awards and narratives documented the farm’s rich heritage, commitment to the Angus business and over three generations of community involvement. Penny Rucker, one of the family matriarchs, manned the booth and provided in-depth explanations of John Rucker’s legacy and influence in driving the operation to where it is today. After the guests had the opportunity to walk the grounds and visit the displays, Anne Davis, Hill Crest trail boss, provided the pre-meal blessing. Attendees then feasted on a mouth watering prime rib and scalloped potato dinner catered by Mill Valley Bar-B-Q. Cobbler Mountain Grass entertained the audience with live Blue Grass music.

Virginia Angus Association president Jerry Gustin opened the afternoon portion of the agenda by recognizing Shane Clary, the president of the Virginia Angus Junior Angus Association who was recently elected as a board member of the National Junior Angus Association. Coincidentally, Clary was also the recipient of the first American Angus Association’s Foundation John Rucker Scholarship, established by a donation from Dwight Houff and family of Holly Hill Farm. Clary discussed his gratitude for the support that he had received from the respective Virginia Angus Associations and presented the Rucker Family with framed pictures of the scholarship presentation at the recent National Junior Angus Show in Denver, Colo.

Gustin then initiated the speaker-educational portion of the agenda by introducing the field day’s keynote speaker, Charles H. Conner, the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and former Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Conner discussed the increasing role of government involvement in agriculture and the impact of unintended consequences that can result from over-regulation by agencies such as the EPA. He emphasized the importance of communicating with elected officials who want to stay in office and are eager to hear from constituents. Mr. Conner went on to stress the fact that if producers don’t actively and accurately tell agricultures’ story, it will be told by organizations such as PETA, HSUS and activist groups whose stated goal is to bring an end to the animal industry as we know it today.

After the keynote speaker, Tom Field, executive director of producer education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) took center stage as the moderator for the panel discussion entitled: "Profitability—2010 and Beyond."

Field’s opening remarks echoed those of Mr. Conner stressing the importance of making your position known to your elected officials. He emphasized the fact that the congressional staffers are young and mostly not connected to agriculture. They are eager to learn and seek your input and first-hand information that people engaged in production agriculture can provide.

He related his recent experiences and involvement with the USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration's (GIPSA) proposed federal rule on the buying and selling of livestock at a public meeting held in Fort Collins, Colo.

Field reiterated that the GIPSA rule is overly broad and very vague and will lead to less competition instead of more. He also discussed the impact that the rule as presently written would have on order buyers and branded beef alliances such as Certified Angus Beef. Field allowed the other panelists to make opening remarks and then opened the discussion to questions and discussion from the floor

Tim Sutphin, panelist and owner of Hillwinds Farm, Dublin, Virginia discussed his philosophy and experiences and challenged the audience to stay motivated and enthusiastic about the cattle business. "Seize the opportunity to expand and try things that will set you apart from the average," stated Sutphin.

He then discussed his success with retained ownership opportunities to be rewarded for your efforts with value-added products. Sutphin also encouraged seedstock producers to use highly proven bulls in their breeding programs that provide more predictability in their progeny, which ultimately help commercial cattlemen hit quality targets.

Donnie Schiefelbein, owner/president of Schiefelbein Farms, Kimball, Minn., provided his philosophy on feeding what others don’t want or can’t use. He recounted the successful incorporation of products like sweet corn silage, distillers’ byproducts and corn screenings into their program and the positive impact on input costs.

Schiefelbein also discussed non-hormone treated cattle program and the premiums that they have been able to garner for their feeders and those that they buy back from their bull customers. As an example, he quoted recent sale prices on some of their 815-pound steers that sold for $1.20 per pound, fetching profit for them and the producers from whom they buy cattle.

Paul Bennett, co-owner of Knoll Crest Farm, Inc., Red House, Va., stressed some of the factors that have led to their success, including low-cost production, adaptability to change, understanding customer needs and requirements, providing service and a high level of integrity in everything the operation does.

Paul went on to discuss the importance of incorporating emerging technologies such as EPDs that will eventually be replaced with some of now available genomic profiles. He also believes that all breeds need to embrace heterosis as a free profit maker. During the question-and-answer session, he discussed some of the results of the sessions he has been involved with as president of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF).

The Virginia Angus Association wishes the thank the speakers and panelists, the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Hill Crest Farm, the supporters, vendors and all those who played a role in the success of the 2010 Virginia Beef Cattlemen’s Field Day. Stay tuned — we plan to do it again next year!

— Release provided by the Virginia Angus Association.