Soak up the sun and learn a little on the side at 2023 Angus Convention
Combining business with pleasure usually makes everything more enjoyable. Make plans to attend the 2023 Angus Convention in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 3-6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. The convention features all the regular highlights, including beef-industry education, networking and conducting the business of the American Angus Association. However, this year’s location makes the event the perfect place to bring along family to enjoy the attractions of the Sunshine State. Plan now to include everyone in the trip and take in the fun of the tours.

Thursday, Nov. 2
Kennedy Space Center: Highlighting the journey of discovery and history-making achievements, participants will travel to the headquarters of modern exploration at Cape Canaveral, the home of the Kennedy Space Center. A behind-the-gates bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center showcases historic space exploration along with details of day-to-day Kennedy Space Center operations. This tour lasts approximately seven hours and includes admission, all films and shows, a meal voucher and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

Gatorland and Ziplining: No visit to Orlando is complete without a stop at this classic attraction, but instead of a leisurely stroll, participants will soar over the Floridian treetops while looking for reptiles gathered below. Take in a one-of-a-kind reptilian show and swamp walk to see Florida’s native creatures. This tour lasts five hours and includes admission to Gatorland, lunch and transportation from the headquarters hotel.

Friday, Nov. 3
National Angus Tour: An annual tradition for many breeders, this year’s tour includes Deseret Ranch and Kempfer Cattle Co. Deseret uses a three-way rotational breeding system with Angus, Brahman, Simmental, Red Poll and South Devon to maximize the adaptability to Florida’s subtropical climate. Kempfer Cattle Co. consists of three separate commercial herds of Brahman, Angus and Shorthorn, but all with Brahman influence to fit in the environment. This tour lasts approximately seven hours and includes the tour, lunch and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

Beef Blitz: One of the most popular tours every year, the Beef Blitz provides attendees a closer look at how beef makes its way to consumers. See how the quality of Angus beef that starts at the ranch adds value to users further down the supply chain. Get an inside look at Certified Angus Beef^® brand licensees and how they leverage the logo for more customer loyalty. The Beef Blitz lasts approximately seven hours and includes the tour, lunch and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

Wild Florida: Leave the horses at home and join this tour to take an hour-long airboat ride through an undeveloped area, beginning with exploring a lush nature preserve. Following the airboat tour where local inhabitants will be visible from the shoreline, participants will get up close with a gator during an expert-led Gator Demo. This tour lasts approximately six hours and includes the narrated airboat excursion, park admission, Gator Demo, souvenir photo with an alligator, lunch and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

In addition to the organized tours, Disney World and Universal Studios are just minutes from the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel.

Spots on tours are limited, so those who wish to attend should book early, when registration for the convention opens on July 1. All reservations for tours and hotels can be made through registration for the convention on the convention website. Attendees can visit AngusConvention.com and sign up for the Convention newsletter to stay up to date as more details are released.

Harsh selected to serve Nebraska, Colorado region
The American Angus Association recently named Will Harsh as the regional manager for Colorado and Nebraska. He assumes this new role after three years serving as regional manager for the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

“I recognize the scope of agriculture which exists in both Colorado and Nebraska, and I stand excited for this new opportunity,” Harsh says. “I’ve certainly enjoyed my time serving the Southeast and am thankful for the relationships and experiences I gained there.”

Harsh replaces Levi Landers, who was recently promoted to director of field services.

“Will’s industry experience, eager attitude and member-focused mindset make him the perfect fit for this role,” Landers said. “His ever-evolving knowledge of the Angus business will serve as a great resource to his new territory.”

Harsh is a 2018 graduate of Oklahoma State University where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He grew up on a multigenerational registered Angus operation in central Ohio, with family heavily involved in multiple industry facets. As a product of Angus programs and fueled with Angus enthusiasm, Harsh is equipped and eager to continue his career serving the Angus membership.

“My life is rooted within the Association, from growing up participating in National Junior Angus Association programs, to currently assisting Angus membership with the marketing of their own quality genetics,” Harsh says. “I can confidently say I am doing what I love.”

Harsh will assume his responsibilities May 29. A position to fill Harsh’s vacancy has been posted on www.angus.org/careers.

For more information about the American Angus Association, please visit www.angus.org.

‘Ranchers’ Revelry’ celebrates 150 years of Angus in America
Scottish Angus breeder George Grant 150 years ago brought four Angus bulls across the Atlantic Ocean to America, establishing the enduring legacy of Angus excellence. Angus enthusiasts are invited to celebrate the bulls’ arrival in Victoria, Kan., in 1873 — 150 years later — on May 19 at Audley Farm in Berryville, Va. “Ranchers’ Revelry,” hosted by Audley Farm, promises to be an entertaining evening set in the northern tip of the Shenandoah Valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“We are excited to welcome the Angus family and support the Angus Foundation’s mission and celebrate the legacy of the breed,” says Turner Kobayashi Audley Farm general manager.

Audley Farms will host its first on-site production sale the following day, Saturday, May 20.

For more than 250 years, Audley Farm has been a part of American history, established when Lord Fairfax granted a 3,000-acre estate to Colonel George William Fairfax. In 1764, George Washington’s cousin, Warner Washington, bought half of the estate from Colonel Fairfax. From that point, Audley remained in the Washington family for 138 years.

The most well-known of Audley’s historic residents was Eleanor “Nelly” Custis Lewis, the adopted daughter of George and granddaughter of Martha Washington. Her historic residence, Audley House, has been completely restored and is now the centerpiece of Audley Farm, located a short 30-minute drive west of Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

According to Kobayashi, Nelly was known for her “revelry” as the hostess of Audley Farm. She was a beautiful young woman and a talented musician, dancer and artist who helped entertain guests at her adoptive parents’ social events. Throughout her life, Nelly regarded herself as the keeper of George Washington’s legacy.

During the Friday evening “Ranchers’ Revelry” event, a unique collection of exclusive experiences, art, collectibles and business services will be auctioned, helping to sustain the Angus legacy for the next 150 years. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Angus Foundation and its mission to support the breed’s education, youth and research programs.

“Fundraising events planned, like “Ranchers’ Revelry,” are only possible because of the generous help we receive from supporters,” says Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “The Angus Foundation is grateful to Audley Farm for completely underwriting this event. It will be a top-tier Angus experience for everyone. We are very appreciative of the Angus breeders and allied industry members who have donated to this fundraiser.”

“Ranchers’ Revelry” is not a ticketed event. However, reservations are required since seating will be limited. To register your attendance, visit https://bit.ly/RanchersRevelry.

Senate passes resolution to negate listing of lesser prairie chicken
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed Senate passage of the Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval that would stop the implementation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The resolution of disapproval was led by Sen. Roger Marshall (KS).

“The lesser prairie chicken listing will do little to benefit the bird, but it will succeed in shutting down the voluntary conservation work that is responsible for the species surviving today,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Gene Copenhaver. “This resolution puts flexible, locally led conservation efforts back at the forefront. The Biden administration’s actions to list the bird, micromanage grazing operations on private lands, and implement a top-down approach will not benefit the bird or the land.”

Rep. Tracey Mann (KS) is leading the companion House resolution to disapprove the lesser prairie chicken listing, which passed the House Natural Resources Committee in late April.

NCBA is currently suing the Department of the Interior and the FWS over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in March. In addition to NCBA, the case is being brought by lead plaintiff Permian Basin Petroleum Association along with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association.

Alltech acquires Swiss company providing nutrition solutions
Alltech announces the acquisition of majority interest in Agolin, a company founded in 2006 in Switzerland that has developed and produced plant-based nutrition solutions that improve herd performance, profitability and sustainability. Its high-quality essential oil blends are scientifically proven to optimize feed intake and performance, including milk and meat production.

Agolin^® Ruminant was the first feed additive certified by The Carbon Trust for methane reduction in ruminants (2018), an opinion based on academic research, published scientific papers, field reports and independent meta-analysis. In October 2020, the University of California, Davis, published a paper further examining the effects of the product. Visit https://bit.ly/3M1LCWi to review its findings.

Agolin’s essential oil blends complement Alltech’s nutritional technologies. The company hopes to achieve even greater benefits to producers through the synergistic use of technologies. These benefits include improved animal welfare, greater feed efficiency and conversion, more milk and meat, increased profitability and reduced environmental footprint.

USDA names 12 regional food business centers
USDA on May 3 announced the creation of 12 USDA Regional Food Business Centers that will provide national coverage coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building to help farmers, ranchers and other food businesses access new markets and navigate federal, state and local resources.

USDA also announced a $420 million Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI) to fund innovative projects designed in processing and distribution capacity to build resilience across the middle of the supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will partner with state and territories’ departments of agriculture for this program.

“The Regional Food Business Centers, along with investments through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program, will create new and expanded local market opportunities, which will improve farm income, create good-paying jobs and build greater resilience in our overall food system,” said Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“USDA recognizes that local and regional food systems are essential to the overall food supply chain, and the new Regional Food Business Centers are the cornerstone of our efforts to support them,” said Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The Centers’ technical assistance, coupled with the additional funding for processing capacity and infrastructure improvements through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, is bringing us many steps closer to reaching the goals of the Food System Transformation framework.”

More information is available at https://bit.ly/3M57BLY.