Canadian Angus Foundation Update

The Canadian Angus Foundation has had one of its best years ever. We successfully raised $26,280 in the Baldy Fundraiser, half of which was donated to the ‘Kids with Cancer Society’. We also had a great turnout for the Junior Ambassador competition that featured some of the best youth that our Angus fraternity has to offer. Ultimately Austen Anderson of Swan River, Manitoba was selected as our ambassador for the upcoming year. Austen will travel to the World Angus Secretariat in Argentina as well as several shows and sales across Canada.

A few new opportunities for our Juniors include the chance for one CJAA member to have $500 of their travel paid to the GOAL conference in Regina this February. This is awarded through the Canadian Angus Memorial Fund and is open to members of the CJAA. To enter submit a paragraph stating ‘How you will benefit from attending GOAL’ to mlatimer@cdnangus.ca; be sure to include your contact information.

The inaugural Dick Turner Award will be presented at the 2012 Canadian Angus Association annual general meeting in Lethbridge. The criteria for the award will be announced early in 2012 so keep reading the Junior Connections newsletter and Angus World for more information.

The Canadian Angus Foundation functions to preserve and expand the Angus breed for future generations through education, youth development, scientific and market research, and historical restoration. More information about the Canadian Angus Foundation is available at http://www.canangusfoundation.ca/ or by email to mlatimer@cdnangus.ca.


Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: mlatimer@cdnangus.ca

Red and Black Baldy Fundraiser Check Presentation

For the past several months the Canadian Angus Foundation has carried out the Red and Black Baldy Fundraiser. The challenge was issued to President Kirk Wildman, Rob Smith and me, to raise money with the highest fundraiser having their head shaved during the banquet at the 2011 Canadian Angus Annual Meeting in Clear Lake, Manitoba.

In the end, all three of us had our heads shaved. The campaign raised a total of $27,280 with half of the proceeds going toward the Canadian Angus Foundation and half going toward the Kids with Cancer Society. On Monday, July 4, Kirk, his son Thomas and I presented a check to the Kids with Cancer Society Executive Director, Val Figliuzzi for $13,640. The Kids with Cancer Society is a tremendous organization that works toward a very important and worthwhile cause.

I am very proud of the level of support we received from the members of the Canadian Angus Association. We were supported by 145 different individuals, farms, families, and other agricultural groups. Many of these donors represent more than one person which makes this even more significant. It is now the most successful fundraising campaign in the history of the Foundation. When we initiated the campaign, I was skeptical as to the amount of money that we would be able to raise. I couldn’t believe that anyone would pay a wooden nickel to see Kirk, Rob, or me shave our heads in the middle of summer. It didn’t take long for me to realize that it had nothing to do with any of our hair. It had to do with the cause we were supporting in that everyone either knows someone or has been affected by cancer themselves and are very passionate toward the cause. The members of the Canadian Angus Association, whether they contributed to this campaign or not, should be extremely proud of this accomplishment. It truly shows the generosity and passion of everyone in the agriculture industry.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@cdnangus.ca

The Baldy Fundraiser

Past president Kirk Wildman’s family had a challenging year after their oldest son Thomas was diagnosed with leukemia. To show support, the staff created the Baldy Fundraiser where all the money raised will be split between The Kids with Cancer Society (http://www.kidswithcancer.ca) and the Canadian Angus Foundation (http://www.canangusfoundation.ca). The Kids with Cancer Society supports families as their children fight cancer. The Canadian Angus Foundation supports youth development, historical preservation and education and research.

The premise of the fundraiser was that members would donate towards one of the three “candidates”, Kirk Wildman, Michael Latimer and Rob Smith. The person with the most money donated towards him would have his head shaved at the AGM. Up until the final moment, Kirk Wildman was in the lead. Thomas was very excited to have the opportunity to share the bald feeling with his dad.

The Wildman family donated a Buffalo Sabres hockey jersey autographed by Ryan Miller for auction. Sandy Margetts was immensely generous; not only was she the highest bidder for the jersey but she then presented the jersey back to Thomas with instructions for him to “stay well and grow into it fully”. There was not a dry eye in the banquet hall at that moment.

At the final moment just before Kirk’s head was shaved, the members in attendance donated an extra $5,000 to have all three candidates shave their heads. Kirk, Michael and Rob patiently endured a stream of people who came up to help make each of them bald. We’d like to thank them for volunteering for this fundraiser.

We’d also like to thank Doug Wilson from PSL Sabirnet Systems for donating his time to create the promotional graphics on our website. Our most heartfelt thanks to the members, the Juniors and the industry partners who donated funds towards this cause. We commend the Juniors who supported the fundraiser, in particular Erika Eastman who donated a heifer at their sale and Austen Anderson who donated one of his paintings for auction. The heart and strength of the Angus community is truly evident in the over $25,000 that was raised.

Donations can still be made on the Foundation website (http://www.canangusfoundation.ca), or by contacting Michael Latimer at 1-888-571-3580 until June 30.

To see photos, please visit http://www.cdnangus.ca/members/agm.htm#BaldyFundraiser

Posted by the Canadian Angus Association staff
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Incoming CEO Joins the Baldy Fundraiser

Rob Smith, who will take over as CEO of the Canadian Angus Association on July 1, has decided to risk his hair and join the Baldy Fundraiser. Rob has some serious catching up to do as our totals have increased thanks to two generous donations this week.

Our current Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador and Canadian Junior Angus Association President Erika Easton sold a heifer at her family's recent bull sale and donated the money to the fundraiser. She raised over $5,000. At the Towaw bull sale, the Wildman family sold raffle tickets on a heifer and raised over $7,000. Well done Erika and the Wildman family!

Our current totals stand at:

Kirk Wildman - $8,225
Michael Latimer - $7,100
Rob Smith - $0

Remember, the individual who raises the most money in this fundraiser will have his head shaved at the annual meeting on June 11 in Clear Lake, Manitoba. The individual who donates the largest amount gets the honour of shaving the hair.

Let's all pitch in to help Rob get a "clean start" when he takes over CEO responsibilities from Doug Fee on July 1.

All money raised through this project will be equally split between the Canadian Angus Foundation and the Kids with Cancer Society. Click here to donate online, and specify if you are supporting Michael, Kirk or Rob in the comments field.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca