2011 World Angus Secretariat in Argentina

Every two years Angus Associations from around the world gather to share ideas and build relationships and form a united Angus front on a global scale. This year the World Angus Secretariat, now a conglomerate of 20 different Angus Associations, met in Argentina. Official delegates from Canada included Canadian Angus Association President David Bolduc, Past President Kirk Wildman, CEO Rob Smith, Junior Ambassador Austen Anderson, and Breed Development Specialist Kajal Devani. The official delegates attend the World Angus Secretariat Technical meeting where all the Associations share their technical challenges, and together the secretariat makes recommendations for adopting technology. At this year’s technical meeting we discussed SNP-based parentage verification, using genomic information in genetic evaluations and the benefits of data sharing between the Associations.

Also from Canada were 30 participants, the largest group of participants present in Argentina. The next numerous group of participants was from the Czech Republic who had 17 participants from their country. I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the 30 participants from Canada. You get to know people quite well if you have the chance to travel at length with them.

All Canadian participants would agree that this trip to Argentina was an incredible opportunity to witness Argentinean hospitality, to meet Angus enthusiasts from all over the world, to network and promote Canadian Angus genetics, and to establish strong working relationships. The trip gave me the opportunity to compare notes with breed development staff from 20 other Angus Associations. I recognize that most of them face the same challenges that we do, and I learned some new ways to approach different challenges.

While we were in Argentina, our Junior Ambassador, Austen Anderson, was an exemplary representative for Canadian Angus and Canadian juniors. He is creating a collection of all the photographs that were taken in Argentina so that they can be shared with all our members. So, keep an eye out for these!

Our hosts introduced us to Argentinean beef, wine, culture, Tango, heritage and people. The Canadian participants came back with a better understanding of how things are done all over the world, and in Argentina especially. Argentina is very heavily influenced by Europe, especially by the Spanish and Italians. Their Creole horses are beautiful, and they relish their gaucho traditions. 98% of Argentineans eat beef every day of the week, and their beef preparation methods were very tasty! Argentina is a very diverse country with arid mountain regions as well as more tropical southern regions. They struggle with infrastructure for roads and trade barriers that we can empathize with. And yet, they have huge operations with up to several thousand purebred Angus in their operations. Argentinean Angus breeders utilize a lot of American and Canadian genetics, and enjoy good relationships with many Canadian Angus breeders.

We look forward to the next Secretariat meeting which will be held with the 2013 World Angus Forum in New Zealand. The New Zealand Angus Association has designed a very fun Forum challenge for youth participants. You can read more about this by clicking on the following link: http://www.worldangus.com/.


Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@cdnangus.ca

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

Showdown 2011

We (new CEO Rob Smith and Commercial Fieldman Brian Good) had the pleasure of attending Showdown in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Showdown 2011 was a smashing success. It was an excellent display of quality livestock and, more importantly, an incredible display of extraordinary skill from over 100 youth representatives from coast to coast.

We are both impressed with the incredible creativity of the youths in their graphic design and marketing. The extent to which these youths are able to "ride for the brand" is right up there with the best. Even the experts in marketing Angus genetics are blown away by our youths efforts to promote Angus cattle and beef.

We saw some great Canadian genetics--including the Canadian Class Champion Sealin Creek Rosebud Lass 123X exhibited by Allison Speller. This year there were about 160 head cattle from all four western provinces and Ontario. It was as good a display of livestock as we've had at any type of Angus show, not just Showdown, for some time.

And while the cattle display was impressive, the main focus is not just the cattle; Showdown is about so much more. You don't have to show cattle to attend Showdown. For example, Alec Drury didn't show any cattle but he participated in and won three other events.

It was also great to see an active contingent of peewee participants, 12 youths under the age of 9. Emma Thomason was one of the crowd favourites. Nolan Chalmers told us that he "Learned everything he knows from his grandpa, John Duivenvoorden, but wanted to come to Showdown to learn another perspective." Very impressive insight, especially coming from such a young cattleman!

Everybody really enjoyed the cook-off competition. Rob tried to eat all the steaks presented to him. If you've ever attended Showdown and seen the cook-off competition, you know that there is a lot of beef! The audience had fun watching and was awed by the new CEO's ability to eat steak. Although some participants insisted they didn't know how to cook, the creativity shown was amazing. One team created a steak marinade with Dr. Pepper. While the steaks were on the grill, they sprinkled cinnamon on them. It was unusual but very tasty!

We can't say enough good things about Showdown and our youth participants. If our future is in good hands, then our future is now. The dedication, enthusiasm and wisdom of these youths is out there now. It doesn't have to wait for the future.


Posted by Rob Smith & Brian Good
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Happy retirement Doug Fee

Over the last 17 years, Doug Fee has taken the Canadian Angus Association from the 4th-largest beef cattle breed with a staff of 3 and 29,931 registrations to Canada’s leading beef breed with a staff of 13 and 55,452 registrations. When Doug joined the Association, registrations were completed by Canadian Livestock Records Corporation, there was no Junior program, and the Association offered a limited number of programs.

One of Doug's first tasks as General Manager was to bring the Canadian Angus Association registry in house. The first registrations were processed in January 1996. One year later, we were recognized as having Canada’s largest purebred beef cattle registry.

Doug oversaw the Canadian Angus Association office’s move to Calgary, and the grand opening was held in conjunction with the Association’s 90^th anniversary.

The Canadian Junior Angus Association was formed, and the Juniors held their first event, Showdown, in 2000. Sixty competitors from six provinces brought 100 head of cattle to compete in the 3-day event.

In 1999, we became the first beef breed to offer a tag that met the requirements of the national cattle identification program while also identifying Angus cattle electronically and visually. In the first year of the Canadian Angus Certification Program, about 20,000 tags were sold. That number has steadily increased and in 2010, over 240,000 Angus tags were sold. The Canadian Angus Association made the move to RFID technology in 2005, ahead of the rest of the industry. The program also became truly national in 2009 with the introduction of an Angus ATQ tag for producers using Angus genetics in the province of Quebec.

As CEO, Doug has attended meetings of the World Angus Secretariat in Denmark, South Africa, Ireland and Canada. Canada was the host country in 1985 and 2009.

Doug was part of a 2004 Canadian delegation that celebrated the 125^th anniversary of the founding meeting of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society in Scotland. A plaque was unveiled in the Perth hotel where the founding meeting was held, and the gravestone of Hugh Watson of Keillor, recognized as the founder of the breed, was rededicated.

On behalf of Canada’s Angus breeders, Doug presented a gift heifer to Her Majesty the Queen Mother on the occasion of her 100^th birthday in 2000. He also represented Canadian Angus breeders and the World Angus Secretariat two years later at the Queen Mother’s funeral.

Doug successfully managed the Canadian Angus Association throughout the darkest days in the Canadian beef industry, when the discovery of a single animal with BSE in May 2003 brought the industry to a near halt. Despite the crisis created by BSE, the Canadian Angus Association registered a record 53,412 animals in 2003. That record was broken in 2005 when 56,159 animals were registered, and was broken again in 2006 when 60,744 animals were registered.

In 2006, Angus registrations in Canada increased to over 50% of the Canadian purebred cattle population for the first time. Other significant firsts in 2006 include the first all-age-verified, all-tagged, all-Angus sale in Mankota, Saskatchewan, and the Junior Association’s first Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) conference.

Doug, you will be missed by the staff and members of the Canadian Angus Association. Under your leadership, we have grown and progressed as a breed. We all thank you for your years of dedication and wish you enjoyment and fulfillment in your retirement.

Posted by the Canadian Angus Association staff
Feedback: cdnangus@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

Opportunities for Juniors

June brings deadlines for opportunities available to our Canadian Junior Angus Association members. If you are a Junior, know a Junior, or are a parent of a Junior, please take note of the following:

Wednesday, June 1: International Livestock Congress Student Program application deadline
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the International Stockman's Educational Foundation are running a program that hosts Canadian and international students at the 2011 International Livestock Congress in Calgary. The student program runs Sunday, August 7 through Wednesday, August 11. Full details and application information can be found at www.ilccalgary.com/html/student.html

Wednesday, June 1: Showdown early registration deadline
Showdown 2011 takes place July 21-23 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. With competitions in cattle events, photography, cooking, literature and more, there is truly something for everyone. Showdown is a tremendous opportunity to meet other CJAA members from across the country, engage in friendly competitions, and form new friendships. Register by June 1 and pay $60 per participant. On June 2, the fee increases to $100. Download the application form or visit the the CJAA website for more details.

Wednesday, June 15: CJAA Scholarship application deadline
Every year the CJAA awards three $1,000 scholarships to members. The funds are applied to post-secondary or graduate education. Download the application form. The winners of the scholarships will be announced at Showdown.

Monday, June 20: Showdown late registration deadline
This is your last chance to register for Showdown 2011.


Spread the word to the Juniors you know as these opportunities are too good to miss.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@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

Saskatchewan 4-H Event Report

I had the honour and pleasure of talking to Saskatchewan 4-H members and some of their parents after the 2011 Regina Bull Sale and Show. The show itself was great. It was judged by Wade Beck and it showcased some great Angus animals. Some of our junior members competed for Showmanship recognition and I would like to congratulate Erika Easton, Kristina Ginter and Lexi Hicks for being recognized as superior showmen (or women).

The afternoon planned by Jackie Medvid, the Regional Specialist for the Saskatchewan 4-H Council and Melodi Howkesford-Lee, the South East Regional Specialist, was engaging for me, parents and 4-H members alike. We all learned how to ultrasound animals, how to phenotypically evaluate animals, how Angus animals are evaluated genetically, and how EPDs are calculated and best used. The 4-H members were enthusiastic to learn more about the animals that they spend so much time with, and their passion for beef cattle was certainly contagious. I felt very honoured to be a part of their learning weekend.

The Saskatchewan 4-H council did a fabulous job of organizing a great event. Thank you for all your hard work to put on such a great event.

Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: kajal1@cdnangus.ca

2011 GOAL Conference Outstanding

The 2011 GOAL (Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders) Conference was held February 19-21 in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan Director Laird Senft and I attended the conference with 36 Juniors and Belinda Wagner, the CJAA coordinator and Shelly Easton.

Thursday featured keynote speaker Dr. Scott Vernon of Cal Poly-San Luis Obisp California. His seminar covered communication, motivation and leadership. The evening included dinner at the Western Development Museum followed by a tour and then the attendees presented skits.

Tom Blacklock spoke about Staying Creative in Agriculture on Friday morning, sharing his experiences of retailing his own beef through farmers markets during the BSE crisis.

The Juniors had a full and busy weekend. Bella Spur Innovative Media Inc. gave a marketing presentation and Gordon Roger from Intervet gave a presentation on Opportunities for Youth in Agriculture. The formal banquet was held Saturday night and featured a presentation from Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Erika Easton. I presented the Association's highlights of 2010.

Belinda deserves a lot of credit and recognition for her hard work. She does a great job and did a lot of work to put on a great conference.

It was great to see the Juniors focus on their future in the Angus breed and make new friends. I am also happy to report that after my presentation, several Juniors have "friended" me and "like" the Canadian Angus Association on Facebook.


Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@cdnangus.ca

Showdown 2010

The Canadian Junior Angus Association's Showdown 2010 was held in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, from July 8 to 11. This was an excellent event in which the Juniors were able to participate in a wide range of events including Print Marketing, Sales Talk, Showmanship, Judging, Team Judging, Team Grooming, Photography, Literature, Art, Scrapbook, Graphic Design, Public Speaking, Cook-off, Herdsman, Spirit of Youth and even showing cattle.

The Friday barbecue was held at Ranch Angus Noiseux which is owned by Guy Noiseux. At the recent Canadian Angus Association annual general meeting, Guy's brother Luc was presented with an honourary president pin. Ranch Angus Noiseux was also the site of the cook-off.

The conformation show was held Saturday with a good turnout of cattle. Although the cattle were primarily from Quebec and Ontario, 65 Juniors from across Canada attended the event.

At the Saturday evening awards banquet, Belinda Wagner and Laurie Noiseux were greeted with a standing ovation for their tremendous efforts in organizing Showdown.

Two international competitors also participated in Showdown this year: Jess Denning, the Aberdeen Angus Senior Ambassador from the UK, and Tennessee's Montgomery Dempsey who is part of an exchange program with the Red Angus Association of America.

Congratulations to all the competitors who attended Showdown. And kudos to all who helped the event run smoothly. This is a phenomenal event that all members should be proud of.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

2010 GOAL Conference

The 2010 GOAL conference was an outstanding event. It was very beneficial to our Junior members to have time to get together where they are able to socialize, learn life skills and gain insights into the industry with minimal parental involvement and without the added pressure of caring for cattle at an event.

The Juniors had the opportunity to tour the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, GenServe Laboratories and the Canadian Light Source. The Board of Directors of the Canadian Angus Association joined the Juniors on Friday evening for dinner as the Board meeting was also held in Saskatoon. The Juniors then went to play on waterslides and enjoy sundaes.

On Saturday, 1998 Olympic gold medallist in women's curling Joan McKusker, gave the keynote speech titled "Ordinary People do Extraordinary Things". The day wound up at Champetre County, a small French community east of Saskatoon, where the Juniors had to find their way out of a maze, enjoyed sleigh rides, supper, entertainment from a five-time Australian bull whip champion and square dancing lessons.

Sunday our very own Kajal Devani gave a presentation to help Juniors understand population genetics and management of genetic defects. Many came prepared with questions. We learned that candy is a great motivator to encourage participation!

It was great to see the Juniors form new friendships and achieve a sense of camaraderie. We really appreciate being invited to join in the weekend activities. We really enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot.


Posted by Michael Latimer & Kajal Devani
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Are You Smarter than the Canadian Angus Juniors?

The Juniors and I would like to invite Canadian Angus breeders to challenge us with questions. There is a prize for the member who stumps us!

Please submit all your Canadian Angus related questions to me at kajal1@cdnangus.ca. You can ask about the Canadian Angus Performance Program, genomics, or the name of the first Angus animal born in Canada. I will take all the questions to the GOAL conference in February and will try to answer them with the help of all the Junior members attending. Questions and answers will be posted on the website after the conference.

The deadline to submit your questions is February 16.

Good luck members! Even better luck Juniors!


Posted by Kajal Devani
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca