And this is only the beginning…

I don’t think I’ll ever forget what a great time us three interns had meeting and working with the office staff at the Canadian Angus Association headquarters while we were in Calgary for training week. After an uneventful flight home, I got right down to work with promotion here in Ontario. My internship duties actually started prior to training week as I attended Youth Forum the day before my flight, a very large junior show in Orangeville, Ontario. While there I had a chance to talk to several eager and enthusiastic junior showmen, and it was great to see such a large number of Angus entries in the show.


One of the first things I did upon arriving home from Calgary was make contact with several schools around the province to see if I could come do a workshop for grade 3 to 5 students about the beef industry and 4-H. This is actually quite a difficult task because of the strict rules that the Ontario school boards have regarding guest speakers in schools. Luckily I have had a few teachers jump right on board, so I will be visiting their classrooms in the next few weeks.


Another project that I have been working on is a promotional video for the Canadian Junior Angus GOAL (Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders) Conference. I was lucky enough to attend the GOAL conference this year, and I found out what a great event it was. Collectively the Junior board and the CAA decided that we needed a video to highlight this outstanding annual conference to Juniors, as it truly is an event that you have to experience to believe. Once you’ve attended one GOAL conference, you’ll just have to go every year. This video is now finalized and it will be released at our CAA National Convention. 


Speaking of Convention, one of my main focuses over the past couple weeks has been preparation and marketing for the 2013 CAA National Convention in Guelph.  Ontario breeders are very lucky to have this amazing national event being held right here within the province. There’s no doubt that it promises to be an outstanding event for all Angus breeders across the country. One of our big marketing pushes has been for our Rancher Endorsed Day, which is on Friday, June 7. This day is open to all commercial and purebred breeders, plus representatives from other sectors of the industry. There will be several industry leaders speaking throughout this day, highlighting the value of the Angus Tag to producers. There’s just no reason not to be using Angus Tags, and I’m sure this will be clear by the end of Rancher Endorsed Day.

Farm Visit

I have spent multiple days putting flyers up in several feed stores and co-ops throughout the province to make sure everyone knows about Rancher Endorsed Day. Additionally, I made contact with several country radio stations to see if they will cover our event on their station. I have also put the event on social media and other online venues to be sure that we reach as many people as possible. One of my favourite days so far was when I was dropping flyers off in the western Ontario area, and I stopped at an Angus producer’s farm along the way. I had a chance to tour their herd, and had excellent Angus hospitality while I was there. Apparently they used to have a herd of more than 100 registered Angus cows. Although they don’t have nearly that many now, it was great to visit with them and hear their thoughts and opinions about the Junior Angus Association. They also showed me some excellent pieces of Angus history, including some old Angus World publications that were published long ago.

Central Ontario Grasstime Sale

I also attended the Central Ontario Grasstime Sale this past Saturday to invite everyone to Convention and Rancher Endorsed Day. I took several flyers with me and handed them out to breeders throughout the day. I will also be going to the OVAC Classic Sale on June 1 to promote Rancher Endorsed Day once again. The deadline to register for Rancher Endorsed Day is June 3, so it’s not too late to get in on this event-filled day.



Another cornerstone event happening at this years’ Convention is the second annual CAF Building the Legacy Sale. I’m sure you hear it a lot, but this sale absolutely represents industry-leading genetics that our CAA breeders have been kind enough to donate. Proceeds from this sale go towards the Canadian Angus Foundation to help fund youth programs. Last year's sale helped fund the Canadian Angus Association's youth teams that are representing Canada at the World Angus Forum Youth Programme in New Zealand. Obviously I’m very passionate about this CAF fundraiser as I am one of the very fortunate juniors that will be “flying the flag” on behalf of all Canadian Angus breeders at what is equivalent to the international Angus Olympics! Last year's sale was a smashing success, and hopefully all breeders get a chance to view the catalogue for this year’s outstanding offering. Don’t worry if you can’t attend the sale, as it will also be broadcast live at www.liveauctions.tv.


It’s certainly been a busy summer so far, but I know that this is only the beginning. I personally can’t wait for Convention where I will get a chance to meet so many of our Canadian Angus breeders. Not only will we have the Canadian Angus Association and Canadian Angus Foundation annual general meetings, we also have Rancher Endorsed Day, farm visits and demonstrations, the Niagara Falls tour, the Junior Ambassador competition, the CAF Building the Legacy II Sale and more. I’m also vastly looking forward to the Calgary Stampede, Summer Synergy, and Showdown in July. Dr. Seuss has a book entitled “Oh the Places You’ll Go”, and it seems very relevant to this summer, as this internship has taken me and will take me many places that I wouldn’t have had the chance to go without. I think Karla, Katie, and I can all agree that this internship is the best summer job you could ask for. It’s actually hard to believe all of the amazing opportunities that are available to Canadian Angus Juniors. Watch for Karla, Katie and me at events near you throughout the remainder of the summer.



Posted by Matthew Bates
Feedback: mbates@cdnangus.ca

Rider Pride and the Big Moose

We have been working for almost a month and the time has flown by. Each day we get to work on different tasks. This makes work very interesting and keeps things exciting. We as interns are definitely not working and doing the same thing each and every day. I personally really enjoy this aspect of the internship. There is no time to be bored with the projects that you are working on because they change before you can become bored with them.

Over the past two weeks I have traveled to some more schools, wrote an article, worked on some graphic design projects, started to make a video and continued to book more school presentations. One of the last schools that I visited was in Avonlea. I presented to 50 kids in grades 3-6. I thought that having the large spread of ages would be difficult but it turned out great. The older kids asked questions that helped me explain more to the group as a whole. The kids really enjoy dressing up as representatives of the beef industry and seeing what their fellow classmates had to put on in front of the class. I would say that the store clerk and consumer costumes that I have get the best reactions from the kids. Whoever is the clerk has the stereotypical clerk visor and the consumer gets to hold a baby. I really enjoy teaching the kids and it is rewarding to get asked questions and hear their comments after you are done with your presentation. Avonlea is a small town southwest of Regina. It is a very interesting town. I have discovered that the people of Saskatchewan are very loyal to the Roughriders. The town of Avonlea is proof of this fan pride. They had blocks of the town called Riderville and some houses or garages had been completely painted green. The Saskatchewan people are serious! 

Another project that I have worked on is an article for the Angus Edge in Saskatchewan. The main topic of the article was the use of social media in the agriculture industry and how it can be an advantage to producers. Social media has grown into a large tool that if utilized effectively can be a new avenue to market your business. Almost every Canadian, 86% to be exact, has a Facebook profile and checks or updates their Facebook page daily. Social media is important! The article just scrapes the surface of the ways you can use social media to help create buzz about your business.

Next year’s National Convention will be held in Moose Jaw. I was fortunate to attend the committee meeting where they started to bounce ideas off of each other. This was a great opportunity for me to meet and put a face to the Saskatchewan directors. I did some filming and picture taking to use in an upcoming project. I am eager to get started on this project this week.

The next while is going to be busy with regional shows and more schools. We are doing a presentation at 4-H on Parade in Calgary at the end of May. Katelyn and I will be working together at this event. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for us as 47 4-H clubs will be there. As time flies by we are all getting ready to work in the Cattle Trail at the Calgary Stampede, Summer Synergy and Showdown in Armstrong, B.C. Summer 2013 is shaping up to be one for the books I think!

Remember, if you would like an intern to come to your event, please do not hesitate to contact the office or email Cassie Dorran at cdorran@cdnangus.ca.

 



Posted by Karla Ness
Feedback: kness@cdnangus.ca

Katie's Busy Week of Promotion

When you embark on a new experience, whether that is a new job, event or even buying a new pair of shoes, there are always feelings of anxiety and caution. Beginning my internship with the Canadian Angus Association was no different. There is a quote which always offers me encouragement by A. G. Phillips: “It is not what we know that scares us, it is what we do not,” and now there is no doubt in my mind that this was an opportunity I could not have denied myself. 

My advocating began very quickly as we finished training on Friday, April 26^th and my first event was on the following Monday! Given that I did not have much time to reflect before going out and promoting, my natural instincts really took over. Being a Junior exhibiting at so many shows as a 4-H member and a Canadian Junior Angus member in the past, I really enjoy being at all the shows and talking to children about their calves and show year. I feel we can all agree there is nothing that compares to the utter joy in nine-year–olds’ eyes as they get handed that first ribbon as their doting grandparents are snapping pictures. The Angus breed must be proud of these life skills they provide for their Juniors, such as me, through programming and support thanks to vast volunteers and perseverance of numerous committees.

This week has been unbelievably busy as achievement day season begins and the school year is wrapping up. I began my week out at Ponoka District Achievement Day judging grooming. This was a great event with around 50 members who were all keen to exhibit their projects. Achievement day was always a lot like Christmas for me, leaving events not as work but more like a gift. 

Moving on from my day spent with 4-H members, I stepped into the classroom. This has always been one of my favourite places to be. I had the opportunity to visit Donalda and Forestburg schools in the last couple days, reaching over 100 students ranging from ages 8 to 12, educating them on their impact on the agriculture industry as consumers as well as the benefits of eating beef. These pasture-to-plate presentations really encouraged the children to reflect on where their food comes from and all the steps of production it takes before that hamburger lands on their bun. It was so enlightening to see children talking and asking questions about Canadian Angus, Angus beef and agriculture in general. 

In addition to being out in the field and visiting classrooms, I have been in the Calgary office right in the middle of all the action that is the Angus breed. Through my time in the office I have been busy keeping an eye on social media and scouting out future ideas for promotion. Based on the archives I have had the chance to explore and develop, I want to congratulate the Canadian Angus members on their exceptional campaigns through this last year in the various Angus publications as well as the overwhelming support of those in agriculture (producers included) of the breed and the benefits of the industry as a whole.

On behalf of Matt, Karla and myself, I would like to offer thanks to the outstanding support staff in the Angus offices in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario as well as the constructive field work the two interns (Stacey Domolewski and Erin Toner) provided last year for leaving such a great legacy for the Angus breed and the intern program along with the encouragement of the Canadian Angus Association members.

I’ve only been on the job three weeks, but I sure feel like I have accomplished a great deal! Be sure to keep your eyes open for Karla, Matt and me, as still ahead are Summer Synergy (Olds, AB), Calgary Stampede Cattle Trail (Calgary, AB), Canadian Junior Angus Showdown (Armstrong, BC) and various events that may be in your area! As well feel free to contact us if we could be assistance or advantage at any events in your area!

 


Posted by Katie Dietrich
Feedback: kdietrich@cdnangus.ca

Summer Interns Week One

After a productive training week in Calgary it was time for us three to part ways and begin planning our summers in each of our provinces. For me, my trek to land of the living skies began on April 28^th. I left a breezy Calgary around noon and my Envoy was packed to the max. The next stop for me was Regina! I began driving and soon realized that the drive was going to be full of three things: flat land, no trees and bumpy roads. However, that did not stop my excitement of moving to a new city and experiencing something brand new for the summer. After 793 km and a few stops at local gas stations, I made it safely to Regina. On the drive I stopped to take a few pictures of how much water there is in the fields out here. I don’t think that the farmers will be in the fields anytime soon. In fact, places in Saskatchewan have declared a state of emergency with high amounts of water causing flooding. I am sure glad I brought my rubber boots!

Some of the flooding

After driving through the heart of Regina, I finally found the place that I will be staying in this summer. After numerous trips into the house and up the flight of stairs I had all my bags in my room. I met the lady whose house I am living in and had a great visit with her and her daughter. They told me what I should do or see in the city while I am here. I was tired from the trip so we said goodbye and I had my first sleep in Regina. When I woke up, I thought I was in a nightmare. I looked outside and it was a winter storm. I couldn’t believe it, but that is Canadian weather I suppose.

Wednesday was my first day in the office in Regina. I met Belinda Wagner and she showed me where the office is that I will be working in and around the grounds. Then I was able to dive into my planning for the summer. Over the last three days I have been getting pretty good responses from schools. I currently have 11 school presentations confirmed in May and early June. I have worked on various projects that are for the school presentations. The biggest project that I have completed is a postcard for a takeaway for the school kids. The main aim of the postcard is for the students to take home and show their parents what they learned through our presentation. I am very excited to see the final printed copy.

Learning how to judge

Over the weekend I was able to attend a judging clinic in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. A fun fact I learned about Weyburn is that it is the home town of one of the greatest Canadians — Tommy Douglas. This was the first judging clinic that the region had put on for the kids. There was a great turnout and 80 kids were registered. There was a variety of ages in attendance; from clever buds to older senior members. The members judged dairy heifers, light horses, beef heifers and market steers. I helped with registration, helped the younger kids with filling out their judging cards and taking reasons. A judge first went through what to look for when judging a certain class and good terms to use. The kids were then given 15 minutes to judge the class. Then they had to give their reasons to the judge, a leader or me. I got to interact with most members there and met Erica Easton. Erica is going to New Zealand as a team lead for the World Angus Forum in October so it was really nice to meet her. I had a great time in Weyburn and it was so good to see so many young energetic 4-Hers that wanted to learn.

Even though we interns are spread throughout the country we keep in constant communication with daily emails. We are all working on different projects each day and getting prepared for presentations, so our days are never dull! Finally, spring is here in Regina and I cannot wait to see what the rest of this internship has in store for us.

Posted by Karla Ness
Feedback: kness@cdnangus.ca