Junior Angus Ambassadorship 2017/18

A little over a year ago I completed a last minute application for the Junior Angus Ambassadorship position with doubts of receiving the position and honestly little knowledge about the opportunities that come along with it. A positively ridiculous thought now as my year term has closed and I am flipping through the pictures of my travels.

I have had the honour of having this position take me literally around the world to three countries and from coast to coast of this great country. In no way has it simply been about the destinations. I have met an incredible collection of diverse and magnificent people who all have the one common interest. An interest in the advancement of agriculture whether that be a passion for raising livestock, for advancing technology, for strengthening the breed, or empowering the youth. And the most spectacular part of it all is that I have found the same welcoming community atmosphere at every place I have traveled with the Ambassadorship.

I can’t begin to explain all the things I have learned or gained from this past year but I can say with confidence that I wouldn’t have been the same person now if I hadn’t sent that application in.

I truly hope that I have done my part thus far promoting the Angus breed and doing a just job of representing the youth in the breed and in the industry well. The youth initiatives and support in agriculture and more specifically within the Canadian Angus Association is something to marvel at. It is because of this strong community culture around educating youth through life experiences, mentorships, and practical applications that the youth today are one hell of a group. This statement holds true not only for Canada but for the other countries I have traveled to.

I cannot thank the Canadian Angus Foundation, it’s supporters, the entire Canadian Angus membership, and all the influential people on my travels enough because without you none of this would have been possible. A special thanks to Belinda for being my unofficial mentor throughout the year and another thanks to my family for their encouragement, support, and advice. You guys went from running me to rinks to running me to airports and without your guidance I wouldn’t have sent that application in.

It’s difficult to believe my term is up, however I am incredibly excited for the next Ambassadors to create their own adventures. And to those I have met along the way, take care till we meet again, the world is really a small place.

Regards,

Macy Liebreich

Canadian Junior Angus - Beef 2018

I’ve only been in Australia for 4 days now but what a whirlwind it has been! I started my travels on the 6th and arrived on the morning of 8th and I’m sure everyone there could tell I was Canadian because for the flights I had donned a Canucks T-shirt, Lululemon leggings, and Manitoba mukluk moccasin flats. When I finally arrived in Rockhampton (the beef capital of Australia) my friend from the World Angus Forum last year, Chloe Gould, picked me up and we went straight to the show grounds.

Tuesday consisted of meeting people around the barns and touring the grounds. Being that Rockhampton is farther north in the country the number of Bos Indicus breeds vastly outnumbered the number of Bos Taurus breeds however, there was still a good representation of Angus cattle. In Australia the Red and Black Associations are separate but interestingly enough the Brangus breed recognizes reds and blacks together. This was my first time seeing breeds like the Brahman, Brangus, and Droughtmaster among others and they have a number of impressive outfits at this show.

Wednesday was an early morning as I helped Chloe and her crew get their 14 head ready for the day. After the cattle were washed, fed, and watered I headed to the show rings to watch the Brangus show. I was fortunate enough to have a great view of the show from the comfort of the international lounge in the shade and air conditioning as the weather was a humid 29 degrees. It was evident that the Angus influence added improved muscle, shape, and maternal characteristics to the cattle while also being more heat tolerant because of the Brahman influence. After this I watched the Red Angus show which was small in numbers but the quality wasn’t compromised.

Thursday was a very early morning as it was Angus show morning. We were at the barns by 1 am to start washing the cattle and from there the day sped on. I wasn’t able to watch the entire show as I was fitting but from seeing the cattle in the barns there was a competitive and impressive line-up. The farm did quite well and won several titles including Grand Champion Female with their two year old pair. Promptly following the end of the show we had to gear up for the Interbreed Supreme Championship in the late afternoon. I had the honour of showing the calf on the pair during the Supreme show and we made the top 10, but a Charolais two year old pair won the Supreme Female title. This was truly a once in a lifetime experience.  Showing in a Supreme competition overseas isn’t something I had even thought of prior to this.

Today, because the cattle shows are over, I had a chance to tour through the penned show cattle and visit some of the booths around the grounds. I met some wonderful people with Angus Australia and saw some cutting edge technologies for autonomous handling being developed by the University of Sydney, among numerous other exhibits.

I will be staying in Rockhampton area until the 13th and then I will travel down to Sydney area for some farm tours and a few days of tourist things until the 25th when I return home. The heat has taken some getting used to but besides that I have been having the most amazing time here. Everyone’s so hospitable and welcoming  - it has been outstanding and I’m looking forward to the rest of my trip!

Regards,

Macy Liebreich

Junior Ambassador

Macy Leibreich, Junior Ambassador

10 reasons why you should come to the 2018 National Convention

Each year your Canadian Angus Association in partnership with local member volunteers put together the National Convention, an event for all members, commercial producers, and industry representatives to participate, learn, network, and have some fun.  This year “The Future: Red, Black and Green” is in Comox, British Columbia, June 7^th – 10^th. Everyone is welcome and if you have never been to a CAA National Convention before then we’ve gathered a list of a few reasons why you should attend.

10. Have some fun – There are a variety of events and time dedicated to socializing and visiting interesting places in the host region.  Thursday night’s President’s Reception and Friday’s BBQ are two excellent opportunities to kick back and enjoy time spent with friends in the business. 

9. Learn something new – Panelists and speakers from around the Canadian beef industry will provide updates and information relevant to all producers and participants in our industry.

 

8. Buy Canadian Angus RFID tags, save the shipping costs and cross a to-do item off your list.

7. Participate in the Building the Legacy Sale 7 Live – There is no sale like it, the electricity in the room during the sale is something to be experienced in person. 

6. Meet new people – Each year Convention attracts people from across Canada and there are always a few international guests in attendance as well.  Everyone there shares a common passion – ANGUS!

5. Catch up with old friends and acquaintances – Besides meeting new people, Convention is an excellent time to catch up with people from the past.  Long breaks and ample social time is perfect for catching up and don’t forget about the hospitality suite each night. 

4. See a different part of Canada, their culture and their cattle – Canada is a diverse and wonderful country, each region has its own specialties and sights.  See a sampling of those on Vancouver Island with the tours on Thursday, Friday and Sunday.  Or spend some extra time there before or after the event and visit with local producers. 

3. Have the chance to ask questions to leaders of the industry who are speaking at the event and hear what is happening in Canadian beef in general.  Your Canadian Angus Association strives to bring the most relevant and informative speakers to the event so that you can have access to the experts in our field.  Hear their presentations, ask questions and visit with them during the day.  Our speakers love it when you interact with them. 

2. Talk to the Board of Directors face to face and have your thoughts & opinions heard – Your Board of Directors works hard to lead the organization and makes decisions based on input from the members.  The entire Board will be in attendance so be sure to talk to any of them if you have questions or comments and join them on Saturday morning for Breakfast with the Board which is time specifically set aside for this. 

1. Learn what is new at Canadian Angus – The Board and staff members at your Association are constantly working hard to improve services and programs to enhance your experience as a member.  Convention is an excellent opportunity to hear what is happening and provide input for the future.

Crown Isle Resort

Building the Legacy 7 Announcement - 3

The Canadian Angus Foundation is pleased to announce these extraordinary donations to our 7^th annual "Building the Legacy" fundraiser auction occurring on Saturday, June 9^th, 2018 in Comox, BC as well as online.

Pick-of-the-Herd Heifer Calf

Donated by Crescent Creek Angus

Wes & Kim Olynyk - Goodeve, SK

 

From one of Canada's Heritage Angus herds, you get your choice of their entire 2018 heifer calf crop!

This is one of those rare opportunities that come around as rarely as finding gold on a fishing trip.

To celebrate their 65^th anniversary with Angus cattle (purebreds came a few years later), the Olynyk family, one of our Canadian Angus 'royal' families - awarded their 50-Year Heritage Award in 2005 - are giving you a 'chance of a lifetime'!

	(Lassie 42Y) The Lassie cow family is prolific at Crescent Creek. They were the foundation cow family for the WOS tattoo at Crescent Creek Angus.

(Rosebud 115F) The impact Crescent Creek Rosebud 115F has made on multiple Angus herds throughout Canada is immeasurable.  She was named Premier Dam at the 2009 World Angus Forum in Calgary.

	(Queen Ruth 14W) Another widely recognized cow family at Crescent Creek.

From Wes: "We find it an exciting opportunity to get a chance to select from the heart of a program known for strong cow families. The strength of our program does not revolve around AI sires but rather strong walking bulls representing prolific cow families. We believe the strength of many herds is the result of such walking bulls. Our program offers outcross pedigrees that could very well be valuable in establishing the next great one. The offering is the culmination of 65 years of breeding purebred Angus cattle. The traits this maternal breed is known for has led to our breeding philosophy."

Terms

-The choice of any WOS or DTZ tattoo calendar year heifer calf. Choice to be made by October 1, 2018, preferably on a warm fall day, so one can enjoy a steak supper & refreshment. This year's selection will be from one of the largest heifer offerings we've ever had. Popular AI bulls include:

MAR Innovation 251

EF Commando 1366

PA Fortitude 2500

HA Counselor 5118

Vintage AI sires:

LT Bandwagon 3105

OGL Battlecry 427

Popular walking bulls:

Chapman Memento 3589

HA Outside 5161, who is a paternal brother to HA Cowboy Up

Crescent Creek Entrepreneur 105A, a Rito 707 grandson

Crescent Creek Fortune 169C, a Stevenson Fortune 425C grandson

Crescent Creek Alternative 516, SITZ Alliance 6595 grandson

S McCoy 373

Canadian Sired Fleury Bardolene 115B

Crescent Creek offers to keep the female at the farm free of charge for the duration of her life.  All resulting offspring will be revenue shared at 50% with no expense to the buyer.

	CCA 48E - sells on April 7th

CCA 28E - sells on April 7th

Wes & Kim Olynyk (306) 876-4420
Orie, Danny, Katie and Wade

Irene Olynyk (306) 876-4400

Goodeve, SK, Canada
info@crescentcreekangus.com

Please join Crescent Creek Angus - the Olynyk family - for their 20^th Annual Bull and Female Sale on Saturday April 7^th, 2018 at the farm 1 mile East & 3 Miles North of Goodeve on Crescent Creek Road. Lunch is served at noon with the sale to follow at 1:00 p.m.

Here is the link to their catalogue: https://issuu.com/mikylacliffe/docs/2018bookweb/1?ff=true&e=28464161/58655094

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Semen Donation

 10 straws of semen (2 x 5) offered for the first time EVER on Bar S Range Boss 4002!

 Donated by the Liebreich family of Merit Cattle Co. - Radville, SK.

 

Range Boss was found in Kansas by the Liebreich's friend, Riley Lafrentz, who thought they would be interested in this unique breeding piece. His structure is impeccable and he consistently passes that on to his progeny. Range Boss checks a lot of boxes. He's got a great look and presence about him. He's long bodied, deep sided and easy fleshing, with great hair, good scrotal and feet and a disposition that is second to none. The Pride cow family at Bar S is a cornerstone in their operation. He's really stamped his progeny and his sons and daughters have been equally in demand, including at their bull sale last Monday. His sons have met great acceptance being highlighted by Merit Sting who sold ½ interest in the Masterpiece at Agribition to Double F for $52,000. A daughter, Merit Flora 6078 is a popular many-time champion including Grand Champion Female at the Weyburn Regional, Champion Owned Female at Showdown, and Reserve Champion Female at Lloydminster Stockade Roundup Gold Show. Another daughter was selected last year by Poplar Meadows as the $15,000 high selling 'Pick of the Herd Heifer Calf' donation to last year's edition of Building the Legacy. His first daughters calved this spring and display impeccable udder structure. Range Boss is poised to become the next generation foundation sire at Merit. And you can build on this very foundation!

  

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Rare Angus Collectible

Donated by Belinda Wagner

 

From the 'Rob Holowaychuk Collection' and donated to us by our Foundation Executive Director Belinda Wagner (2017 BMO Women in Agriculture award recipient, by the way!), please see these two special Hycroft plates.

Hycroft China Ltd. operated from 1955 until 1989 at the former plant site of Medicine Hat Potteries. Mayor Harry Veiner is credited with taking over the failing operation and producing sanitary ware such as toilets and sinks and their well-known dishes, such as these plates. The plant is now part of The Friends of Medalta world-class museum in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Rob scoured the antique shops and garage sales of our country in search of these rare Angus plates, and Belinda is donating the 'fruits of his search' in BtL7. In honouring one of our Foundation's greatest supporters, the memory and meaning of Rob's appreciation for these collectibles is even more valuable than the plates themselves. Please consider making them part of your Angus collection! 

  

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We will be featuring more donations monthly between now and the fundraiser on June 9^th, both through The Angus Word as well as social media and, perhaps, some special e-blast announcements. If you are interesting in donating something to our greatest of Canadian Angus causes, please do not hesitate to contact "Building the Legacy 7" Chair Shawn Birmingham: shawnbirmingham@yahoo.ca.

And plan to be part of the action at Convention in Comox!

 

Celebrating 50 Years of Red Angus Registrations in Canada in 2018

April 3 marks 50 years of Red Angus registrations in Canada. And while the Canadian Angus Association celebrates 50 years of Red Angus registrations in 2018, Red Angus have been in Canada much longer than 50 years, and that is also worth celebrating.

The first record of Red Angus in Canada is the recorded importation of a red cow from Scotland in 1886. Rancher Matthew Cochrane imported red Angus from Scotland in 1889 for his ranch west of Calgary, Alberta.

Volume I of the Canadian Angus Herdbook was published in 1908. Red Angus females were included but red males were excluded. On March 15, 1921, the CAA bylaws were amended and all Red Angus cattle were excluded. This decision would stand until April 3, 1968 when the Minister of Agriculture officially approved that Red Angus cattle be eligible for registration.

Although Red Angus were banned from the Canadian herdbook, several breeders accumulated herds of Red Angus cattle and registered them with the Red Angus Association of America after it was chartered in 1954. When red cattle were once again permitted in the Canadian Angus herdbook, the supply of Canadian-born Red Angus was very limited and breeders turned to the United States to find breeding stock.

The Mackenzie Bros. of Alberta were the first to import red Angus males and females from the United States to Canada. They purchased one herd sire, Beckton Larkebelang 130, one cow/calf pair and two bred heifers from Beckton Stock Farm in Wyoming in 1962. This breeding stock came from Red Angus pioneers Waldo and Sally Forbes who were instrumental in the formation of the Red Angus Association of America. Two years later in 1964, Don Mackenzie sold the first Red Angus bull in Canada.

When the Canadian Angus herdbook was opened to Red Angus in 1968, the Association offered to register all Red Angus cattle under the age of 24 months at the lowest price point, allowing Red Angus breeders an affordable opportunity to populate the herdbook and register their herds.

In 1969 Mark Mackenzie had the first Canadian-registered Red Angus bull to sell at auction in Canada. The first Canadian-raised purebred Red Angus bull, Red Mac 15Z, was sold at the Calgary Bull Sale in 1970 for $1,800. A year later, Red Stormalong 3A was a Calgary Bull Sale champion. He sold for $7,200.

In 1972 a group of 12 Red Angus cattle breeders from Alberta and Saskatchewan formed the Canadian Red Angus Promotion Society to specifically promote Red Angus cattle. And in 1978, Don Mackenzie became the first Red Angus breeder elected to the Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors.

Thanks to the pioneering efforts of Angus breeders dedicated to red hide colour, 50 years later, Red Angus account for more than 40% of Canada’s national Angus herd. The Canadian Angus Association is proud to recognize and applaud those efforts.