More Annual Meeting Highlights

If you haven't visited the Angus News page on our website in the last few days, we encourage you to do so.

We have included a detailed summary of the annual general meeting in Halifax complete with lots of photos. You can read about the President's Reception on the tall Ship Silva, the lobster dinner at Murphy's on the Water (and see Doug Fee wearing a plastic bib!), the Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Competition... I could keep going, but you should just click here to read all the details for yourself.

Our hats are off once again to our hosts, the Maritime Angus Association. Job well done Betty Lou and crew!

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Canadian Angus Association 2010 Annual General Meeting

Any description of the 2010 Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting would be amiss if it did not begin by recognizing the warmth with which the Maritimers welcomed us into their city and province. Angus breeders from all across Canada travelled to Halifax to attend the event; industry partners and representatives from other associations were all present. And, we heard repeatedly, that it was worth the trip!

Halifax is a port filled with history and culture. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Pier 21 where several breeders found their family names on the wall that recognizes immigrant families who first landed in Canada. Some of us found ourselves enraptured in the 1800 reenactment of Alexander Keith’s brewery establishment. Angus breeders had the opportunity to tour two wineries and a lobster pound – both excellent pairings with our delicious Angus beef. As guests at the President’s reception, we were whisked away on the Tall Ship Silva on which we sailed around the port. The harbour had a relaxed and rejuvenating effect on everyone who was present.

This was a wonderful setting for the Annual General Meeting where Angus breeders and industry partners came together to form strong relationships and a positive outlook for our industry in the coming year. Angus breeders are so pleased to welcome Kirk Wildman as our president for the next year, and congratulate David Bolduc on being nominated as the president elect.

We had the opportunity to travel with our Quebec and Maritime Fieldman Wayne Gallup to visit MacMaster Choice Meats in Antigonish, NS. MacMaster Choice Meats is owned and operated by Frank MacMaster and is currently the only Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed licensed participant in the Maritime region. Frank also joined us at the AGM by participating in the roundtable discussions and was very generous in supplying and donating Canadian Angus beef for the banquet.

The speech portion of the 2010-2011 Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Competition was carried out at Murphy’s restaurant along the waterfront in Halifax, NS. Erika Easton of Wawota, SK was declared the winner at the banquet. Erika will be an excellent representative of the Canadian Angus Foundation at many national and international events throughout the upcoming year.

This was the first Canadian Angus Association Annual General Meeting that we have attended as staff members of the Association and we were both grateful for your warm welcomes, and the encouragement that we both received from members. We were both so happy to see how passionate and committed all our members are to the Angus breed and the Association. We thank you all for travelling from far and wide to attend.


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

Some fees are changing June 30

Some Canadian Angus Association fees will be changing on June 30. These fee changes result from decisions made at the February 2010 Board of Directors meeting.

At the meeting, the Finance Committee reported serious concern that our fee structure has not kept pace with inflation and explained that we have been able to keep registration and membership fees at the 1982 level only because of activity growth and access to grant programs.

The Board of Directors accepted the following changes to the fee schedule, effective June 30:

• Cost of providing mailing labels be $100 plus 3 cents per label

• An electronic download of member addresses be $250 for a one-time use

• Charge to register an imported animal be $50

• Charge of $25 for Geneprob reports, reduced to $15 if it can be provided electronically

• Cost to register a herd name be $25

• Cost to register tattoo letters be $25

All members will receive a revised fee schedule in the mail with their 2009 annual report by the end of the month. You can also download a printable PDF file by clicking here.

Changes to registration, transfer and membership fees will not occur until January 2011.

Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: tina1@cdnangus.ca

Alberta Angus Association Awards Banquet

Sunday evening, Doug and I had the privilege of attending the Alberta Angus Association Hall of Fame Gala. This event was scheduled after the annual meeting in December was cancelled because of inclement weather. The following breeders were entered into the Alberta Angus Hall of Fame:

Mike & Ella May Rodgers (Breed Builder category)
Cudlobe Farms (Contemporary Breeder category)
Triple S Red Angus (Contemporary Breeder category)

Alberta Angus' 2010 Honorary President, Dr. Ben MacLeod, was also recognized although he will not officially receive his award until Saturday at the Canadian Angus Association's annual meeting. Dr. MacLeod shared with the crowd some very valuable life lessons.

Doug Fee also presented the plaque for the 2009 Red Show Bull of the Year. Red Ter-Ron Realdeal HFX 01W, owned by Terry Adams and Rob Adams of Forestburg and Keith Adams of Calgary, won the award but are unable to attend the annual meeting and accept it there.

Congratulations to the award winners and the hall of fame inductees. Without the support and vision of these dedicated breeders, the Angus breed would not be in the leading position it is today.

Posted by Michael Latimer
Feedback: michael1@cdnangus.ca

Government of Alberta develops plan to help cow-calf producers cover cost of RFID tags

Starting July 1, eligible Alberta cattle producers will be able to take advantage of the province's 3 year, $15 million program when they purchase Angus tags. The Age Verification Incentive Program will provide a discount of up to $3 per age-verified animal, based on the number of animals a beef producer has, or plans to have, age verified from the previous year's calf crop. For anyone who has already purchased their tags this year, the government will reimburse them directly; a separate Producer Application form is required.

Alberta producers will be required to fill out and sign a program form and mail or fax it along with an Angus tag order form to the Association office. Forms will be available on our website starting June 30.

For further information, contact Cheryl or Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development online or by phoning 310-FARM (3276).

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: cheryl1@cdnangus.ca

CFIA announces de-listing of bar-coded tags

The CFIA recently announced that they will continue with the plan to de-list bar-coded identification tags. Effective July 1, 2010, all cattle moving from their location or leaving the farm of origin will be required to be tagged with an approved Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag.

To read the entire press release from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency click here.

If you require additional Angus tags to meet these requirements, contact Cheryl at the Canadian Angus Association office, or order your tags online. Remember to order them early as we will be unable to ship tag orders from June 28 to July 1.

Posted by Cheryl Hazenberg
Feedback: cheryl1@cdnangus.ca

Livestock Markets Association of Canada annual convention

Last week I attended the Livestock Markets Association of Canada (LMAC) annual convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This year's event in Winnipeg was another good deal. Congratulations to Rodney Burnett, the 2010 champion from Valley Auctions. The event was well attended with over 350 people at the auctioneer competition. Lots of commercial breeders in attendance from across the country.

The Canadian Angus Association has been involved with this group since 1998. We were approached about sponsoring the auctioneer competition. Since many of the auctioneers also conduct purebred sales it seemed like a good idea. All the breed associations came on board and we each sponsor a buckle, with a different breed sponsoring the champion buckle each year. This year the Canadian Angus Association sponsored the buckle for the third runner up. Congratulations to Rob Bergevin of VJV Stavely who received our buckle this year.

This is a great event and I'm already looking forward to next year's convention.

Posted by Brian Good
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca

Last Call for AGM Registrations

When you think of Angus, the eastern coast of Canada is generally not one of the first things to come to mind. If I told you to picture Halifax, Nova Scotia, you would probably picture tall ships, lobster and friendly Maritimers. But in just a few weeks, Canadian Angus members will experience legendary Maritime hospitality with an Angus twist.

June 19 is the Canadian Angus Association's annual meeting. The Maritime Angus Association has lined up events and activities to help you play tourist for an extra two days before the meeting. And if you really want to make a holiday of it, why not head out extra early and take in the Maritime Junior Show and Field Day on June 12?

Time is running out, and so are the available hotel rooms. Flight deals can still be found, so register today.

The annual general meeting is a great opportunity for members to express their opinions and interact with other members. Excercise your right to vote, meet other Angus breeders from across Canada, take in presentations about issues facing our breed and of course experience what Halifax has to offer.

Come "wander the waterfront" in Halifax with the directors and members of the Canadian Angus Association. It's sure to be an amazing experience.


Posted by Tina Zakowsky
Feedback: cdnangus@cdnangus.ca