SG_USA_December_2019

SGBI HOSTS SANTA GERTRUDIS WORLD CONGRESS 2019 By Lisa Bard, Editor, and Emily Stribling, Contributing Writer

T he last time the United States since then, but so has the breed, the landscape, the breeders, the industry and agriculture in general. One thing that has not changed is the love and devotion breeders from all over the world have for their Santa Gertrudis cattle. hosted a Santa Gertrudis World Congress was 25 years ago – and not only has the world changed

Hosted by the Santa Gertrudis Breed- ers International (SGBI), approximately 100 people attended the Santa Ger- trudis World Congress 2019 for some or all of the 17-day tour that began in Atlanta, Ga., on Oct. 4 and concluded on Oct. 20 in Houston, Texas. Inter- national delegates from nine countries came to the United States to see some of the very best Santa Gertrudis cattle and to interact with U.S. breeders from all over the southern half of the United States. The day-by-day itinerary of the tour is beyond accurate description, as you really had to be there to fully appreci- ate the effort, expertise, hospitality, cattle, people and camaraderie that was a constant throughout World Congress 2019. Every day, stop, event, meal and interaction was a celebration of cattle producers devoted to promoting, devel- oping and advancing the “Data Driven,

Profit Proven, Preferred American Beef Breed.” International delegates describe World Congress as “a great event and experience” and remarked that “everyone was most hospitable. A lot of trouble was taken to host us in every place we visited.” Each ranch visit pulled out all the stops and showcased their cattle and operations to the benefit of all. There was a great deal of discussion about bloodlines, genetic evaluation, market- ing, grass and range management, and production practices at each stop and along the route. It is impossible for words to describe the event and all that was seen and accomplished, so the following photos will attempt to tell the story of Santa Gertrudis World Congress 2019.

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The first World Congress stop was at Quail Valley Farms in Alabama, and the visit included the Alabama Connection Sale. World Congress delegates present Ricky and Angie Cleveland (center, front) with a host gift after the sale.

Each ranch stop hosted World Congress for a meal and all went above and beyond in giving the delegates a taste of the local flavor with unmatched hospitality. The Wiley Ranch noon meal, featuring cracklins and other delicacies, was no exception. Photo courtesy of Wendy Gould, Farm Weekly, Australia.

RIGHT: Retha Tinney (right) of Tinney Farms, Ala., receives host gifts on behalf of the Australian delegates from David Greenup, Australia. Keith Clubb, Zambia; Ricardo Sibilla, Argentina; and Rob Sinnamon, Australia, look at a beef carcass and packaged meat with Texas A&M University (TAMU) meat scientist Davey Griffin during Santa Gertrudis Beef University at TAMU.

Delmo Payne and the crew at Grandview Farms in Alabama have cattle in close pastures for World Congress, as well as penned bulls at a nearby barn. Photo courtesy of Wendy Gould, Farm Weekly, Australia.

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SANTA GERTRUDIS USA