SG-USA-April-2020

Grassroots Efforts Promote Santa Gertrudis Cattle and Support Juniors — SGBI AFFILIATE PROFILE — By Kelsey Pope, Contributing Writer

LOUISIANA ISMAKING A NAME FOR THEM- SELVES IN THE SANTA GERTRUDIS BREED. By promoting the breed and value of Santa Gertrudis genetics, their goal is to provide opportunities for members and support junior events. The Louisiana Santa Gertrudis Asso- ciation (LSGA) was started in 1979, headed by a group of ranchers eager to encourage producers to raise the breed. Unfortunately, the affiliate went dor- mant for several years. However, despite not having an active affiliate, many producers con- tinued to raise Santa Gertrudis and grow the breed’s popularity, as well as get juniors involved in showing Santa Gertrudis cattle. “The number of new herd owners began to grow, and our cattlemen wanted a better way to market their animals,” says Amber Robertson, LSGA secretary/treasurer. “After some discussion, it was decided to restart the association and bring back the structure that once provided marketing, development and educational avenues to our state.” In 2015, the LSGA was reinstated and has grown in membership and function. Robertson has served for four years as the LSGA secretary/treasurer after getting involved in the Santa Ger- trudis breed in 2014. “My husband, Beau, is from Corpus Christi, Texas, where his dad was a state game warden who patrolled a division of the King Ranch,” Robertson says. “I grew up with commercial cattle and was involved in 4-H, but when

Kenny Williams, Williams Farm in Kentwood; Beau Robertson, Running R Cattle in Sweet Lake; and Kirk Garber, Bar K Cattle in Alexandria. While promoting the breed and educat- ing about the benefits of utilizing Santa Gertrudis genetics, LSGA also provides opportunities for its members, including quarterly meetings, junior events and participation at Louisiana Cattlemen Association meetings. Members recently attended the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association Convention and had a booth to endorse the breed. The LSGA Board holds quarterly meet- ings; they meet three times a year for an in-person meeting and have a conference call for their fourth meeting. The meet- ings are held in conjunction with state shows that most members attend. The annual membership meeting was recently held at the Louisiana State University State 4-H/FFA Livestock Show. Other meetings during the year are held at the Louisiana Junior Santa Gertrudis Association (LJSGA) State Warm-Up Show and the State Fair of Louisiana. Being a non-profit association, a large effort by the board goes into rais- ing funds for advertising and sponsor- ing junior activities with their annual calf raffle. “Our board sponsors a raffle for LSGA and this will be the third year,” Robertson says. “Our association raffles off two calves – one Star 5 show heifer and one Santa Gertrudis bull.”

we started our own herd, we knew we wanted to raise Santa Gertrudis.” Robertson serves alongside LSGA Board members on a volunteer basis to conduct business for the association. LSGA officers in 2020 are President Sam Jones, Rafter J Ranch in DeRid- der; Vice President Erik Wiley, Wiley Ranch in Deville; Secretary/Treasurer Amber Robertson, Running R Cattle in Sweet Lake; and junior advisor Aimee Guidry, Guidry Farms in Gueydan. Board of director members include John Green, Circle G Farms in Holden; LSGA booth set up at the State Fair of Louisiana Livestock Show.

2020 LSU State 4-H/FFA Show in Gonzales.

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SANTA GERTRUDIS USA