The_Ledger_Summer_2020

AMERICAN ABERDEEN ASSOCIATION ® 19590 East Main Street, Suite 104 Parker, CO 80138 • (303) 840-4343 info@americanaberdeen.com www.americanaberdeen.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS President CRAIG WALKER • W Diamond Livestock Co. 1601 Springfield Rd. • Roswell, NM 88201 (575) 626-7444 wdiamondlivestock@gmail.com www.wdiamondlowlines.com Vice President DARWIN ENGELKES • Pine Hurst Farm 16927 H Ave. • Wellsburg, IA 50680 (319) 415-0540 pinehurstfarm@live.com Secretary NEIL EFFERTZ • Effertz EZ Ranch 17350 Hwy 1804 N. • Bismarck, ND 58503 (701) 471-0153 effertz@bektel.com • www.effertzezranch.com Director GARY GILBERT • Gilbert Aberdeen Angus 3986 Lindahl Rd. • Hermantown, MN 55810 (218) 348-7877 tgjgilbert@aol.com Director ROB FANNING • Fanning Cattle Co. 877 Oakland Lane • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (309) 373-2996 fanningcattleco@yahoo.com Director ALLEN SIEVERKROPP • S Four Farms PO Box 235 • Ephrata, WA 98823 (509) 750-4203 allens4@odessaoffice.com www.sfourfarms.com Director KENNY HINDS • Comanche Beef 3302 Twilight Beach Rd. • Duncan, OK 73533 (580) 656-4383 khinds@cableone.net

PRESIDENT ’S COLUMN  CRAIG WALKER, DVM W elcome to the second edition of the Ameri can Aberdeen Association ® (AAA) Member ship Directory. Within these pages, you will find the contact information for every active AAA member. We encourage you to keep this directory handy and reach out to your fellow members frequently. 2020 got off to an unprecedented start, but the AAA Board and committee members have adjusted and plowed through the COVID-19 madness, continuing to take your breed to the next level. Be sure to read this edition from cover to cover. It is filled with valuable information on where the breed is going. Here is a quick summary of three topics that are close to my heart. Breed Improvement: Profitable beef cattle production can and should be measured. We are thrilled to be working with International Genetics Solution (IGS) partners under the guidelines of the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF). We hope all breeders will get involved and voluntarily adopt the suggested guidelines. We aim to drive breed progress and improvement, identify highly profitable cattle and ensure the success of our customers and the American Aberdeen breed. Read more on page 12. JUNIOR CORRAL  JAYSIE SCHOENFIELD, AJAA PRESIDENT H ello everyone! I hope all of you have been healthy and well during these times of un certainty. If there is one thing that has come out of the pandemic, it is the importance of our friends and family. There is nothing more we want to do than be with our stock show family! Although we will not be able to meet in person this year, I hope we all take the time to reach out and connect with our stock show family. The American Junior Aberdeen Association (AJAA) plays a critical role in the future of the American Aberdeen breed. If there is nothing invested into the youth, there is no hope for the future. The juniors of today will be the leaders in years to come. The AJAA gives youth opportunities to better themselves and the people around them. Opportunities today may be taken for granted, but we will look back on and appreciate the lessons we learned through the AJAA. Showing isn’t all about who can fit the best and who has the best cattle. I would be lying if I said winning wasn’t fun, but there is so much more that is taught during the in-between moments. It is about developing young men and women who we can send into the world to do great things. It is about devel oping relationships that will last a lifetime. It is having a group of people who have the same interest in and passion for the cattle industry. The American Aberdeen breed has the potential to last for decades to come. But we have to see the bigger picture of what is in front of us. We have to find our why and come together for the benefit of all involved. My challenge to everyone is to expand your team. Find one person to take under your wing and mentor them, make them a part of your family, get them involved in AJAA events and create the culture of a successful team. I promise you there is no better feeling in the world than watching a friend or teammate succeed. Even with the uncertainty ahead of us, reach out to people and grow your team! TL Aberdeen Premium Beef (APB): Our designer beef program is off and run ning. The first APB-qualified cattle were harvested and are being marketed un der this brand name. There is no better time to start marketing our beef to the masses. Simply call IMI Global to get started. Learn more about APB on page 8. ABRI: Get ready to be amazed. The office has been diligently working to upgrade to a new Agricultural Business Research Institute (ABRI) version that will provide you more control of your data/records at your fingertips. Online registration, transfers and data entry just got a whole lot easier. Look for ZOOM training sessions to be announced late this summer. I hope you all have a safe and prosperous summer. TL

AAA Representative  DEAN PIKE

Need assistance in purchasing American Aberdeen cattle, marketing your program or herd management? Contact Dean Pike: (303) 810-7605 Dean.pike249@gmail.com

For information about registering animals or membership, contact the AAA Office: 19590 East Main Street, Suite 104 Parker, CO 80138 • (303) 840-4343 The American Aberdeen Association ® is a not-for-profit corporation of North Dakota dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Aberdeen cattle . The International Year Code for 2020 is: H info@americanaberdeen.com www.americanaberdeen.com

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