Angus Convention
Just Around the Corner
Host Doug Medlock visited with Becky Weishaar, Angus Media’s director of Creative Media, about the American Angus Association’s upcoming Angus Convention. Here are some outtakes of their interview. See additional outtakes in the October Angus Journal, which will include the convention program.
- Q: From outstanding educational seminars to nationally known entertainment, the 2016 Angus Convention is an event you won’t want to miss. The 2016 Angus Convention will be Nov. 5-7 in Indianapolis, Ind. How long has the American Angus Association hosted the Angus Convention?
- A: For 130 years the American Angus Association has had an Annual Convention of Delegates. Two years ago, in 2014, we took that annual meeting that had such a long, rich history and made the Angus Convention. We were able to add more education, entertainment and a trade show, and it’s just been a fantastic fit to put all those elements together
- Q: What makes this year’s Angus Convention special?
- A: Each year is going to be special, but we definitely want to highlight a couple of things. The Angus Convention shifts to the first full weekend in November starting this year. It will be Nov. 5-7 in Indianapolis. We’ve stepped away from Kansas City with the convention. There are a lot of Angus cattle and Angus-influenced cattle in the Corn Belt. It will be a shorter drive to participate. We have a national audience. Indianapolis is the heartland of America, and it is a fabulous place to have a convention.
- Q: The Angus Convention kicks off with the National Angus Tour Friday, Nov. 4. What will tour participants get to see?
- A: The tour will take them to three of Indiana’s leading operations. First, they will go to Willer Timber Ridge. Then they’ll go to Stuart Select Angus and Coverdale Angus. We’re also going to stop at The Hoosier Gym, where the movie Hoosiers with Gene Hackman was filmed in the ’80s.
- Q: Tell us about the keynote speakers. Who will be part of the International Genomic Symposium, and what can Angus breeders learn from them?
- A: The Genomic Symposium is a great opportunity to dive deep into the possibilities of what’s going on in the world of genomics and how it’s improving beef production in the Angus world. We’ve invited internationally known speaker Juan Enrique, who truly lives out there on the edge of technology.
- Q: What are some of the topics covered at Angus University?
- A: Angus University, Sunday, Nov. 6, will give participants tools to take home to do their jobs better raising quality beef. We’ll have eight tracks of education Sunday afternoon. Merck Animal Health has been very generous, and we do appreciate their sponsorship to be able to bring in 24 different workshops ranging from business management to marketing and animal health. We’ll have sessions in our Preferred Cattle Demonstration Arena with Curt Pate, who’s famous for handling cattle in smooth and calm ways.
- Q: Who can benefit from attending the Angus University sessions?
- A: Angus University — really the entire Angus Convention — has something for everyone involved in the beef business, whether you’re a purebred Angus breeder or commercial producer, stocker backgrounder or feedyard worker.
- Q: What will be featured in the Angus Convention Trade Show?
- We’ll also have a retail area. You can get a jumpstart on your Christmas shopping with some really great clothing or Angus items from the Angus Foundation or the American Angus Auxiliary. Plus, we’ll have other retailers there that specialize in the Western lifestyle. We’ll also have the cattle-handling area sponsored by Priefert, and our meals will be in the trade show.
- Q: Why should Angus breeders and their families attend the Angus Convention?
- A: We’re all feeling the pressures of business. We’re engaging with more media, our phones are on all the time, and there are always demands at the ranch. We encourage people to come to the Angus Convention because the time that Angus producers spend with like-minded cattlemen who are all interested in producing quality beef has to re-energize your soul. It will be so much fun to have those networking and social opportunities and a time for everyone to come together.
- Q: The climax of the event, of course, is the 133rd Annual Convention of Delegates for the American Angus Association. What happens during that annual meeting?
- A: The Annual Convention of Delegates is one of the most important meetings hosted each year by the American Angus Association. This is when the membership makes decisions about the leadership. Delegates elected to represent their states in turn elect five directors to serve on the American Angus Association Board. The treasurer also presents the financial report of the Association to the membership. If there’s anything the membership needs to consider, such as updating the bylaws, this meeting is where those activities happen.
- Q: How do folks get registered for the convention?
- A: Our website, www.angusconvention.com, is the place for everything. We have set up a phone number in case you run into problems, or you can call 816-383-5255.
A: The trade show is a hub of activity and a lot of fun. This year we’ll have more exhibitors, and our range of exhibitors have a lot of solutions to problems our cattle producers might have. The animal health companies will be there, the handling facilities. We’ll have equipment dealers, fencing and artificial insemination companies. If you have something going on at home that’s challenging you, there will be an exhibitor to help you figure out that problem.
Editor’s Note: Hosted by Doug Medlock, the American Angus Association’s Angus Talk radio show features conversations with industry personalities from across the country. The program is broadcast each Saturday at 10 a.m. CT on Sirius XM’s Rural Radio, Channel 147. Outtakes featured here are edited.