Beefmasters, Blues and BBQ on Beale Street
SAN ANTONIO (Nov. 4, 2014) – The 54th Annual Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU) Convention wrapped up on Sat., Nov. 1, 2014, with the annual awards banquet and open Beefmaster show. The annual convention “Beefmasters, Blues and BBQ on Beale Street†was hosted in Memphis, Tenn., from October 30 – November 1, 2014. The convention kicked off with BBU hosting a Farm to City Day, in coordination with the Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Beef Industry Council and the Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association (JBBA). The farm to city day welcomed over one-hundred students from a Memphis public school and the students were taught about agriculture through interactive “ag in the classroom†stations. This event was created to give back to the convention host city.
During the general membership meeting BBU members elected new Board of Director members and officers. The BBU president is Loran “Mackie†Bounds of Axtell, Texas and Steve Carpenter, Tecumseh, Okla., was elected BBU vice-president. The following individuals were elected to the BBU Board of Directors with a three year term: Chris Kauffman of Searcy, Ark., Tony Psencik of San Antonio, Texas, Sue Pierson of Vacaville, Calif., and JC Thompson of Bedias, Texas. Lastly, the general membership approved the proposed language change pertaining to the position of Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer located in section three of the BBU By-Laws.
Beefmaster breeders from throughout the United States attended this year’s convention. Attendees enjoyed seminars and fellowship with other cattlemen and women in the home of the blues and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll. This year’s convention participants learned about new genomic technologies in the seedstock sector during the Zoetis Cattlemen’s Marketplace, as well as learned about emerging selection technologies from Dr. Matt Spangler, Associate Professor / Beef Genetics Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska. Several more educational seminars sponsored by the Beefmaster Educational Endowment Foundation were held during the convention and focused on marketing, crossbreeding and heterosis. Dr. Robert Wells of the Noble Foundation educated convention attendees on how to effectively use planned crossbreeding and heterosis.
In addition to seminars, luncheons and galas the convention attendees interacted with JBBA members that presented award winning speeches and exhibited award winning cattle. The convention was concluded with the annual awards banquet where top honors were announced. Neal C. Hiatt of Salisbury, N.C., was selected as new member of the year. T5 Beefmasters, owned by JC and Teri Thompson, of Bedias, Texas, was selected as Beefmaster breeder of the year. Dave Loftin of Nixa, Mo., was announced as member of the year and environmental member of the year was awarded to Farm and Ranch Beefmasters, owned by Kito and Leti Saenz of San Isidro, Texas. Performance breeder of the year was awarded to Skelton Farms, owned by James and Mary Ann Skelton, of Springdale, Ark. A new award category was created to recognize commercial cattle producers that utilize Beefmaster genetics and the commercial producer of the year was awarded to Wes and Tracy Carlton of Fort Pierce, Fla. The BBU commercial producer will compete at the national level at the 2015 annual Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) convention in Biloxi, Miss.
On behalf of the BBU staff, officers, board members and the convention committee, thank you to all our generous sponsors, trade show partners, auction participants and knife buyers. Join BBU at their 55th Annual Convention held in Galveston, Texas on October 29 – 31, 2015.
For more information about Beefmaster Breeders United and its convention please contact the BBU office at 210-732-3132 or visit www.beefmasters.org. Stay connected to BBU through Facebook, view our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and receive our news updates through joining our mailing list.