IBBA in Full Speed

by IBBA Executive Vice President Tommy Perkins, PhD., PAS

The March edition of the Brangus Journal highlights the opportunities of Brangus® cattle worldwide. The international strength of our breed is second to none. I want to thank cattlemen around the world who have chosen Brangus® genetics in their breeding programs and more specifically Brangus® genetics from the United States. I had the opportunity to travel to South Africa and Mexico this past year representing International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) around the globe. Additionally, IBBA International Committee members traveled to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, and South Africa. Thank you to the foreign guests that have traveled to the States to attend meetings, purchase live cattle, and purchase frozen genetics for their home countries. We welcome you to the IBBA family.

International Committee Chairman Buck Thomason continues to work on IBBA’s behalf with the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE) to secure funding for international travel and breed promotion. He is working hard to get adequate funding for the upcoming 2018 World Brangus Congress, hosted by IBBA in Houston, Texas. USLGE funding allows for marketing opportunities such as the 2016 International Field Day, which was held in Fort Worth. During the three-day meeting, IBBA exposed U.S. Brangus® genetics to representatives from Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama. A focus of this year’s funding request includes the very important planning process for the 2018 World Brangus Congress.

IBBA members and commercial Brangus® breeders have shown and consigned cattle to all-breed sales and futurities recently. Congratulations to the open, bred and pair class winners. I commend them for bringing fancy, uniform consignments with perfect udders as well as phenotypically sound, high performance beef bulls to represent the Brangus® breed. Many of the commercial females were tagged with Brangus Built ear tags. I encourage each of you to participate in the all-breed performance competitions in your part of the country as Brangus® cattle excel in such events.

The grand opening of the new IBBA headquarters building occurred in early February. Additionally, the 2017 IBBA Annual Meeting and Convention was held at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio, Texas. The events were well attended and enjoyed by all. Thank you to the entire staff for going the extra mile to make both events fun, educational and successful. Please see more information in this edition of the Brangus Journal for both activities.

The membership meeting, which included committee reports as well as seating of new directors and officers, was well attended. Thank you to Mike Vorel for his steadfast leadership the past two years as president of the board. I would also like to congratulate the new directors who have been elected to serve on the IBBA Board of Directors. Danny Farris and Vern Suhn will be joining Bill Davis and Eddy Roberts who were elected to their second term. A huge thank you to Cody Gariss and Mike Kammerer for their tenure on the board. Vorel, Gariss and Kammerer served when difficult decisions had to made which impacted the membership on an emotional level. Their conviction to do what was right for the entire association will be felt in a positive manner for many years to come.

The meeting concluded with the annual awards banquet. Laverne McWilliams was awarded the Pioneer Award, Mike Vorel received the Breeder of the Year Award, and T Quarter Circle Ranch, of Winnemucca, Nevada, took the Commercial Producer of the Year Award home. The recipients of these awards are to be commended for their continued support of the IBBA and the Brangus® breed.

Do not hesitate to call me if you have any specific questions about our international program, the annual meeting awards, or commercial cattle events. Please contact the office if you want more information on the Brangus Built commercial heifer program. For information about IBBA programs or other inquiries, please call (210) 696-8231. Stay connected to IBBA through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, or receive news updates by joining our email list.