July 30, 2007

In this issue …
Service fees, checkoff enrollments encouraged by tomorrow
Nominating Committee gets to work
Board meeting is 3 weeks away
Start using NALF’s street address
Let’s score a knockout in VQ Round 3
Wednesday is priority deadline for coops
DVAuction hosts sponsors’ bids
Online transfers facilitate customer service
Share heifer data now to make inventories easier later
American Royal, North American are getting closer
Web site includes new MOE rules
What’s news?
Limousin sales, events

News from West Monroe:
Pembrook sorts steers, Lim-Flex at NJLSC
Bred-and-owned females, bulls parade
Cowley selects top female
Showmanship champs honored
Sweepstakes points tallied
Awards, scholarships presented
Ohio exhibitor earns O’Brien Award
New junior board begins term of service
Corner Post campaign wraps up; legacy will continue
NALJA bestows honorary membership
Official video available
Help spread the word
AALF champions selected
See you next year in South Dakota

The loyal support of those who pay their member-service fees has helped the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) maintain breed advertising and staff representation at events, develop extensive Web-based tools, and offer new member-outreach programs.

Those who participate in the annual plan may register animals at half the inactive-member rates; enjoy free access to the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site; and activate complimentary subscriptions to the quarterly Bottom Line newsletter for themselves and their bull customers.

To generate additional resources for commercial marketing, the NALF Board approved a voluntary checkoff. NALF automatically will bill the $4 per head fee to participating member accounts when animals are registered. Enrollment is easy – just mark the space on your member-service–fee notice. You may change your checkoff-enrollment status at any time by contacting the NALF office.

At last count, nearly 800 members had paid their 2007–2008 service fees, and about 40 were enrolled in the commercial marketing checkoff program.

[back to top]

To enhance the nominations and voting processes for new directors, the NALF Board of Directors approved three bylaws changes in June 2006 and put them into effect for a one-year trial. At its April meetings, the Board voted to extend that trial through the next election cycle. Ongoing input from NALF members will help evaluate their effectiveness.

NALF President Wendell Geeslin, Platteville, Colo., has appointed the 2007–2008 Nominating Committee:

• Chairman Dave Berry, Port Orchard, Wash., past president;
• Gordon Schuppe, Iliff, Colo., past president;
• Mike Smith, Plainville, Kan., Board member;
• Bob Millerberg, Draper, Utah, Board member;
• Lane McComas, Raphine, Va., at-large member;
• Jim Counsil, Madisonville, Texas, at-large member; and
• Charles Linhart, Leon, Iowa, at-large member.

The committee would like to hear from NALF members about prospective nominees over the next two weeks, and the October issue of Limousin World will include its slate of nominees. The NALF office then must receive signed letters of support for at-large nominees from at least 15 different founding, lifetime or active annual members by Oct. 15. Identification of all nominees by then enables NALF to publicize their candidacies and include their names on the official ballot.

[back to top]

The NALF Board has scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 21–23 in Denver, Colo. The primary focus will be the fiscal year (FY) 2007–2008 budget. Contact a Board member or Kent Andersen in the NALF office to provide input about any breed issues.

[back to top]

NALF has decided it is time to phase out its post-office (PO) box and simply use its physical address. Although the association will continue to accept mail there for a while, update your address book now and start using the following.

NORTH AMERICAN LIMOUSIN FOUNDATION
7383 S ALTON WAY STE 100
CENTENNIAL CO  80112-2339

For those who are wondering, no, NALF’s home office has not moved. But instead of being “rural Englewood,” the property now is part of the city of Centennial. While you are erasing the PO box, go ahead and note that change, too.

[back to top]

NALF is ready for Visions Quest (VQ) Round 3 – another real-world lesson in producing industry-friendly seedstock and feeder cattle. VQ generates data for genetic evaluation and research and demonstrates how Limousin genetics perform in the feedyard and packinghouse.

NALF encourages cooperation among Limousin breeders and their commercial customers to include a diverse sampling of the breed’s bloodlines.

Pen space is limited so NALF suggests enrollment forms arrive well before the Sept. 1 deadline. Participants then must deliver all cattle between Nov. 1 and 15 to the Colorado State University (CSU) research feedyard near Fort Collins. NALF will help coordinate transportation as much as possible, and early enrollment also will facilitate that effort.

The newly updated program guidelines and enrollment form are available in the “Programs” section of the NALF Web site or by contacting Bo Sexson in the NALF office.

[back to top]

NALF encourages all state associations to take full advantage of the funds available to help them promote Limousin genetics through print and radio advertising, direct mail, displays at industry events, and other marketing tactics. The key provision to getting reimbursements from NALF is that the project communicates directly to commercial producers.

Participating state associations need to develop detailed marketing budgets and schedules and submit the completed forms to NALF by Aug. 1. State-coop contacts should have received the 2007–2008 guidelines and application form by now. If not, they should call the NALF office or see the bottom of the “State Associations” page on the NALF Web site.

In addition, groups of two to six breeders can join forces with NALF by applying to be part of the Breeder Cooperative Advertising Program, which is entering its third year. Groups of active breeders can submit applications that specify their desired national advertisements, regional publications and publication dates through Aug. 1 for priority consideration. NALF will have approved advertisements customized with the breeders’ logos or names, Web or e‑mail addresses or phone numbers, and sale dates or private-treaty information if applicable. The home office then will handle all insertion orders and mechanical requirements.

NALF pays 25 percent of the cost for placing the “breeder coop” ads. The cooperating breeders will divide equally the remaining placement costs and all of the customization costs. (The publications will bill NALF, which will bill the members’ accounts in turn.) As a result, breeders can leverage their partnerships into multistate advertising for a fraction of the usual cost. Complete details are in the “Programs” section of the NALF Web site. Contact Brad Parker in the NALF office with questions or to request an application.

Approved at the Board meeting in April, breeder and state coops now have the option of using the NALF trade dress (the red and black bulls) in their approved print advertising.

[back to top]

To provide continuous marketing opportunities for its members and their partners in allied industry, NALF is offering sponsorship opportunities on its Web site, which gets more than 13,000 page views per month. Beginning in October, two sponsor spots will be available for four-month blocks, which will sell via an online “Country Auction” (similar to eBay). Bidding ends Aug. 12.

NALF also is accepting sponsors for the Partners e‑newsletter. Starting in September, each issue will offer three sponsor spots. Two-month blocks for each spot will sell for $250 apiece on a “first come, first served” basis.

Complete details concerning all of NALF’s online sponsorship opportunities are available by clicking the “Marketing Reach” link on the association’s home page. Direct questions to Brad Parker in the NALF office.

[back to top]

NALF members who can access the secured, members-only portion of the association’s Web site now can go there to submit transfers for their and their linked members’ recorded animals. Find the new tool in the “Recording” section of the member site’s home page. Contact Mary Zilk in the NALF office for more information.

Transfers are the lifeblood of NALF’s commercial programs. They provide NALF with contact information so it can keep breed information before Limousin users throughout the year in the Bottom Line newsletter (which recognizes you – the seller – on the mailing panel), Limousin World commercial cattleman’s issue and other vehicles. The LimMark tagging program also depends upon properly transferred bulls. Submit your transfers in a timely fashion so NALF can add value to your seedstock sales.

[back to top]

Limousin Inventory Management System (LIMS) participants have until Aug. 15 to report heifer-exposure information. The optional reporting will give NALF the data it needs for genetic evaluation of heifer pregnancy. It also will help ensure active LIMS inventories accurately reflect incoming replacement heifers and eliminate the need to report disposal codes for culled heifers later.

The heifer-retention reporting tool is available by logging on to the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site, then clicking the LIMS button in the upper right corner of the screen. Once on the LIMS home page, scroll down the list of options and click “Heifer Retention Tool” to display your current heifer inventory.

[back to top]

The Limousin shows at the American Royal in Kansas City, Mo., will be Oct. 18. Jerry Adamson of Cody, Neb., will sort the junior entries; and Randy Daniel of Colbert, Ga., will judge the open show. Entries are due Sept. 1.

The junior show at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) in Louisville, Ky., will be Nov. 11. The open show will be Nov. 14, and Terry Burks of Bowling Green, Ky., will be the judge. NAILE entries are due Oct. 1.

[back to top]

The complete rules for the Medal of Excellence (MOE) show program now are posted in the “Programs” section of the NALF Web site. You will find different versions for the major MOE shows, “Level 2” shows and Lim‑Flex® shows.

Also note there are some significant changes to the cow-calf classes.

[back to top]

NALF has issued the following news releases since the last issue of Partners:

• July 13 – NALF Plans Free Webcasts for Members, Commercial Customers
• July 19 – NALF Introduces Online Transfers

Limousin news releases are archived in the Web site’s “What’s New” section. NALF encourages its members to share them with their local news outlets.

[back to top]

Aug. 2 • Belldoon Farms All About Females Sale, Iona Station, ON
Aug. 3–5 • Canadian National Junior Show and Annual Convention, London, ON
Aug. 14 • NALF Webcast: Visions Quest Round 2 Postharvest (members only; sponsored by Five Star Cattle Systems)
Aug. 28 • NALF Webcast: Value-Added Production (sponsored by Bovitrak)
Sept. 3 • Pinegar Limousin Big, Big, Big Cow Sale, Springfield, MO
Sept. 5 • ROM’N Limousin Annual Club Calf Sale, Arlington, SD
Sept. 8 • Seedstock Showcase Sale, Burbank, OH
Sept. 9 • East Central Oklahoma Annual Sale, Shawnee, OK
Sept. 15 • O’Brien Farms Quarter Horse Dispersal, Pineville, MO
Sept. 15 • Deatsman Farm–Sennett Cattle Co. Third Private Treaty Sale, Leesburg, IN
Sept. 15 • Arkansas Limousin Organization Limousin Fall Select Sale, Ozark, AR

[back to top]

Travis Pembrook of Oklahoma evaluated four prospect and three progress steers at the 2007 “Bayou Bash” National Junior Limousin Show and Congress (NJLSC). Wyatt Herrington, Ellisville, Miss., won champion prospect steer with WYHE Bug – a 874-pound, halfblood son of CHAZ Miss Susie Dee 6022F. Reserve champion went to LFL 6063 S – the 878-pound, halfblood son of LFL First Edition 1013L that Willie Payne, Levelland, Texas, showed. Emily Griffiths, Kendallville, Ind., had the champion progress steer, 3G Stiff Upper Lip 671S – a 1,185-pound, seven-eighths son of GPFF Blaque Rulon. Cashe Heldermon, Hinton, Okla., had the reserve champion with KRVN Sir John 156S – a 1,100-pound, halfblood son of CHR King Diamond.

Pembrook sorted 28 females in the second NJLSC Lim‑Flex® show. Cori Harrison, Minier, Ill., won grand champion with EXLR Scotch Cap 191S. Reserve grand champion went to Sennett Blackbird, owned by Ellie Sennett, Waynetown, Ind.

The class and division winners are listed in the July 26 Show Times newsletter, which is available in both the “Juniors” and “What’s New” sections of the NALF Web site.

[back to top]

Exhibitors displayed the results of their personal breeding programs in the bred-and-owned shows at the NJLSC.

The juniors paraded 32 females for judge Travis Pembrook. EF Cash Me Out 601R, owned by Austen Etherton, Dawson, Ill., earned grand champion honors. SL Dream Walkin, owned by Jordan Straight, Logan, Iowa, was reserve grand champion.

In the bred-and-owned bull show, Pembrook evaluated 18 head. Straight’s SL Thunder Struck earned grand champion honors. The reserve grand champion was MKLM Harddrive 213S, owned by Michael Mitchell, Mangum, Okla.

The class and division winners are listed in the July 26 Show Times newsletter.

[back to top]

In the NJLSC owned-female show, judge Joel Cowley from Texas found both the grand and reserve grand champions in Division 4. MAGS Sheila topped the nearly 160 entries, and MAGS Shari was just behind her. Austen Etherton, Dawson, Ill., and Kelvin Moreno, Venus, Fla., respectively, own the full sisters.

The class and division winners are listed in the July 27 Show Times newsletter.

[back to top]

For two days, the father-son duo of Steve and Ky Kennedy from Texas watched the NJLSC exhibitors as they paraded their cattle in the steer, bred-and-owned, Lim‑Flex and female shows. They then invited back 10 junior, 10 intermediate and 10 senior showmen for the division finals.

Sarah Johnson of Ohio worked her way to the top of the Junior Division. Megan Greenawalt of Ohio claimed highest honors in the Intermediate Division. Emily Griffiths of Indiana won the title of 2007 senior showmanship champion.

The other junior and intermediate finalists are listed in the July 27 Show Times newsletter, and the senior finalists are named in the July 28 issue.

[back to top]

Cassidy Woodard of Colorado won this year’s NJLSC participation-sweepstakes award. Rounding out the “top 10” were Sarah Johnson, Emily Griffiths, Katelyn Smith, Katie Crow, Kendall Harsh, Eric Birkner, Hillary Henson, Blair Davis, Ty Ladner and Nathan Hicks.

Oklahoma won the team sweepstakes, followed by Texas, then Arkansas.

[back to top]

Kameron Sullivan from Arkansas was recognized with the North American Limousin Junior Association (NALJA) Award of Excellence. He will receive a $750 cash prize for his demonstrated, hands-on experience with Limousin cattle; proven excellence in breed activities; leadership skills; and abilities to set and achieve worthy goals.

Alissa Johnson, Iowa, won the third annual Leonard and Vi Wulf Scholarship. She will use the $500 to continue her studies in ag business at South Dakota State University.

Emily Griffiths, Indiana, and Katie Hefner, Oklahoma, received $500 scholarships from the Limi Boosters. Katie Crow, Arkansas, and Ashley Doyle, Iowa, received the organization’s grants.

[back to top]

Megan Greenawalt of Ohio was honored with the Dick O’Brien Memorial Junior Herdsman Award. It recognizes an NJLSC exhibitor who does a superior job of caring for animals, interacting with others, meeting the public and demonstrating maturity.

[back to top]

The NALJA “electoral college” chose Cori Harrison of Illinois to be the association’s 2007–2008 president. The Board of Directors then elected its remaining officers: vice president, Kelvin Moreno, Florida; secretary, Mindi Ferguson, California; treasurer, Alissa Johnson, Iowa; and reporter, Kayleesue Patton, Ohio.

The other directors for 2007–2008 are Shayla Carmichael of Kentucky, Thadd Fosdick of Illinois, Stephen Getz of West Virginia, Katie Hefner of Oklahoma and Cassidy Woodard of Colorado. As immediate past president, Rachel Wulf of Minnesota will serve as an ex officio member of the junior board.

[back to top]

The NALJA Board members served around 200 people at a sundae fundraiser during the NJLSC and cleared $400 for the yearlong Corner Post Campaign, which ended with the show. Finishing at 91 percent of its $75,000 goal, it will benefit NALJA by funding additional activities and scholarships.

Although the initial campaign has ended, its legacy will continue to grow with the second Corner Post Genetics Package at the National Limousin Sale in Denver, Colo., Jan. 14, 2008. Counsil Family Limousin of Texas and Oklahoma is donating the headline female, CFLX Cheerleader 001T – a Jan. 10, 2007, daughter of Carrousels Peak Power out of Logan’s Cheerleader 280G, the dam of multitrait leader JCL Lodestar 27L.

[back to top]

Bruce Lawrence of Texas was named an honorary member of NALJA at the awards banquet. His longtime involvement with the organization includes many highlights, such as daughter Amber’s service as NALJA president and his chairing the NALF Board’s NALJA Committee in 2006.

[back to top]

One of the more memorable parts of the awards banquet was the official NJLSC highlight video. Charlie Wiemers of Steady Shots Production recorded the week’s activities. If you would like a copy on digital video disc (DVD) for $30, e‑mail a note to fujicowboy@aol.com. After your order, please allow six weeks for delivery.

[back to top]

NALF needs help to get out news about the NJLSC. Exhibitors, if you have not already, share your local newspaper’s name and e‑mail address with Brad Parker in the NALF office by Wednesday, Aug. 1.

[back to top]

In the All-American Limousin Futurity (AALF) fullblood show, judge Ryan Carmichael from Kentucky chose chose CCRA Semper Fi 54R as the grand champion bull. Cedar Creek Limousin, Thornfield, Mo., owns him. The reserve grand champion bull was Lenape Packed Peach from Lenape Limousin, Telford, Pa. Among the females, SDGL Golden Girl 180S from Black Tie Limousin, Mountain Grove, Mo., was grand champion. LL Daffodil 574 – exhibited by Cody Beach, Bristow, Okla. – was reserve grand champion.

In the Lim-Flex show, judge Doug Satree from Texas sorted EXLR Review 273R from Express Ranches, Yukon, Okla., to the top of the bull entries. The reserve grand champion was EF Smack Down 764S. Etherton Farms, Dawson, Ill.; Magness Land and Cattle, Platteville, Colo.; and Counsil Family Limousin, Madisonville, Texas, own him. Austen Etherton, Dawson, Ill., had the grand champion female in MAGS Rose Petal. The reserve grand champion was CHR Shanda 263S, exhibited by Lee Roy Lawrence, Anton, Texas.

During the purebred show, Satree selected DHVO Deuce 132R as the grand champion bull. Magness Land and Cattle; Lawrence Family Limousin, Anton, Texas; Kervin Cattle Co., Winnfield, La.; and Lance Hall Cattle Co., Sweetwater, Texas, own him. The reserve grand champion was EXLR Rodeo Drive 743R from Tubmill Creek Farms, New Florence, Pa., and Express Ranches. MAGS Sheila was the grand champion female for Etherton. EXLR Luvly 608S from Express Ranches and Summers Limousin, Independence, Mo., was the reserve grand champion.

[back to top]

Mark your calendars for July 12–19, 2008, when the NJLSC will move to Sioux Falls, S.D. See you on the “Trail to Excellence.”

The official 2008 NJLSC flier, including phone numbers for the host hotels, is posted in the “Juniors” section of the NALF Web site. The Sheraton Sioux Falls already is accepting reservations.