[inline_image file=”cb544b59471e617db2c85ad23ec521a3.png” caption=”BIF logo”]
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) held their annual meeting and symposium in Des Moines, IA, June 22-25. More than 400 beef producers, academia and industry representatives attended the event and another 250 registered to participate online. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.
[inline_image file=”c32a415d04156de396bfbbe91fefef29.jpg” caption=”Cow Camp Ranch, Lost Springs, KS, was named the 2021 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year. Pictured (from left) are Greg Henderson, Drovers, award sponsor; Kent and Jean Brunner, Cow Camp Ranch; and Joe Mushrush, 2020-21 BIF president. Photo by BIF.”]
Cow Camp Ranch, Lost Springs, KS, was given the 2021 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year Award This national award is presented annually to a producer to recognize their dedication to improving the beef industry at the seedstock level. Cow Camp Ranch is located on the western edge of the Flint Hills near Lost Springs, KS, just off the old Santa Fe Trail. The Brunner family has been farming and ranching since the early 1890s and now is in its fifth generation of operation on some of the same land.
W&S Ranch Inc. was presented the BIF Commercial Producer of the Year Award. This national award is given annually to a producer to recognize their dedication to improving the beef industry at the commercial level. W&S Ranch Inc is a registered Angus and commercial ranch located in Smith Center, KS. After serving in the Korean War, Richard Weltmer and his wife, Avis (Sprague), put down roots southeast of Smith Center, KS, and founded Richard Weltmer Farms. They registered the W over S brand to represent Weltmer and Sprague and eventually Weltmer & Sons.
[inline_image file=”074c99fd1aaef8b574cadc8b58dd307c.jpg” caption=”Lee Leachman (center), Fort Collins, CO, receives the BIF Continuing Service Award from Donnell Brown, Throckmorton, TX. Also pictured is Lee’s wife, Lisa. Photo by BIF.”]
BIF presented Lee Leachman, Fort Collins, CO, a BIF Continuing Service Award. Continuing Service Award winners have made major contributions to the BIF organization. Leachman is the managing partner of Leachman Cattle of Colorado, headquartered near Fort Collins, CO. Additionally, Leachman served as the 2018-2019 BIF president. “Lee is a trailblazer and early adopter of advanced technologies,” says Donnell Brown, Throckmorton, TX, who presented the award.
[inline_image file=”8466a367540aa4c0805462c652b8d23e.jpg” caption=”Jane Parish, Verona, MS, receives the BIF Continuing Service Award from Marty Ropp, former BIF president. Photo by BIF.”]
Dr. Jane Parish, Verona, MS, was also presented a BIF Continuing Service Award. Parish currently serves as the department head for the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona, and interim head for the Mississippi State University Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. She served as the BIF executive director for five years. “Just like most successful people, Jane has more to her life than just work,” says Marty Ropp, former BIF president, who presented the award.
[inline_image file=”fbd66203857b39dd390e65a0c462b621.jpg” caption=”Galen Fink, Randolph, KS, receives the BIF Pioneer Award. Presenting the award are Joe Mushrush, 2020-21 BIF president, and Dr. David Nichols, Kansas State University professor. Photo by BIF.”]
Galen Fink, Randolph, KS, was given a BIF Pioneer Award. The Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle, honoring those who have had a major role in acceptance of performance reporting and documentation as the primary means to make genetic change in beef cattle.
A family operation, Fink Beef Genetics is one of the leading Angus and Charolais seedstock operations in the country. With extensive use of AI, a large embryo transplant program, sexed semen and widespread use of cooperative herds, the operation has been able to grow numbers with a limited land base and very little equipment or hired labor. “Galen is always looking ahead and focusing on the future needs of the beef industry,” said Dr. David Nichols, Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry professor, who presented the award.
[inline_image file=”5416c83c6c1e6a44ca48c210be03aef6.jpg” caption=”Gene Rouse, Huxley, IA, and Doyle Wilson, Boone, IA, receive the BIF Pioneer Award. Presenting the award is Dr. Scott Greiner (right), Extension beef specialist and professor at Virginia Tech. Photo by BIF.”]
Dr. Gene Rouse, Huxley, IA, and Dr. Doyle Wilson, Boone, IA, were also given the BIF Pioneer Award. Rouse’s and Wilson’s collaborative research and development of real-time ultrasound technology to evaluate body composition in the live animal, and the application of this technology in real-world tools in the form of performance measurements and EPDs have had a profound impact on the beef industry. “The tools, processes and procedures we use today for genetic improvement of beef cattle using ultrasound both here in the U.S. and globally trace to many of the pioneering efforts of Gene Rouse and Doyle Wilson,” said Dr. Scott Greiner, Extension beef specialist and professor at Virginia Tech, who presented the award.
[inline_image file=”7b795d043609e422e820b98bb997cceb.jpg” caption=”Alison Van Eenennaam, Davis, CA, receives the BIF Pioneer Award. Presenting the award is Dr. Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and Extension beef genetics specialist. Photo by BIF.”]
Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam, Davis, CA, was also given the BIF Pioneer Award. Throughout her career Van Eenennaam has proven to be an ardent communicator of science to perhaps the broadest audience of any extension specialist in memory. Through her past work with the NBCEC in “validating” commercially available DNA tests to her more recent work related to gene editing in livestock, she has shown that she is not afraid to tackle politically charged issues. “Her engagement at a national and international level in the education of scientists, producers, policy makers, and the general public related to the potential benefits of advanced technologies such as gene editing,” said Dr. Matt Spangler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and Extension beef genetics specialist, who presented the award.
For more information about this year’s symposium, including additional award winners and coverage of symposium and an archive of the presentations, visit BIFSymposium.com. — BIF
