Media Releases
Vesco Joins American Gelbvieh Association Staff
Note to Editors: A high-resolution photo is available by contacting Megan Slater, AGA public relations coordinator, at megan@gelbvieh.org or 303-465-2333.
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) would like to welcome Angela Vesco to its staff where she began her role as commercial marketing specialist on July 15, 2015.
Vesco is originally from Winnemucca, Nevada where she was raised on her family’s cow/calf operation. Growing up, she was an active member in 4-H showing cattle, horses and hogs and was also heavily involved with FFA where she participated in livestock judging, public speaking and marketing contests. Vesco also served as the 2008-2009 State Reporter for the Nevada FFA Association.
Vesco attended the University of Nevada, Reno before transferring to Kansas State University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 2013. During the summer of 2015 Vesco graduated with a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition, also from Kansas State University.
At the AGA, Vesco will serve on the marketing team and will spend her time traveling the country with special emphasis on visiting and assisting commercial bull customers.
“AGA seeks out individuals just like Angela that have cattle and ranch experience, combined with the educational background necessary to provide sound guidance to AGA members and cow-calf producers,” said Myron G. Edelman, AGA’s executive director.
“I truly enjoy meeting people and getting to know them. I am eager to apply my commercial background to the job and learn more about the industry,” Vesco said. “I’m excited to serve Gelbvieh producers in any way that I can so that their operations can continue to succeed.”
Angela can be reached at the AGA office 303-465-2333 or by email at angelav@gelbvieh.org.
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American Gelbvieh Association National Convention to be Held in Kansas City
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Board of Directors and staff would like to announce the 45th Annual AGA National Convention and Annual Meeting will be held in Kansas City, Missouri at the Embassy Suites Kansas City – International Airport hotel, December 10-12, 2015.
This convention marks one of the first in recent history that will be a solitary event for members of the American Gelbvieh Association. Previously the AGA Annual Convention was held in January in Denver, Colorado during the National Western Stock Show events. The 45th Annual Convention will serve as a place for AGA members to meet and conduct committee meetings, elect leaders of the AGA to serve on the board of directors as well as network and connect with fellow Gelbvieh breeders and industry producers.
The AGA will be hosting a variety of new convention programs that are geared to both AGA members and commercial stakeholders. New events during convention such as AGA 101 and the all-new Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup will make this convention unique from those in the past.
The all-new Cattlemen’s Profit Roundup symposium will be the culminating activity at the AGA Convention and is tailored to fit the interest and needs of commercial bull customers, feeders and beef industry partners. The symposium will feature industry-leading speakers and panelists that will address both sides of the cattle production profit equation. This is a free to attend event and the AGA would like to invite all cattlemen and cattlewomen to attend this educating event.
The American Gelbvieh Association is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,500 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance-oriented total herd reporting system. For more information visit www.www.gelbvieh.org or call 303-465-2333.
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Retallick to Serve AGA Members and Customers
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to welcome Kelli Retallick, Manhattan, Kansas as the new Data Services Specialist.
Retallick was born and raised on a purebred beef operation in southwest Wisconsin. She is still active in her family’s own seedstock operation where their main goal is to sell bulls that will produce industry relevant cattle to fit the needs of commercial customers. Growing up in 4-H, FFA and junior beef breed associations allowed Retallick to network with seedstock and commercial producers alike, from around the country pushing her towards a career and a life in the beef industry.
Retallick received a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she was highly involved in both on and off campus activities from the UW Saddle & Sirloin Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau and the National Junior Angus Association’s Board of Directors. Her time served on the board gave her an inside look into the inner workings of a breed association and only further sparked her interest in how a breed association could be used to a producer’s advantage. She is now in the process of receiving a master’s degree in the field of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Kansas State University (K-State).
Most of Retallick’s current research revolves around feed efficiency of growing beef cattle, specifically the optimum test periods to capture gain and intake data. The time at K-State was one of the most eye-opening experiences to date and reaffirmed the belief that she is in the exact field she wants to be involved in.
“One of the most valuable lessons I have learned as a master’s student was not taught from a textbook but rather gained over time and it is the idea that I will never, nor do I want to, stop learning,” Retallick said.
AGA members and customers will benefit from Retallick’s background and education in animal breeding. Retallick will work closely with AGA breed improvement staff to continually enhance the AGA experience as it relates to services and programs provided by the AGA as well as the information that accompanies registered Gelbvieh and Balancer® cattle. AGA members are encouraged to contact Retallick as they have questions regarding DNA testing, data services and information gathered from commercial bull customers’ inquiries.
“Kelli will be a great asset to the Gelbvieh association and the beef industry, as the AGA evolves into a modern breed association. With a focus on providing genetic and marketing solutions to Gelbvieh stakeholders, Kelli will certainly be able to use her experiences as a seedstock supplier along with an extensive education in animal science to provide members and Gelbvieh customers the information they need for success in an ever changing business,” said Myron Edelman, executive director of AGA.
John C. Oswald Inducted Posthumously Into Gelbvieh Hall of Fame
Photo caption: Ken Schmucker (left) and Andy Oswald (middle) accept the 2015 AGA Hall of Fame award, presented by AGA board member Brian Dunn, St. John, Kansas (right), on behalf of John C. Oswald.
John C. Oswald of Hutchinson, Kansas, was inducted into the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) Hall of Fame posthumously for 2015. The induction took place on Saturday, January 10 at the AGA's Impacting the Beef Business™ with Maternal Influence Annual Convention. John's son Andy Oswald and herdsman Ken Schmucker were present at the convention to accept the award.
The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals for their lasting contribution to the growth and development of the Gelbvieh breed. That contribution is through the influence of the cattle they have bred, their breed promotion efforts and the leadership provided to the AGA.
John C. Oswald has been a part of the Gelbvieh breed for over 25 years. He, his wife Liz, their son Andy and his family own and manage The Land of Ozz – John C. Oswald and Sons Gelbvieh and Balancer in Hutchinson, Kansas. Herdsman Ken Schmucker handles the ranch's day-to-day operations. John passed away on January 26, 2012.
John was very involved with several organizations throughout his lifetime including president and long term board member of the Kansas State Fair Board, president of the American Polled Hereford Association, member of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Committee, Kansas State Alumni Association, Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce as well as many others. He also served on several American Gelbvieh Association committees throughout the years and was past president of the Kansas Gelbvieh Association.
In the late 1980s, John switched his breeding program from Polled Herefords to Gelbvieh, seeing a brighter future in the Gelbvieh breed. John C. Oswald and Sons has been a member of the American Gelbvieh Association since 1989.
Today, Ken and Andy are leading The Land of Ozz from the lessons instilled by John. John's legacy to the operation is powerful performance, strong maternal traits, good temperament and absence with problems. John C. Oswald and Sons Gelbvieh and Balancer select for value and profit and feel that is the most important direction for the operation.
Many breed-leading animals have carried the OZZ prefix, perhaps the most noteworthy of which is OZZ EXT Govenor 3N. Born in 2003, Govenor currently has 2,153 progeny recorded in the AGA herdbook. Today, Govenor's EPDs rank him in the top 25 percent or better of active Gelbvieh sires for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk, calving ease maternal, heifer pregnancy, dry matter intake, yield grade, carcass weight, ribeye area, marbling and total maternal; in the top four percent of the breed for $Cow; and the top two percent of the breed for 30-month pregnancy and feeder profit index.
Nominated for this honor by the Kansas Gelbvieh Association, the American Gelbvieh Association recognized John C. Oswald as its 2015 Hall of Fame Inductee.
Gelbvieh Association Elects 2015 Board of Directors
Photo caption: The American Gelbvieh Association elected directors and officers for 2015 during its annual convention in Denver, Colorado. Front row (left to right): Lowell Rogers, Seminary, Miss.; Gary Tilghman, Glasgow, Ky.; Vice President Dan Warner, Beaver City, Neb.; President Neal Pearson, Lake City, S.D.; Secretary Duane Strider, Asheboro, N.C.; Treasurer Grant Thayer, Ramah, Colo.; Executive Director Myron Edelman, Westminster, Colo.; Walter Teeter, Mt. Ulla, N.C. Back row (left to right): Brian Dunn, St. John, Kan.; Dustin Rippe, Hubbell, Neb.; Emily Griffiths, Kendallville, Ind.; David Martin, Judsonia, Ark.; Andy LeDoux, Agenda, Kan.; Scott Starr, Stapleton, Neb.; Bob Hart, Kansas City, Kan.; Ronnie Rogers, Mendon, Mo.
Members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) elected five candidates to serve three-year terms on the AGA Board of Directors. The election was held during the annual membership meeting at the AGA Annual Convention Impacting the Beef Business™ with Maternal Influence, Saturday, January 10, 2015.
Newly elected board members are Dustin Rippe, Hubbell, Nebraska and Lowell Rogers, Seminary, Mississippi. Re-elected to serve second terms were Andy LeDoux, Agenda, Kansas; Neal Pearson, Lake City, South Dakota; and Duane Strider, Asheboro, North Carolina.
The Board of Directors then elected individuals to serve in leadership positions on the 2015 AGA Executive Committee. Neal Pearson was selected to be the 30th president of the American Gelbvieh Association. He succeeds Past President Rob Arnold, Minot, North Dakota.
Elected as vice president was Dan Warner, Beaver City, Nebraska. Duane Strider was elected as secretary and Grant Thayer, Ramah, Colorado, will serve as treasurer.
The other members of the AGA Board of Directors are: Brian Dunn, St. John, Kansas; Emily Griffiths, Kendallville, Indiana; Bob Hart, Kansas City, Kansas; David Martin, Judsonia, Arkansas; Ronnie Rogers, Mendon, Missouri; Scott Starr, Stapleton, Nebraska; Walter Teeter, Mt. Ulla, North Carolina and Gary Tilghman, Glasgow, Kentucky.
Retiring members of the 2014 AGA Board of Directors were Rob Arnold, Minot, North Dakota and Bob Prosser, Winslow, Arizona. Arnold and Prosser each served two consecutive three year terms and their dedication and service to the association is appreciated by many.
American Gelbvieh Association Welcomes New Staff
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Rebecca Mettler of Sarcoxie, Missouri, as editorial content coordinator and Megan Slater of Longmont, Colorado as public relations coordinator.
Prior to joining the AGA team, Mettler was a freelance writer for national and regional agricultural publications. Experienced in beef industry association work, Mettler served as DNA coordinator for the Red Angus Association of America in Denton, Texas as well as a membership communications assistant at the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association while attending the University of Missouri (MU) in Columbia, Missouri. Mettler holds bachelor’s degrees in both Agricultural Journalism and Animal Sciences from the University of Missouri.
Mettler was raised on a 400 head commercial cow/calf operation in southwest Missouri and has been involved in the beef industry her entire life. She and her husband, Brant, recently moved back to their home state.
She will be responsible for the editorial content of the Gelbvieh World and The Profit Picture publications and serve as quality assurance for written AGA communications. In the future, she will also be a resource for placing advertising orders.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to work for AGA and am looking forward to continuing to provide the valuable and accurate information that AGA members and stakeholders have come to expect from the association’s publications,” Mettler said.
Slater graduated from Colorado State University (CSU) in May of 2014 with a degree in Animal Science and a minor in Business Administration. While at CSU she was a member of 2013-2014 CSU Seedstock Merchandising Team. During her time on the team, Slater co-chaired the written promotions committee. Those duties included managing the team website, creating and updating a Facebook page, composing and sending out newsletters, and putting together the annual bull sale catalog.
Through her role as AGA public relations coordinator, Slater will focus primarily on the Gelbvieh message. The AGA membership will benefit from her efforts toward assisting AGA affiliates, handling social media content, compiling the AGA membership E-Newsletter and participating in AGA and industry events.
As an intern for the past five months at AGA, Slater has been responsible for building “How To” tutorials to assist AGA members in transitioning to the new registry system, providing content for AGA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as other communication efforts.
“I am very excited to start full time at the AGA and to continue using my skills and information I’ve learned as communications intern to assist Gelbvieh members and promote the Gelbvieh message,” said Slater.
Mettler may be contacted at 303-465-2333 or by email at rebeccam@gelbvieh.org.
Slater can be reached at megans@gelbvieh.org or by calling the AGA office at 303-465-2333.