American Gelbvieh Foundation Update by Al Knapp

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The American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization established in 1991 to support youth, research, and member education. The AGF operates on charitable donations and AGF fundraising activities. The Mission statement reads:
The American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) secures, grows and responsibly distributes assets for research, member education and youth development to sustain and grow Gelbvieh genetics.

The AGF underwent reorganization in 2016 by entering into a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) and a revised set of bylaws. These changes resulted in a new and expanded AGF Board of Directors from nine to 15, with the addition of a new and expanded finance committee. The AGA sold the office building located at 10900 Dover Street last summer and the $800,000.00 proceeds of the sale was planned to be gifted to the AGF. The original purchase price of the building was donated by members and that amount of the proceeds is to be protected as a legacy to those members that sacrificed so much to make the AGA home possible. The AGA Board wanted to be assured that those legacy funds would be secured and untouched. The remaining available funds should be invested in such a way as to make them available should the need arise. The AGF Finance Committee is working on investment strategies for the sale proceeds and will select an investment advisor/broker to manage the AGF funds.

The AGF had a successful 2016 with fundraising activities that netted approximately $13,700 from the Steer Challenge/Scale to Rail Contest and the sale credit auction at the 2017 Gelbvieh and Balancer National Sale. The 2016 Steer Challenge included about 35 steers. The Steer Challenge has resulted in a great “feeding” education tool for membership and provides much needed carcass data on sire groups, thus accomplishing two of the three AGF purposes, member education and research.

We are extremely excited as the 2017 Steer Challenge includes over 100 head of steers. The increased numbers will provide more data collected for the AGA sire groups and additional financial gain for the AGF creating a win–win scenario.

At of the end of 2016 the AGF had total assets of $168,000 which included the $38,000 in the Community First Foundation endowment fund. Of these total funds, $121,000 are available. With the transfer of the $800,000 from the building sale the AGF could conceivably have assets exceeding $1 million by the end of 2017.

In addition to the Steer Challenge and the sale credit auction the AGF also has the Culls for the Future program wherein members are encouraged when taking a cull animal to the sale barn to designate the proceeds go to the AGF. Information on all of these programs is available on the AGA website on the Giving to the Foundation page under the Foundation tab.

On this page you will also find information on how to leave a legacy gift by designating the AGF as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, annuity or make an estate contribution by way of your written will or trust.

It is an honor to serve as the AGF President for 2017. On behalf of the entire AGF Board of Directors, we appreciate your continued support and gifts to the Foundation.