May 17, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Crystal Albers, assistant director of communications, at 816-383-5100 or calbers@angus.org;

Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president, at 816-383-5100 or mjenkins@angusfoundation.org

Turn Cull Cows to Treasure

Cull cows often get a bad rap, but now producers can turn a trip to the local sale barn into opportunity.

The Angus Foundation introduces the ÒTreasure ChestÓ project, an initiative geared toward Angus farmers and ranchers wishing to donate cull cow proceeds for education, youth and research funding. 

ÒThis is a unique opportunity for Angus producers to give the proceeds from the sale of their cull cows to benefit the Angus breed and agricultural industry,Ó says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. ÒAn ordinary trip to the auction market then becomes opportunity for the breed.Ó

The American Angus Association^¨Õs  not-for-profit affiliate funds ongoing research projects to advance Angus breeders and other beef producers. Education and youth development are other key focus areas of the entity, which was founded in 1980.

Donors participating in the Angus FoundationÕs cull cow program can choose to direct funds to one of the organizationÕs priorities — education, youth or research — or make unrestricted contributions.

ÒItÕs an easy program to participate in, and itÕs a tremendous idea,Ó says Glen Swanson, a Durant, Iowa, Angus breeder who has participated in the cull cow initiative. ÒEverybody has a few cull cows that need to go. [This] is just an easy way to tell whoever you sell them through to send the money to the Angus Foundation and go from there.Ó

Fourth-generation Angus breeder Blanford Pierce of Woodlawn Farms, Creston, Ill., couldnÕt agree more.

ÒI know weÕve all had wonderful females weÕve considered to be Ôtreasures.Õ Unfortunately, sometimes factors such as age dictate that she be culled. Donating the salvage value proceeds to the Foundation is a way that your particular female can leave her ÔtreasureÕ status as a legacy,Ó Pierce says. ÒIt is a small way in which any breeder can participate in this vital and significant fund-raising effort.Ó

Ghent, N.Y., Angus breeder Phil Trowbridge encourages others to participate.

ÒThe cull cow program is a great opportunity for producers of all herd sizes to make contributions to the Angus Foundation,Ó says Trowbridge, chairman of the Angus Foundation Board of Directors. ÒThis is a very simple way to help lay the foundation for the future of this breed. Ó

All funds donated through the FoundationÕs cull cow program will go toward the organizationÕs ÒVision of Value: Campaign for Angus,Ó a capital campaign aimed at raising $11 million by Dec. 31, 2011. More than $7 million in outright cash gifts, pledges and planned giving commitments has been raised toward the campaign, to date.

Ranchers participating in the FoundationÕs ÒTreasure ChestÓ cull cow program can make checks payable to the Angus Foundation, or instruct their local sale barns to directly contribute proceeds to the Foundation. Donations may be mailed to the Angus Foundation at 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506.

Contact Jenkins at 816-383-5100 or mjenkins@angusfoundation.org for further information.

The Angus Foundation is the American Angus AssociationÕs not-for-profit, 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to funding education, youth and research endeavors for the benefit of the Angus breed and agriculture industry. Visit www.angusfoundation.org for more information.

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