January 24, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:

Katie Allen, Angus Foundation marketing and public relations assistant, at 816-383-5100 or kallen@angusfoundation.org; or

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

Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus Reaches $7.6 Million in Outright Cash Gifts, Pledges and Planned Giving Commitments

The multi-year $11 million fundraising drive to support the Angus Foundation’s education, youth and research efforts concluded on Dec. 31, 2011.

In 2005, the Angus Foundation embarked on a fundraising campaign never-before attempted by similar livestock and agricultural entities. The Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus was the first capital campaign launched by the Angus Foundation and aimed to preserve our rich Angus heritage for future generations through an $11 million fundraising effort. The campaign, which concluded Dec. 31, 2011, raised more than $7.6 million in outright cash gifts, pledges and planned giving commitments.

The funds raised in the campaign will allow every Angus breeder, friend and allied industry interest to benefit. It has allowed for growth in financial support for educational programs, such as Cattlemen’s Boot Camps, Young Cattlemen’s Conference and Beef Leaders Institute. It has also funded more youth opportunities through educational scholarships and conferences such as the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference. Many research projects at universities across the U.S. have also benefited from the campaign fundraising efforts.

The initial funding goals of the campaign were to provide $3.5 million for education, $6 million for youth, and $1.5 million for research. Although the $11 million goal was not reached, Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president, says significant and unprecedented strides have been made for the benefit of the Angus breed and American Angus Association^® members through the extensive fundraising efforts in the recently completed campaign. This endeavor, he says, has helped strategically position the Angus breed for continued success.

“It is my view, and I believe it is one that will be shared by countless other Angus breeders and members across the country, that we weren’t satisfied with the status quo at the beginning of the campaign, so why would we want to settle for the status quo today, especially now that we’ve seen the leaps and bounds of progress that can be made with the help of charitable gifts to the Angus Foundation from our members, allied industry partners and friends of the Angus breed,” Jenkins says.

In addition to generating more support for education, youth and research activities due to the campaign, even more importantly and invaluable is that Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus has instilled an even higher sense of accomplishment and confidence in our Angus breeders across the country.

“One can only be humbled by the response from thousands of Angus breeders, allied industry interests and friends who supported the campaign over the years,” Jenkins says. “It was tremendously rewarding to see this high level of synergy and excitement be carried all the way through to Dec. 31, the official last day of the campaign, with many Angus enthusiasts making generous outright cash contributions and commitments, including a wonderful major gift announcement by the Montana Angus Association and Montana Angus Auxiliary establishing a permanent $25,000 scholarship endowment fund with the Angus Foundation!”

Following the campaign, greater emphasis will be given to raising funds for specific initiatives, for example, the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), as well as other areas deemed priorities in education and research, Jenkins says.

Nearly $1 million was raised to support the Vision of Value campaign through four events that included “That Old Black Magic,” hosted by Fred and Betty Johnson of Summitcrest Farms in 2004; “Magic of the Vine,” hosted by Jim and Sue Coleman of Vintage Angus Ranch in 2006; “That Old West Magic,” hosted by Bob Funk of Express Ranches in 2008; and “BLACKONTRACK! Angus Magic at Churchill Downs” in 2010.

Serving as the campaign advisors on the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus Leadership Cabinet included Chairman Howard Hillman of Bon View Farms in South Dakota, Co-Chairman Jim Coleman of Vintage Angus Ranch in California, Co-Chairman David McMahon of Belle Point Ranch in Arkansas and the following members: Dick Beck, Three Trees Ranch in Georgia; Mark Gardiner, Gardiner Angus Ranch in Kansas; John Morgan, Morgan Angus in Georgia; Abbie Nelson, Five Star Land & Livestock in California; Bob Norton, BioZyme, Inc. in Missouri; Blanford Pierce, Woodlawn Farms in Illinois; Anne Patton Schubert of Kentucky, representing the American Angus Auxiliary; Ron Simek, Canyon Creek Angus in Wyoming; Eddie Sydenstricker, Sydenstricker Genetics in Missouri; Jake Tiedeman of Nebraska, a former chairman of the NJAA Board of Directors; Bob Weaver, Weaver Angus Farm in Illinois; and Laurie Widdowson, SandPoint Cattle Co. in Nebraska. Ex-officio members include Paul Hill, Champion Hill Angus in Ohio and Robert Schlutz, Da-Es-Ro Angus Farms in Iowa.

“The Angus Foundation would be terribly remiss if we didn’t again convey our genuine appreciation to the campaign’s Leadership Cabinet and the many volunteers who invested an enormous amount of time, energy and resources to this monumental fundraising effort for the benefit of our beloved Angus breed, our Association’s members and youth across the country,” Jenkins says.

The Angus Foundation was established in 1980 as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization to support Angus education, youth and research. To learn more about the Angus Foundation and the programs it supports or how you can contribute to the Vision of Value: Campaign for Angus, log on to www.angusfoundation.org or call 816-383-5100.

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