Beef Update - June 2008

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2008 Virginia BCIA Superior Service Award Presented to Kelly Liddington
Virginia BCIA is pleased to present the 2008 Superior Service Award to Kelly Liddington. BCIA recognizes Liddington for his impact to beef producers through educational programs related to genetic improvement.

Since 1987, Kelly has been an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension, located in Richmond County. He holds a B.S. degree in Ag Ed/Dairy Science from the Ohio State University and an M.S. from Old Dominion University. Kelly has been instrumental in the formation and success of the Fredericksburg Feeder Calf Association. He provides oversight, advice, and support for producer members. He has facilitated value-added opportunities by fostering the marketing of cattle in the region through the Virginia Quality Assured Feeder Cattle Program. Participation in this program has allowed beef producers to more fully realize the benefits of superior genetics and management. As Extension agent, Kelly also provides educational programs targeting nutrition, reproduction, and animal health, as well as forage and row crop production, pest and nutrient management, and water quality.

Kelly has been recognized as the 2006 Civic Person of the Year by the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce, the 2005 Fair Person of the Year by Virginia Association of Fairs, and received the Distinguished Service Award in 2004 from the National Association of County Ag Agents.

For his dedication and leadership, Virginia BCIA is glad to present Kelly Liddington with the Superior Service Award.

The Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association presented its Premier Breeder Awards at their Annual Meeting held in conjunction with the Virginia Beef Expo on April 18, 2008. Breeders received the awards based on outstanding performance of their entire consignment at Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test Stations in the test year 2006-07. The Premier Angus Breeder Award was presented to Echo Ridge Farm, C.W. Pratt and family from Atkins, Virginia. Echo Ridge consigned a total of ten bulls to the Virginia Central Bull Test program at both Culpeper and Southwest, earning the Breeder Group Award in three of the four test groups. The Premier Simmental Breeder Award was presented to Trio Farms, the Jerry Burner family, from Luray, Virginia for the performance of their bulls at the 2007 Southwest Bull Test. The bulls posted an average gain ratio of 109 and the consignment group included the top indexing Senior and Junior Simmental for the Southwest Test.

Jim Tate was recently elected president of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association for 2008. Tate is an Angus breeder from Beaverdam. Other officers elected at the BCIA Annual Meeting include Vice President Kevin Powell of Madison, and Secretary/Treasurer Alan Graybeal of Blacksburg.

During the annual meeting of Virginia BCIA, directors elected to serve a three year term included Doug Hughes, a Gelbvieh and Angus breeder from Max Meadows, Kevin Fleenor, an Angus breeder from Aldie, and Matthew Miller a Simmental breeder from Rural Retreat. Other members of the BCIA board of directors include Jim Sponaugle from Doe Hill, Nathan Haver of Goshen, and past president Pete Henderson from Williamsburg.

The technical directors of the association are Norm Vincel, Select Sires, Rocky Mount, Virginia and Dr. Bill Beal, Virginia Tech Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences. The educational advisor is Dr. Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist at Virginia Tech.