Official Publication, North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement
Association
July 2000 -- Volume 5, Number 2
Over 500 cattle producers, scientists and beef industry leaders were in attendance at the 29th Annual Meeting and Research Symposium of the Beef Improvement Federation held May 14-17, 1997, in Dickinson.
Informational meetings and discussions as well as fun-filled activities highlighted the event, according to Kris Ringwall, Convention Coordinator and Executive Secretary of the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association. The 1997 convention was deemed successful as the attendance was placed at second highest in the history of the Beef Improvement Federation.
Representatives from nearly every major cattle breed in the United States and Canada participated at the convention with over 50 presentations from breed leaders, scientists and cattle producers headlining the business meeting. "Cattle Traditions, Emotions and Business" was the 1997 theme.
Five committee meetings held at the convention were the Genetic Prediction, Emerging Technologies, Multiple Trait Selection, Whole Herd Analysis and Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation. "These were working sessions; the memberships of these committees are very strong and forceful about how to help the beef industry," Ringwall said. "The information which was available at these committee meetings is at the leading edge of the beef business."
Key features of this year's event included the participation from the North Dakota Beef Commission promoting integration of beef as an important, integral part of the consumer food chain and a new products lunch.
North Dakota State University Professor Russ Danielson was one of the national award recipients during the Friday, May 16, banquet. Danielson was awarded the prestigous BIF Continuing Service Award. Awards presented were as follows: 1997 BIF Ambassador Award--Bill Miller; 1997 BIF Continuing Service Award--Glenn Brinkman, Russell Danielson, Gene Rouse; 1997 BIF Pioneer Award--Larry V. Cundiff, Henry Gardiner, Jim Leachman; 1997 BIF Commercial Producer Award--Merlin Anderson; 1997 BIF Seedstock Producer Award (co-winners)--Thomas Angus Ranch and Wehrmann Angus.
Saturday brought various opportunities to see southwest North Dakota. A special tour to the Bowman and Slope counties allowed BIF participants a first hand look at the cow-calf business in North Dakota. Stops included John Lee Njos ranch, Bowman Charolais, Stuber Herefords, Brooks Angus, HT Ranch and Logging Camp Ranch.
Commercial and purebred cattle were on display at all of the locations and ranch owners presented brief descriptions of their operations. Ron Bowman, president of the NDBCIA, coordinated the tour with assistance from the Bowman Chamber of Commerce.
"We had a tremendous convention and feedback has been very positive about the entire event," Ringwall said. "The feedback from the BIF leaders has indicated they were very pleased with how the convention went. Many people worked hard to complete the convention. It was a team effort."
 
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