6 minute read
Dave Maples: Thoughts from Dave
Thoughts From Dave
Dave Maples Executive Vice President
The only job my dad ever had was Angus Cattle. Really that was his interest. We had row crops, cotton and soybeans but we were not the best at it. What dad really enjoyed was his cows. This past week my dad was one of five inducted into the American Angus Heritage Foundation. Most often parents are proud of their children, but I can tell you I was really proud of both my mom and dad for this honor. As I watched the video of my family farm a couple of things struck me. Maintaining a generational farm is not easy and to do it for 200 years is hard. There are a lot of pressures, both internal with the family and the perceived pressure from the outside, to keep it going. And it is doubly hard when you have to do it with no outside money. There were a couple of times in my life that I thought we were not going to make it. But some how we pulled it out. I guess just by the grace of God, Mom and Dad got their three kids through college. We did it with scholarships and we knew the time line was short. I was proud to see my dad on that stage giving his acceptance speech that Sunday night in Fort Worth, Texas. I really wondered what he was going to say when he stepped to the mic. I told him that afterwards and his comments to me were, “that was what I was thinking too because I didn’t know what I was going to say”. Growing up with the good times and the wonderful people, including the financial hardships that we experienced, has made me a better KCA employee. I also think that I have found myself surrounded with a group of people that have experienced some of the same things. The one thing that I take the most pride in and that really makes me feel good is when people compliment me on the KCA staff. When you have a team around you like I have, it makes thing much easier. KCA has really made some big moves this year. I hope you see these advancements as a positive for the industry as well as the Association. The publication, Cow Country, is visible and in your mailbox every month. I can’t say enough about the job that Carey and Todd have done in moving to a magazine format. After making the decision to switch, Todd turned it around in a month! Carey is celebrating twenty years with KCA this year and she is one of those people that just simply grinds it out. A couple of the big moves that the organization has taken on this year you won’t necessarily see, but is important to you and the operations of the Association. We have moved to a new accounting program. Kelly Tucker, another hard worker, has taken on this monumental project. We have moved into the digital world where approvals for payments are done on my phone. No more signing checks. The plan is to have financial dashboards so that we can monitor and track the businesses of KCA. Nikki Whitaker has guided the transition of a new membership database. Nikki is very competitive and always wants to win, so get your membership turned in. Don’t forget Dan Miller, as we are still managing the Eden Shale farm in Owen County and Katelyn Hawkins has an everyday job in managing the business of Beef Solutions and the ground beef project with Kroger. Alison Smith has been the steady voice and recognizable person of the beef checkoff and the consumer programs for Kentucky’s beef industry. Becky Thompson, another hardcore, get it done personality, makes sure KBN and many more events and special projects are managed in great detail. As we start 2022, we are going to bring some new young talent to the team and I am really looking forward to what is in front of us. Kylie Trail, Jesslyn Watson and Bradon Burks have all joined us in 2021. I hope they know what they are getting into! I hope you attend the KCA convention January 13 and 14 where KCA will honor five inductees into the KCA Hall of Fame. Danny Coy produces all of the videos for KCA and his talent is great, producing high quality videos much like the one that Angus did for my Dad. Also, there will be some important updates from the KCA Long Range Plan that you will want to hear about.
27th Annual
Buyer’s Choice Bull Sale
Allison Charolais Monday • 5:30PM (dinner served presale) Charolais Breeder Since 1962 • Bulls Available February 28th at the farm Quality, Kentucky Ø Bull calves out of HCR Answer 2042 and
HCR SPIRIT 4007.
John Allison, Owner 545 Eminence Road
New Castle, KY 40050 502-220-3170 SELLING SIRES OF: SAV Rainfall, Connealy Emerald, Connealy Maternal Made, Connealy Commonwealth, Connealy Concord
Allison Charolais Charolais Breeder Since 1962 •
Bulls Available
Ø Bull calves out of HCR Answer 2042 and
CHAROLAIS HCR SPIRIT 4007.
Ø BULLS & Bred for calving ease and growth. Ø HEIFERS Bulls for both purebred and commercial breeders. AVAILABLEØ Yearlings and two-year-olds available. Ø Bred heifers to calve in fall available.
David Carter, Farm ManagerJohn Allison
502-706-0075545 Eminence RoadJohn Allison, Owner
New Castle, KY 40050545 Eminence Road (502) 220-3170New Castle, KY 40050 502-220-3170
Allison Charolais Charolais Breeder Since 1962 •
HCR SPIRIT 4007. Bred for calving ease and growth. Bulls for both purebred and commercial breeders. Yearlings and two-year-olds available. Bred heifers to calve in fall available. David Carter, Farm Manager 502-706-0075 John Allison, Owner 545 Eminence Road New Castle, KY 40050 502-220-3170 David Carter, Farm Manager 502-706-0075
65 Bulls • 30 Registered Pairs (most 3-in-1s) 30 Registered Bred Heifers • 25 Bred Commercial Heifers
VISIT US TODAY!
ALL AGES WELCOME SCHEDULE A GROUP VISIT AND CHOOSE YOUR LESSON PLAN CATERING IS AVAILABLE
THE YARDS is an education center focusing on the science and practices of the beef industry. Educational opportunities provide a unique learning experience based on its location in the Blue Grass Regional Stockyards Marketplace. This environment fosters complex thinking, experiential learning, and life skill application. (859) 278-0899
OUR SERVICE Foot Guarantee • Huge emphasis on soundness and foot quality • Breeder’s Guarantee • Breeding soundness examined BVD PI Tested • All bulls foot-scored
OUR PROGRAM Non-Pampered Forage Developed Bulls • Athletic Bulls • Huge emphasis on fertility Johne’s NG herd status with annual testing Comprehensive herd health program
CALL TO REQUEST A SALE BOOK David Woodall, DVM (270) 847-1010 • Gary Woodall (270) 725-0819 Luke Woodall (270) 889-1138 • Ian Woodall (270) 893-8424 woodallangus@aol.com • www.woodallangus.com Find us on facebook @WoodallAngus
