Association Outlook

Montie D. Soules

asa executive secretary/CEO

The Hustle and Bustle

We are in the midst of the holiday season with the yearend fast approaching. This is a busy time of the year for everyone. The hustle and bustle of getting ready for Christmas and the new year right after celebrating Thanksgiving can be stressful. The year-end always brings additional chores for everyone, reviewing activities of this year while planning for the next, and I also want to bring WHR Assessments to your attention. The savings are substantial if you have them done by Jan. 9, 2023. You can pay them in the 2022 tax year or push them to the next year. Either way, remember to complete and pay them before Jan. 9 to get the discounted fee. Also, please review the ASA fee changes that are effective Jan. 1, 2023. Some changes should be going into effect at that time regarding DNA submission. We hope to have in place a more streamlined way of submitting DNA near or shortly after the first of the year. Keep checking the Shorthorn Country or the ASA Insider for updates. These changes should help the process of submitting DNA go smoother.

The year 2022 has been a year of many changes for everyone when it comes to the economic situation around the world, with inflation at an all-time high and rising interest rates, the pain or concerns has affected everyone, including the ASA. For several years, the costs at ASA have continually gone up. Just like the process and costs of doing business and buying personal items and groceries have affected your households. The fee increases that ASA has put into place on Jan. 1 are less than $5 per item; the goal was not to make a major impact on our members, but rather to continue to provide the services you need. This was necessary to enact now rather than wait and have to play catch up at a later date. We hope, like all of you, that the drastic change of increased costs across the country start to slow down so we can all plan for it and deal with it. The issue for ASA is the same as it is for you. Things are moving at such a fast pace that it is almost impossible to plan for what will happen.

But, if we look at the value of the registered Shorthorn this past year and their increased value, these cattle can help us overcome some of these inflated costs. The sales have been extra strong this year. We see increases daily in new memberships for seniors and juniors at the ASA. The surge of new members in our breed is a real positive activity. This will help the long-term sustainability of the breed and the association. In many ways, membership is more important than the number of registrations. The breed is made up of people with the desire and passion for being a Shorthorn breeder. They make the breed and the association what it is. We have been fortunate to see increased sales of commercial-type bulls and purebred females, both bred and open females. The demand is at an all-time high for our good Shorthorn cattle and they are worth more every day. I strongly recommend you evaluate your inventories, select the better animals with acceptable documentation and discard the lower end. You will be rewarded, especially when you look at the cost of maintaining a cow unit compared to the past. Cleaning this up will help your bottom line and help the breed with more good animals to offer the industry. It is times like these that make us more efficient and in turn we do a better job. That will set the stage for our success tomorrow.

Act as if what you do makes a difference - Because it Does!

The ASA Board of Directors went through an extensive Strategic Planning Session with staff in June. The purpose of this, under the direction of Dr. Tom Field, was to look at what measures the ASA should take in the future to ensure the sustainability of the association and the breed for the next 3, 5 or 10-plus years. There was a detailed report of this at the ASA Annual Meeting in November. Many of the initiatives that have been approved by the Board are already in place, while several other initiatives will be occurring in 2023 and 2024.

A lot is happening in the breed, with National Shows in January at Oklahoma City, Denver, and Fort Worth. Over the past couple of years, the month of January has become one of the busiest, with the Summit Sale and several shows taking place now. The breed seems to be gaining steam at this point as we wind down the year and start to focus on next year. It is time to put the pedal to the metal and go forward with a full head of steam. We must continue to do the right things and improve our product to increase or at least maintain that new attention Shorthorns are getting in the industry!

I personally want to extend to our Shorthorn Family best wishes during the Holiday Season. Through all the hustle and bustle, please take time to share special moments with loved ones. This has always been a special time of year for me, and I always enjoy seeing those little faces glow on Christmas morning or at special events for family and friends. So please, take time to partake in the holiday activities in your communities and enjoy your fellow friends and family. This includes your Shorthorn Family. We are a special group of dedicated individuals with passion and compassion for our cattle and each other. The holiday is a great time to share with old and new friends just how great it is to be a Shorthorn Breeder and Family Member!!! =

Wishing you and your families a Bright & Happy Holiday Season & a Prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

Your ASA Family