Association Outlook
Montie D. asa executive Soules secretary/CEO
Past, Present and Future
W
e are in July 2022 already. The country and the world and most importantly our industry is experiencing post Covid activities and inflation. We have experienced many day-to-day changes and one thing has emerged, the value of Shorthorns. Through the downtimes of the pandemic and the post-period, Shorthorn cattle have continued to provide security and added value. The right genetics along with acceptable performance data has added value to our product through these trying times. This shows why the Shorthorn Breed and Association is the oldest in the U.S. The breed and the people in it prevail in all types of conditions. In the past 150 years, the ASA has experienced more changes in cattle selection types than we can mention here – changes that took place to get the breed to where it is today. This is all outlined in the book Shorthorn and the American Cattle Industry. This fabulous book full of history and insight into the past 150 to 200 years is one of the features commissioned for the Sesquicentennial, celebrating 150 years of the American Shorthorn Association; the oldest beef breed Association in the U.S., America’s First. You can purchase the book on the ASA website or call the office. The celebrations started last fall with an open house social at the ASA office in Kansas City followed by the Annual Meeting in conjunction with the American Royal National Shorthorn Show. Events also included a special unveiling of CJ Brown’s painting of America’s First - Shorthorns Across America. This beautiful painting depicting our breed across America was unveiled at the Summit National Shorthorn Sale at the Cattlemen’s
Congress in Oklahoma City in January. The sale of these paintings was a huge success and the Summit Sale was the best we have ever had for the Shorthorn breed. The Shorthorn Breed was also featured at The National Western in Denver. Over 40 Shorthorn steers were provided for the Catch-a-Calf program this year. This was a huge triumph and the disposition of the cattle was properly noted. We have drinking glasses with the 150th logo, sweatshirts representing the 150th celebration and many other items for sale to promote this extraordinary event. This issue of the Shorthorn Country is a Special 150th publication that has a large number of breeders listed and will go down in the history books as a major reference for the future. We will start to wind down the Sesquicentennial at the North American at Louisville and the Annual Meeting in Kansas City will be the final celebration of this monumental feature. In Louisville, during the North American, we are planning a major social to honor our distinguished ASA members. We hope to have as many as possible past Builder of the Breed honorees to be present and Past Presidents to recognize the leadership of our great breed. Everyone is invited for a fun gathering of Shorthorn enthusiasm, seeing old friends and making new ones for the next 150 years. It has been a priority to focus on the past 150 years, but, your ASA Board of Directors and Staff are also looking to the future. In June right after the Junior National, we are planning an extensive strategic planning session for the ASA Board and Staff with the guidance of industry leaders. The goal is to determine how a breed association (Shorthorn) will
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look in 10 or 20 years. This sounds like a big undertaking, but we must look forward and prepare for the coming changes and be in front of them rather than play catchup. An activity like this, which focuses on the way the ASA could function in 10 or 20 years is of ultimate importance to the longevity of this Breed and Association. Our current Board of Directors are aggressive and look forward to being prepared for what the breed will require to sustain the growth and positive atmosphere we have in the industry at this time. To just sit back and not take any action would be detrimental to all. By the time you read this article, the ASA will already be focusing on what can be done to be prepared for the long-range future. This is the only way we can expect to be around to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the ASA. Your ASA Board and Staff are committed to growing this breed and getting a jumpstart on ideas that will help it grow and withstand the future. Watch for updates from this planning session at the Annual Meeting in Kansas City on November 19, 2022! = American Shorthorn Association
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“What Happened Yesterday is History. What Happens Tomorrow is a Mystery. What we do Today Makes the Difference.” - Nick Saban
