OCA staff reported that membership renewals in the association are up over 2004 and 2005 figures. The Beef Improvement Committee gave an update on the Ohio Bull Test and Seedstock Improvement Sales.

Plans were announced that the Ohio Bull Test program would be phased out with the completion of this year’s test and a new Seedstock Improvement Sale would be established at Muskingum Livestock in spring of 2007 to provide a source of bulls that are sorted according to their performance for Eastern Ohio cattlemen. Attendees also discussed establishing a heifer development program in partnership with OSU Extension to serve the needs of OCA members.

Mike John, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President-Elect, from Huntsville, Mo., gave an update on NCBA activities as well as discussed animal identification with the members.

Gary Wilson, Ohio Department of Agriculture, talked to the group about proposed state legislation on animal ID.

OCA President, Bill Sexten, Fayette County, presented policy resolutions for the OCA 2006 policy. These resolutions covered such topics as Quality Assurance and Trade Promotion Authority.

An early highlight of the banquet included the crowning of Christina Egner of Richland County as the 2006 Queen of Beef. Rounding out Egners’s court will be first runner-up, Jennifer Lyn Beanblossom of Darke County and second runner-up, Kim Watson of Muskingum County.

Four scholarships were presented to outstanding youth during the awards banquet. Steve R. Rauch Benchmark of Excellence scholarship recipients included: Em Mower, Belmont County; Heather Noll, Perry County; and Lisa Marie Buehler, Shelby County. Christina Egner of Richland County was awarded the first $1,000 Tagged for Greatness Scholarship, which is funded with the sales of the Ohio Beef license plate.

Jessica Sloan of Preble County was announced as the 2006 Ohio Beef Ambassador and will represent Ohio in the National Beef Ambassador contest in the fall.

OCA also recognized county associations that incorporate new or creative activities to build stronger relationships with the state group, to promote beef, or to emphasize youth community involvement.

Stark County was awarded the best beef promotion award and also received recognition for their membership efforts. Jackson County was announced the third place county affiliate and received a $200 check for their efforts. Crawford County was the second place county affiliate and received a $300 check. Receiving a $500 check for their efforts was Fairfield County, the 2005 OCA Outstanding County Affiliate.

The special evening for beef producers continued with awards being presented to OCA Young Cattleman of the Year, Jake Wolfinger of Fairfield County; OCA Industry Service Award winner Sam Roberts of Clark County; and OCA Industry Excellence Award recipient Joe Foster of Gallia County.

McDorman Farms of Clark County received the Commercial Cattleman of the Year Award.

Gallia County producer Champion Hill was awarded the Seedstock Producer of the Year Award.

Awards in these categories were sponsored by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association with ABN Radio Network, Ohio’s Country Journal, The Buckeye Ag Radio Network, Farm World Newspaper, and Farm and Dairy.

Published in the January 25, 2006 issue of Farm World.