“Santa please bring South Carolina some rain for Christmas and the New Year. We will accept snow and even sleet if that is all you have available.” was a quote from one of the letters written to Santa before Christmas this year. Stay tuned to see who was naughty or nice in SC.
In November the Angus faithful made a trek to Louisville for the Angus show and the AAA annual meeting as part of the NAILE. In the junior Angus show on November 11 three of our SC juniors showed. Katie Pruitt and Teddi Steadman won fifth place in their classes. Ann Blumer placed tenth in her class. In the Open Angus Show Ted Bourne stayed over to compete and won his class and took the Intermediate Champion Female with Teddi Steadman’s heifer.
South Carolina Angus Association was represented at the annual meeting of the American Angus Association on November 12 in Louisville by Kevin Yon, Walter Shealy and Evelyn Edmunds. Several others of our members were there to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Angus and Angus enthusiasts at the NAILE.
On November 30 - December 2 the SC Farm and Ranch Expo took place at the T. Ed Garrison Arena in Clemson. Frankie Mullikin helped set up and man our SC Angus Association booth using the American Angus display and material. This event was in conflict with the Farm Bureau Convention in Mrytle Beach so many of our members were obligated elsewhere. Thanks goes to Frankie Mullikin, Steve McPhail, Stephanie Clark, Gwen McPhail, and Danny Winchester and others unknown to me at this time for their offer of help with the display.
SCAA Elections
Elections are coming up for our SC Angus Association as the nation is having primaries. Our SCAA officers are currently serving two-year terms. However three director seats are open for elections. These are currently filled by Neil Boyd, second term, Danny Winchester and William Rushton in first terms. Thus Danny Winchester and William Rushton are eligible to run for a second term. The candidates that have agreed to run for directors are Jesse Adkins, Ted Bourne, David McMahon, Ray Petty, William Rushton, and Danny Winchester. Three will be elected.
Sales
After Christmas when stores have “white sales” in SC we have “black sales” with our Angus.
Hilltop Angus starts the year off with a sale on January 5 in Norwood, NC. Every Saturday in February will be full of bull, Angus at that. We will have a bull sale at several different farms. The Clemson Bull Sale comes first on February 2. Traditionally the Black Crest sale in Sumter follows the next Saturday. Then Yon family Farm in Ridge Spring and Tokeena Angus in Seneca take the last two Saturdays in that order.
Memorial Scholarship
A scholarship in the memory of Daniel Gerrard has been established. Daniel was an outstanding 16-year-old SC Junior who was tragically killed in an accident in his truck. The SC Angus Association is still accepting donations for the scholarship. Donations should be sent to Mike Johnson, treas. SCAA, 4368 Indian Creek Road, Kinards, SC 29355. Plans are to award the scholarship this spring. An application may be requested from Windy Bartee at tumblet8@bellsouth.net or 803-222-7533. The applicant must be a SC Junior Angus member and involved in the activities. They must be a junior in high school or older but not any older than 22 years.
Carolina Angus Futurity
We continue to prepare for our March 14-15th Carolina Angus Futurity at the T. Ed Garrison Cattle Complex at Clemson. Tom Burke and the committee should be around soon after Christmas to select Angus females for the sale. Plan on attending the annual meeting and banquet at the Ramada Inn in Clemson on Friday, March 14 dinner and meeting are at 7 pm, preceded by a social hour at 6. Then on Saturday mosey on over to the Cattle Complex for the Carolina Angus Futurity at noon. Stephanie Clark has agreed to head up another silent auction to benefit the juniors. Parents and juniors will need to pitch in to help her. Stephanie’s phone number is 864-243-2214.
November Births of SCAA Babies
A baby was born to a former SC junior. Lewis and Barbara Smith of Pendleton are new grandparents with he birth of their first grandchild. Carolina Smith Lamb and her husband Jon had a baby girl, Emily Rebecca on November 16, 2007. Grandmother Barbara went up to Virginia to help Caroline and baby Emily for a few weeks.
Another child was born to Kelley and Mike Ryan. Mike, the proud daddy, writes, “Hello Everyone- We wanted to share the very early arrival of our new daughter, Madilyn Elise Ryan, with everyone. Madilyn surprised us exactly 5 weeks early on November 26, 2007 at 6:31 am. Her screams at that moment were a huge sigh of relief for us. She weighed in at a whole 5 lbs. and 12 oz. and was 18" long. We came home on Wednesday afternoon. She is doing great even though she has lost 9 oz. We took a picture of Madilyn with a baby doll of Kaylen's just so one can see just how small she is. Mom is doing much better and is back on her feet. Big sister Kaylen can't wait to play with her. She is eager to change all the diapers.
Take care,
The Ryan Family of Four
The Christmas season reminds us of all the love and blessings we’ve been given. Let us keep hopes high that the new year brings the additional blessing of adequate rain to keep our pastures green, ponds and creeks full, and our hay crop good. Blessings to you all for the season and all 2008.
The new SC directory is under production. If you have news for the newsletter, contact Windy Bartee. Our monthly news is published in “The Angus Topics” and “ The Cattle Connection” and on the web site www.scangus.org. each month. Banner ads are $50 per month plus the set up fee.
