The year 2011 began with a big bang. Snow and Angus sales covered the state. In an early January snow schools closed, children played and Angus waited for the feed truck. Then the Angus sales will cover most Saturdays in February and March.

A quick summary of where good Angus could or can be found follows:

Upstate Angus Partners had an Angus bull sale on January 8 at the Chester Livestock Exchange. Hawk Nest Ranch and Paul Boyd’s Angus Farm were the contributors to that sale. Results: 14 Angus bull lots sold for a total $16,500 with an average of $1,178.57. The high-selling bull, HNR Bent Objective W18, brought $1900. On the same day 66 lots of commercial females totaled $51,779.64 gave an average of $784.54. Sherry and Blake Wisher run the Chester Livestock Exchange.

February is Angus Bull Lover’s month in South Carolina. Almost every weekend Angus bulls are for sale somewhere in the state.

February 5: 2011 Clemson Bull Test Sale at Clemson.
February 5: SCAA officers and directors will meet immediately following the Clemson Bull Sale at Clemson.
February 12: Black Crest Farm Annual Bull and commercial female sale at Sumter, SC. Billy McLeod or Shawn Gray, 803-968-9358.
February 12: Tokeena Angus Bull and Female Sale at Seneca, SC. Neil and Daniel McPhail, 864-972-3192 or 864-903-5833 or 864-972-3192.
February 19: Yon Family Farms Performance-Tested Angus and Composite Bull Sale at Ridge Spring, SC. Kevin and Lydia Yon, 803-685-5048, Email kyon@pbtcomm.net.
The March winds bring more meetings and sales for the Angus lovers.
March 4-5, 2011: SC Cattlemen’s Association Annual Conference at new State Farmers Market, Columbia, SC, Billy Abercrombie, 864-575-2558 or 864-871-1152.
March 12: Sarratt Angus Sale in Gaffney, SC. Bill Sarratt or Cody Bright, 864-580-9005 or 864-706-0697.
March 18-19: The big Angus event with the Carolina Angus Futurity in conjunction with the South Carolina Angus Association annual meeting and banquet.

The 40th Carolina Angus Futurity takes place on Saturday, March 19, 2011. Tom Burke or Jeremy Haag from the Angus Hall of Fame toured the state to select the cattle (816-532-0811). Frankie Mullikin is the sales chairman, 864-506-1282. Only SCAA members are eligible to enter their Angus in the sale and only the best of the breed is allowed in. (Dues are only $20. See below.)

The South Carolina Angus Association annual meeting and banquet will be held at 6:00 on the Friday night, March 18, 2011, at Tucker’s Restaurant in Anderson, SC. The new directors will be introduced. The Futurity will be dedicated to a member who has contributed to the Angus breed and the SCAA by unselfish service. Walter Shealy, Evelyn Edmunds and Billy McLeod will announce the inductees into the SC Angus Hall of Fame.

The new SCAA Directory: It is time to publish a new directory for SCAA. Paid-up members will be included in the new directory. Ad pages will be auctioned off at the banquet. SCAA dues are only $20 and may be sent to Windy Bartee, 1717 St. Paul Church Road, Clover, SC 29710 with your contact information.

Locations and Reservations:
Tucker’s Restaurant is located at 3501 Clemson Blvd., Anderson, SC, Tel: 864-844-2452. The cost will be $25 per person. Children 10 and under are $10. Social hour is 6:00. The dinner will begin at 7:00. (Directions: Take Exit 19 A from I-85 onto Clemson Blvd. (Hwy 76) Tuckers will be a few miles down on your right.) Notify Windy at 803-222-7533 or tumblet8@bellsouth.net to reserve a spot for dinner.

Hotel rooms for March 18th have been blocked off at Comfort Suites. Mention the South Carolina Angus Association for the rate. Comfort Suites, 118 Interstate Blvd., Anderson, SC 29621, Exit 19 off I-85 @ $75.99 plus tax. Call (864-622-1200) before March 17th.

To bring a bang to your year attend one of the sales or meetings to get to know some good Angus folk and their Angus. Rumors predict cattle prices are going up this year due to the low inventory of cattle in the USA. Angus usually bring a better premium. No wonder. Angus are loved for their looks, quality of beef and price. Year 2011 is off to a good start. We hope your year began with good luck, good health and Angus.

(To be continued.) The next issue should have the more Angus sale results and election results for the new SCAA directors. Stay tuned for the March issue. Thank you to Sherry Wisher and Ted Bartee for help with this news. If you need to turn in dues or any news, please send to Windy Bartee, 1717 St. Paul Church Road, Clover, SC 29710, 803-222-7533, Email: tumblet8@bellsouth.net.
SCAA has a web site at www.scangus.org.