South Carolina Angus Association

In this season of anticipation we peer into the future and wonder what it will bring. Santa is on his way. The New Year will begin. Will my Angus produce good calves? Or be…good enough for the show ring? Will we have enough rain for a good hay crop? Clues to the future lie all around us.

The Carolina Angus Futurity is properly named “futurity” because the females bought there can change the future. Do you know a junior that bought their first show heifer there who later became a top showman in the ring? That opportunity awaits us and your youth on March 17, 2012 at Clemson’s T. Ed Garrison Cattle Barn Complex. Frankie Mullikin (864-506-1282) is the SCAA chairman with the American Angus Hall of Fame’s Jeremy Haag as sale manager (816-532-0811). angushall@earthlink.net.The committee will be around to visit farms after Christmas to select quality females to enter.

Elections determine the future of our nation as well as our South Carolina Angus Association. Ballots determine the new leaders of your organization. Please take time to vote and send in your ballots. Your decisions change the future for us all.

The new officers and directors will be presented at the South Carolina Angus Association annual meeting and banquet on Friday, March 16 at 6:00. The dinner is held at Tuckers Restaurant, 3501 Clemson Boulevard Anderson, SC 29621-1328 (864) 226-5474. Contact Windy Bartee for your reservations (803-222-7533) or tumblet8@bellsouth.net. A group of rooms is blocked off for SCAA at the Comfort Suites, 118 Interstate Boulevard, Anderson, SC 29621 (864-622-1200) with the rate $75.99 plus tax. They provide a full breakfast, indoor pool, free wifi and business center. Take exit 19B off I-85. Ask for the SCAA rate.

NAILE: Elections were decided this year for the American Angus Association and the juniors. Your SC delegates, Kevin Yon, Walter Shealy and Ted Bartee, were in Louisville at the annual meeting to ballot. The SC alternates, Evelyn Edmunds, Ted Bourne and Lewis Smith, attended as well As Joe Hampton from North Carolina stepped down as president of the AAA, Jarold Callahan of Edmonton, Oklahoma stepped up. Last year Kevin Yon of Ridge Spring, SC was elected to serve on the AAA board and his term continues for two years.

Our youth are stepping forward to lead us into the future...especially noted are these from our southern area of the country. This year Sally Yon, Kevin and Lydia Yon’s daughter was elected to the NJAA board at the National Junior Angus Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for a two-year term. Sally had recently completed her year serving as 2010 Miss American Angus Queen. At the NAILE Angus event, the new Miss American Angus was selected from the five top scholarship winners after completing a written test, delivering a prepared speech, an interview and answering impromptu questions in front of a panel of judges. Brooke Harward from Richfield, North Carolina, was crowned queen.

A very clever skit was presented at the American Angus Auxiliary breakfast by the winning Cook-Off team from Louisiana. This is from the press release:

The senior team from Louisiana earned the Black Kettle Award by stunning the Cook-Off judges with original lyrics to complement a patriotic-themed musical.

The musical was based on a sailor returning from war and talking about his CAB knowledge. The team claimed first place in the showmanship and recipe categories, and was the overall steak division winner.

Team members included: Taylor Arnoville, Bordelonville, La.; Daniel McFarland, Keithville, La.; Jarred Yantis, Bunkie, La.; and Samantha Yantis, Bunkie, La.

Another honor was awarded to a southern youth at the dinner meeting on Monday, November 14 to Katie Gazda, the former Miss American Angus from Athens, Georgia. Katie is the daughter of our area representative from AAA David Gazda. She received the NJAA Outstanding Leadership Award. This prestigious award is based upon the leadership that has been exhibited by the nominee through their Angus and various other activities.

Meanwhile our South Carolina youth were busy showing cattle at the Junior Angus Show. Breann aka Michael Steadman of Greenville, SC and granddaughter of Ted and Judy Bourne placed third in her class with Gambles SS Shadoe 9010. She placed fifth with Gambles Beauty 7010. Carly Watt from Iva won sixth in her class with Champion Hill Georgiana 7652. Her brother Cory Watt placed second with Champion Hill Emblynette 7571.

In the open Angus female show Breann‘s heifer Gambles SS Shadoe 9010 placed first in her class. Then Cory Watt won third in his class with Champion Hill Emblynette 7571.

We have hope for the future with the New Year and these youth. But the future also brings battles. We are not surprised if the battle is against a stubborn heifer and a cantankerous bull. But we all have battles to fight besides those in the show ring and farm. Our youth are not exempt.

Many of you know the battle that Cory Watt is fighting against a brain tumor. He was a victor, with God’s help against one tumor, but the war is not over. He is undergoing treatment with a new drug, Tarceva, for another brain tumor. He will be travelling back and forth to Atlanta in the battle to shrink this tumor. Cory and his family welcome any of you who will join them in this battle against the tumor. Your weapon is your prayers.

Sac Alexander from Six Mile fought a battle against a debilitating blood clot that left him paralyzed. He has been gradually regaining his ability with the help of his wife Jerilynn, medical help and rehab. At last report he was out checking his Angus in the pasture. We are grateful for his improved health and his stubbornness to get there.

Another battle is being fought by Evelyn Edmunds’ adult daughter, Lynn Edmunds Campbell. Lynn has been diagnosed with a rare auto-immune disease, cryoglobulinemia. i.e immune-mediated hypocomplementemic proliferative glomerulonephritis. (One of Lynn’s friends came up with this observation: “What do the letters j,k,w,x,z have in common? They are the only letters not in Lynn’s disease”). Lynn was a charter member of the SC Junior Angus Association. Her daughter Wesley showed Angus too and has become a veterinary in large animals. She is continuing her studies in her specialty at Auburn. Please join Lynn in her battle.

The last battle is that of Doris Brown Blackmon’s husband, Paul Blackmon from Tigerville, SC . . . . Paul Blackmon died Friday, November 4, 2011.

Doris Blackmon and Shirley Brown have been leaders of the Angus business in South Carolina. The Fa-Mo-Da Angus Farm has been recognized as a Historic Angus Herd by the AAA. They too began showing cattle as youth. Heather Blackmon, Paul’s and Doris’ daughter is past president of the SCJAA and an accomplished showman. Heather leaped off into her career with human reproduction after beginning in the animal reproduction. We all grieve with them in their loss of Paul.

In Memoriam
Paul Edward Blackmon (1941- 2011)
Paul Edward Blackmon, 70, of Tigerville, passed away on Friday, November 4, 2011.

Born July 25, 1941, in Camden, SC, he was the son of the late W. Paul and Colzie Watson Blackmon.

Paul was a graduate of North Greenville Jr. College and attended Furman University.

He retired from the Department of Natural Resources. He was a charter member of the Tigerville Volunteer Fire Department and later was elected as a Commissioner.

He was a member of Tigerville Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon and Music Director.

Surviving are his wife, Doris Brown Blackmon; his daughter, Heather Blackmon of Tigerville, SC; a brother, Dr. David W. Blackmon (Gay) of Hartsville, SC; a sister-in-law, Shirley Brown of Tigerville, SC; and two nieces.

Memorials may be made to Tigerville Baptist Church, Benevolence Fund, PO Box 243, Tigerville, SC 29688

Kevin Yon, Walter Shealy and Ted Bartee served as the SC Delegates to the AAA annual meeting in Louisville.

The new Miss American Angus Queen, Brooke Harward from Richfield, NC was crowned at the NAILE.

Katie Gazda received the Outstanding Leadership Award given in memory of Barbara Smalstig.
L-R: Fred Smalstig, Katie Gazda, Carolyn and David Gazda.

The Louisiana Cook-Off Skit performed at the American Angus Auxiliary breakfast at NAILE.

Sally Yon, "green coat," works in the ring at the NAILE as part of her duties on the NJAA Board.

Carley Watt has her eye on the judge, at the Open Angus Show at the NAILE in November.

Kevin Yon with Corbin Yon at the NAILE and AAA annual meeting. Kevin is serving on the AAA Board.

Now as our new year begins, take up your courage and talents and take on the day and year. Just one day at a time is all we are guaranteed but at least our future begins with Angus and our youth.
If you have news or dues ($20) please send them to SCAA, c/o Windy Bartee, 1717 St. Paul Church Rd., Clover, SC 29710 tumblet8@bellsouth.net (803-222-7533). Check our web site at www.scangus.org. The SCAA directory is in production.