South Carolina Angus Association News

January 26, 2012
By Windy Bartee

As I walk down our long farm driveway, I hear the birds calling to find a mate or to declare their territory. I see our daffodils budding already though we have not even had our annual skiff of snow yet this winter. (Sorry about that, Angus cousins living in snow country.) Speaking of snow, I can remember the year we had the Futurity in Lancaster at the Melco Cattle Company and a blizzard hit. We had trouble getting all the cows and trailers out of there before getting marooned in the deep snow. Some had to spend the night in the local motel because they could not drive through the snow drifts.

"Hope springs eternal" in the spring at the Carolina Angus Futurity to paraphrase Alexander Pope. The 41st Carolina Angus Futurity brings hope to the youth that buy their first heifer to show, the Angus breeders that aspire to improve the genetics in their herd, the sellers that seek a good price for that cow and calf that they really hated to let go. The auction will begin at noon on Saturday, March 17th at the Clemson Cattle Complex by the T. Ed Garrison Arena. Frankie Mullikin and Ted Bourne traveled the state with Jeremy Haag to select the 40 plus most promising females for the sale. Frankie said, "We are going to have a lot of really good quality animals."

Preceding the auction the South Carolina juniors will have a silent auction to help them finance their travels to the Angus shows. Barbara Smith is the chairman and needs your help to make this a success. Call her at 864-261-6982 if you are willing to donate and help.

The fun really begins on Friday, March 16, 2012 when the South Carolina Angus Association will meet for their annual meeting and banquet feast at Tuckers Restaurant in Anderson, SC. The social hour begins at 6 with a cash bar. At 7 PM dinner will be served. Tuckers has a delicious buffet with a choice of bourbon sirloin steak smothered in onions or Tuckers grilled chicken breasts including a selection of salads, vegetables, dessert, drinks and bread. The price is $25 for adults. Children 10 and under are only $10. Please call (803-222-7533) or email at tumblet8@bellsouth.net to make a reservation with Windy Bartee. The new directories should be available at the meeting.

At the annual meeting the members of the South Carolina Angus Association will introduce the new directors and officers. The highlight of each meeting is the presention of the awards. Each year since 1986 the Futurity has been dedicated to a person who has contributed to the success of the Angus breed, the South Carolina Angus Association and the juniors. This year the Futurity will be dedicated to Jesse Adkins. He has been a valuable member, serving two terms as a director of the SCAA, and many years as advisor to the SC Junior Angus. Also Walter Shealy along with his committee members, Evelyn Edmunds and Billy McLeod, will present the new members of the South Carolina Angus Hall of Fame.

We hope you will come, buy an Angus female, enjoy the fellowship, meet other interesting Angus breeders and join the SC Angus Association. We welcome you and will try to keep you in touch with our activities and others in touch with you. Send your dues of $20 and contact information to SCAA, c/o Windy Bartee, 1717 St. Paul Church Road, Clover, SC 29710. Our web site is www.scangus.org. Happy Spring to you whenever you see the daffodils bloom.