Members — Canadian Angus Association Annual Meeting

Thank you to our wonderful hosts, the Manitoba Angus Association for a fantastic event!

The 2011 annual meeting took place in at the Elkhorn Resort and Spa across the road from Wasagaming at Clear Lake on the edge of Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba. Below are just a few of the many highlights from the meeting. Read the summary from the board meetings.

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Thursday, June 9

Friday, June 10

Saturday, June 11—Annual Meeting

Saturday, June 11—Banquet

Baldy Fundraiser

Sunday, June 12

Thursday, June 9 Highlights

While the Board of Directors had a full day of meetings and provincial representatives spent the afternoon in meetings, delegates who arrived early kept themselves busy exploring the resort and shopping in the nearby towns of Clear Lake and Onanole.

The President's Reception was held In the evening and attracted a good-size crowd.

President Kirk Wildman sang Happy Birthday to Hilda Colodey

The Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador speech competition also took place.

Assistant General Manager Michael Latimer with Junior Ambassador contestants
Austen Anderson, Megan Kemp, Laurie Noiseux and Kevin Bolduc

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Friday, June 10 Highlights

Friday was another full day of meetings for the Directors with a portion of the day spent meeting with the provincial association representatives. Delegates not involved in those meetings toured a Ukrainian Catholic church and a Ukrainian historical site while the candidates in the Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador Competition took a quiz and were interviewed by a panel of judges.

In the evening, a group of very talented Ukrainian dancers provided entertainment following a supper featuring homemade Ukrainian perogies and cabbage rolls.

            CEO Doug Fee and his wife Kathy                    Some of the young dancers who provided entertainment

    President David Bolduc and his wife Margaret          Manitoba producers Pauline and Blaine Canning of
                                                                                                                   Prairielane Farms

Laird & Joyce Senft and Jacci & Gary Latimer              Asst Gnl Mgr Michael Latimer, 2010 Jr Ambassador
                                                                                               Erika Easton and incoming CEO Rob Smith

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Saturday, June 11 Highlights

Three pre-meeting sessions were offered Saturday morning. Canadian Angus Association Breed Development staff member Kajal Devani and Red Angus Association of America Research Coordinator Larry Keenan presented Multi-Breed EPD Analysis detailing the initiative between our Associations and the American Simmental Association. Canadian Angus Association Registrar Sharmayne Byrgesen gave a talk titled Everything you Wanted to Know about Registry but Were Afraid to Ask which covered the importance of submitting proper paperwork, common errors, and details about electronic storage of certificates. Assistant General Manager Michael Latimer presented Canadian Angus Rancher Endorsed: Pedal to the Metal outlining the role of the producer in ensuring the program's continued success.

These presentations were followed by roundtable discussion sessions in which the Board of Directors asked for member input to help with their future planning.

After lunch, the Canadian Angus Association annual general meeting was held. CEO Doug Fee presented the Association's financial statements as well as the highlights of 2010. This information can be found in the 2010 annual report which was mailed to all members.

Honorary President pins were presented and Kirk Wildman was officially welcomed into the Past President's club at the end of the meeting. Retiring directors Laird Senft and John Donaldson were thanked for their service and presented with a gift from the Association. Lee Brown was unable to attend the meeting but was also recognized.

CEO Doug Fee gives his final report to the membership         CEO Greg Comstock brings greetings from the
                                                                                                              Red Angus Association of America

Vaughan Greenslade of Manitoba receives his                 Maritime President Trevor Welch accepts
Honorary President pin from President Kirk                       his father Fred's Honorary President pin

Outgoing Directors Laird Senft (SK) and John Donaldson (QC) receive a gift from President Kirk

Past Presidents in attendance at the AGM welcome Kirk Widlman into their club

Back row: Blaine Canning, Bill Jackson, Barry Young, Don Mackenzie, Bob Switzer, Doug Allen, Stan Christensen; Front row: Mabel Hamilton, Kirk Wildman, John Donaldson

It was a full house at the evening banquet. Lois McRae, Director from Manitoba, served as emcee and did a fantastic job keeping everyone entertained with Canadian Angus and Manitoba trivia.

The Canadian Angus Association presented the first Feedlot of the Year award to High Ridge Feeders and Shannondale Farm, both of Manitoba. Read the official press release.

Past President John Donaldson, Harry & Brenda Dalke of Shannondale Farm,
Glori & Ed Dalke of High Ridge Feeders, President Kirk Wildman and CEO Doug Fee

Only two of our long-term recognition award recipients were in attendance at the meeting. All were recognized and awards were presented to Bill and Sylvia Jackson of Tullamore Angus of Ontario and Prairielane Farms—the Canning Family of Manitoba.

Bill and Sylvia Jackson                                                The Canning Family

Cecilie Fleming presented outgoing CEO Doug Fee with a gift from the Board of Directors on behalf of the membership. The Manitoba Angus Association also presented Doug with a gift. A video presentation gave highlights of Doug's career and several retired Directors came forward to share stories about working with Doug in a touching retirement tribute.

               Alberta Director Cecilie Fleming                                     MAA Secretary Arlene Kirkpatrick and
                                                                                                                  President Shawn Birmingham

Michael Latimer announced that Manitoba's own Austen Anderson won the Robert C. McHaffie Junior Ambassador competition.

Members gave generously to ensure that the fundraising auction was a success.

Special thanks to our auctioneer Chris Poley and his eager assistant Thomas Wildman

Outgoing CEO Doug Fee donated a clock that he made himself to the auction with the funds raised designated for the Canadian Angus Foundation. The clock sold for $3,200 to Greenbush Angus of Neepawa, Manitoba.

In one of the most touching moments of the night, Sandy Margetts bought an autographed Ryan Miller jersey that had been donated as a fundraising item for the Baldy Fundraiser and then gave it to Thomas Wildman.

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Baldy Fundraiser

Incoming CEO Rob Smith, President Kirk Wildman and Assistant General Manager Michael Latimer put their hair on the line in a fundraising initiative. Donations were accepted with the understanding that the individual who raised the most money would have his head shaved at the AGM Banquet.

Rob Smith, Kirk Wildman and Michael Latimer contemplate
losing their hair

During the auction, a group that calls themselves the Manitoba Mafia, a group from Alberta, “Table 16”, and Bill and Sylvia Jackson of Tullamore Angus joined forces and pledged $5,000 to the cause, provided both Smith and Latimer shaved their heads as well. All three sat down and surrendered themselves to the clippers.

The group that pledged $5,000 to the Baldy Fundraiser

The first to have his head shaved was President Kirk, who had the most money pledged toward him. Kirk's son Thomas had the pleasure of wielding the clippers.

Canadian Angus Association members who donated to the cause took turns wielding the clippers.

Donations to the fundraiser totalled over $25,000. The funds raised are being split between the Canadian Angus Foundation and the Kids with Cancer Society.

Thank you gentlemen! And a huge thank you to the Angus breeders of Canada for supporting
this cause.

The fundraiser has special meaning for Kirk whose mother and son both battled cancer during his term as President. Addressing the crowd gathered to witness the head shaving, Wildman said “Thank you so much for getting behind this cause and for all the support you’ve provided to my family over this difficult year.”

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Sunday, June 20 Highlights

The Canadian Angus Association Board of Directors met one final time on Sunday morning. David Bolduc was affirmed as President. David is the brother of Dyce Bolduc, who served as President in 2005. David and Dyce are the only brothers to both serve as President.

Gary Latimer of Olds, Alberta, was selected as President Elect.

New Directors Dawn Wilson (AB), Corinne Gibson (SK) and Jerome Richard (QC) began serving their terms on the Board. Jim Colodey (MT) began serving his second term after being re-elected in the Maritimes and Lois McRae (MB) was acclaimed for a second term in Manitoba.

Back row, from left: Rob Smith (CEO), Roger Hardy (SK), Corinne Gibson (SK), Frank Strimbold
(BC), David Bolduc (President, AB), Kirk Wildman (Past President, AB), Cecilie Fleming (AB), Tom McDonald (ON), Lois McRae (MB), Dawn Wilson (AB), Jim Colodey (MT), Gary Latimer (President Elect, AB); Front row: Shane Castle (SK), Jerome Richard (QC)

Special thanks to our hosts, the Manitoba Angus Association.

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