• AGM Update
• New Board Members
• 40th Anniversary and Commemorative Wine Kits
• New Industry/Member Liaison

• Registry and Member Services News
• Simmental Country Deadlines and Rates
• Hall of Fame Nominations
• Lots of Interest in SMARTags!
• Quote of the Month

Over 75 delegates attended the business meeting held Saturday, August 4th in Ottawa, with over 150 participants attending various functions during the AGM socials, including a supper and tour on the Ottawa River. There was also stellar participation at the national youth event, held in conjunction with the AGM, with 80 youth from across Canada attending for three days.

At the meeting, the CSA’s proposed by-laws were overwhelming approved, including a recent overview and revisions of all by-laws, a process led by Adrienne Waller, CSA solicitor.

At the AGM, the following CSA Executive was chosen with Dr. Murray Jacobson of Alberta being re-elected to complete his second year as President. Dr. Everett Hall of Ontario, was re-elected as a Director to serve a second three year term and then also re-elected as First Vice-President and Rick McIntyre of Saskatchewan as Second Vice-President.  Dan O’Brien of Ontario and Bill MacLeod from the Maritimes retired after serving as board members for six years and nine years, respectively. New board members, in additional to Dr. Hall, include: Ron Nolan of Ontario and Andrew Godfrey from the Maritimes. The following directors complete the Board: Stewart Ainsworth (Alberta); Bonnie Glassman (Manitoba); Reanne Sanford (British Columbia); and Dan Skeels (Alberta).

BIO: Dr. Everett Hall
Dr. Everett Hall purchased his first Simmental in 1975. He has served on the board, as well as been president, of the Grey-Bruce Simmental Club and the Ontario Simmental Association. He was elected to the CSA Board in 2004 and has been 1st Vice-Chair and Chair of the CSA Breed Improvement Committee during the past year. He has also been a bred representative on the Beef Committee of the Toronto Royal Agriculture Winter Fair for a number of years. He has been a large animal vet for 39 years and, at present, works almost exclusively in bovine reproduction and embryo transfer. He has been a member of the Canadian Embryo Transfer Association since its inception in 1982 and has served two terms as President.

BIO: Andrew Godfrey
Andrew Godfrey grew up on a Simmental family farm in Cornwall, PEI and still continues to maintain its on-line herd records and assist in genetic selection, marketing and sales. He has been heavily involved in the YCSA since 1990, serving on the Maritime Young Canadian Simmental Association in all executive offices and as its President for the better part of a decade. In 2002 Andrew attended the first meeting of the regional YSCA Presidents to draft a constitution and rules for the National YCSA Board. He was elected its President and was able to sit with the CSA Board in that capacity in the first annual meeting between the YCSA and the CSA Boards. Following the completion of his term as YCSA President, Andrew joined a committee to develop, organize and run the first ever Young Breeders Forum held in conjunction with the World Congress in Calgary in 2006, which has been adopted by the WSFF as a continuing event to follow the WSFF meetings on a go forward basis. In August, 2006, Andrew was elected as a director to the Martime Simmental Association Board and is currently involved in the development of the first annual Salt Water Classic Elite Sale to be held in August, 2007.  Andrew currently resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he practices corporate commercial law with the Atlantic firm of Stewart McKelvey.

BIO: Ron Nolan
Ron Nolan has been involved with Simmentals for 40 years. He and his wife, Carla, bought their first Simmentals in 1979 as Harkaway Simmentals in Ontario then purchased Bar 5 in 1990, which operated near Brandon, Manitoba and in Ontario for 10 years. In 2000, they dispersed the herd in Manitoba, keeping the Ontario operation, which has been expanding ever since. They purchased cows in South Africa, where they imported new genetics for the North American Simmental breeding industry and other world markets. They also started a cross breeding program with Angus and Fleckveichs cattle to take advantage of the heterosis effect for the use of commercial cattle breeders. During this time, Ron spent many years on various industry, university, hospital and Simmental boards. He has been an engineer with HATCH LTD. for 40 years, servicing as CEO for the past 18. He and Carla have three children and seven grandchildren who have all taken some interest in farming with either cattle or horses.

The meeting also kicked off the 40th anniversary of the Simmental breed’s introduction to Canada.

A commemorative wine kit celebrating the breed’s 40th anniversary in Canada was unveiled, along with a special anniversary logo and preliminary plans for an annual celebration which could include coast-to-coast celebration events at major shows and sales, a gala banquet at Agribition, a special advertising campaign and partnerships with the American Simmental Association and World Simmental Fleckvieh Federation.

Plans were also laid for the creation of a CSA Foundation to support the Young Canadian Simmental Association (YCSA), which will include an annual fundraiser and auction. Funds raised will be used for YCSA programs and member travel, as well as for scholarships and research grants. Ron Nolan has accepted the role as Chairman of the Committee to oversee the year long celebrations as well as creation of the new CSA Foundation.

“We want to make the upcoming year very special for the CSA and all our members,” said Jacobson. “By the time this year is over, we want everyone from coast to coast to know what Simmental is all about and the tremendous strides we have made as a breed of cattle.”

The commemorative wine kits are lovely keepsakes and Canadian award-winning wine from Jost Wineries in Nova Scotia.  Quantities are limited.  Please click here for all the information on the wine and how to order or call the office.

The new Board held a meeting in conjunction with the AGM and addressed a number of issues including the initiation of a discussion around the future direction and the resources required to undertake CSA initiatives; further decisions will be made at the October Board meetings. General Manager Dale Kelly has been under contract on a part-time basis for the past six years; however he has recently taken the position as Vice President, Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food at the Saskatchewan Research Council. On an interim basis Kelly has agreed to continue to work with the Board and on Association finances, with Bruce Holmquist joining the Association staff as Industry/Member Liaison. This will be a one-year contract to undertake full time responsibilities for member and industry relations.

“Having been involved with the Simmental breed and the CSA for 30 years, I have a strong desire to see Simmental be the dominant breed within the beef industry, and have a thriving and active membership,” said Holmquist. “My key priority will be dialogue with CSA members and industry, listen to their concerns and ideas, talk with them about the opportunities offered by the Association’s programs, and bring their feedback back to the Association to ensure we are continuously improving.”

Bruce has been an active member of the CSA for 30 years. He has been a board member and association chair at the provincial level, and was on the national board for six years – five years on the Executive and two years as President. He has also been chair of the CSA Beef Improvement Committee and was chairman of the successful World Congress hosted in Canada in 2006. He has been a member of the World Simmental Council since 2002 and was elected 2nd Vice President last year in Calgary. He has operated a family seed stock operation north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, which will continue normal operations during the term of this position under the direction of his son Matthew.

“Bruce has a complete 360 degree understanding of the breed,” said Kelly. “He knows and understands the trends within the breed and the industry and has strong contacts in the beef world and beyond. I would encourage all members to contact Bruce to ensure their ideas are heard, their views are expressed and to support open and transparent dialogue.”

Bruce will be attending major Simmental and industry events over the year, as well as using the Association’s other communication vehicles like Simmental Country and e-newsletter to communicate with members.  Bruce can be contacted through the office at 1-866-860-6051 (toll-free) or by e-mail at bholmquist@simmental.com

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Requesting Registration Papers
Please keep in mind that if you do not require the registration papers for either a show or sale, it is best to wait until you have submitted all of your performance weights. That way, you will not be subject to an additional fee ($5.30) to reprint the registration paper with all of the performance weights being indicated on the paper.

Transaction Fees
When submitting paperwork for processing, please remember to attach a cheque for the total amount if you do not have a signed credit card authorization on file with the association office. For your reference a current Fee Schedule can be attained under the "Downloads" section of our Home Page – http://www.simmental.com

Please feel free to contact us using our toll-free number if you have any additional Registry questions (1 866 860 6051).

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The next deadline is September 1st for he October issue so book now!

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Please contact the Canadian Simmental office for a nomination package.

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But thy eternal summer shall not fade. ~ William Shakespeare

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