The annual meeting and election of officers will be held at Watson’s Fly Bar W Ranch, Eustace, Texas, at 7:00 p.m.,. May 2, 1997. We hope for a large turnout to discuss future sales and events of the association, appoint committees, visit with our many new members and to take advantage of the exciting events scheduled for May 3rd - The Texas Angus Association Field Day followed by the IMPACT '97 Sale. This may prove to be your most memorable, enjoyable and profitable weekend in 1997.

The Texas Angus Association has an exciting agenda planned for your enjoyment at the beautiful Fly Bar W Ranch, host for the field day beginning at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served about noon and the IMPACT '97 sale will begin at 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served during the sale.

The consignors have brought a tremendous set of registered Angus cattle to the sale - help yourself and improve the quality of your herd!

== EDITOR'S NOTES ==

Things ARE looking up!
The Good Earth has undergone abusive treatment in the geographic area of the A*L*O*T Angus Association plus a large portion of agricultural and livestock areas in 1995 and 96. They suffered extreme drought and negative weather patterns that caused liquidation of many beef herds and severely curtailed grain production. Each level of the beef industry was adversely affected.

Those farmers and livestock producers that bit the bullet and hung on are now in a positive position. Most of the above mentioned areas have been blessed this winter and spring with thirst quenching rains that have given the agri-landscape a new look. Good winter grazing of wheat has provided stockmen with backgrounding relief for stocker calves and a good maintenance level for the cow/calf producer.

While the pendulum is swinging to a favorable position, we should take advantage of our good fortune. We're seeing stocker calves break the dollar figure again. All levels of the beef industry have a positive outlook.

Registered Angus sales are certainly improving. Those sales that offer quality Angus with improved genetics are recording strong averages.

Now - and here's the important punch line - the May 3rd IMPACT 97 A*L*O*T Bull & Cow sale, to be held in conjunction with the Texas Angus Association Field Day at Watson's Fly Bar W Ranch, Eustace, Texas , is offering an unprecedented genetic pool of the best there is from many top herds in the four state A*L*O*T membership. Foundation herd material, show heifers and a few top herd bulls will be offered for your selection at your price.

The A*L*O*T Angus Association members deeply appreciate the wonderful cooperation of the Texas Angus Association officers and directors in accommodating the combination of these two exciting events. The sale cattle will be on exhibit from noon Friday, May 2nd, at Fly Bar W. The ranch is only a 15 minute drive from Athens which has excellent motel facilities. Plan to be with us on this date - write or call us for information and your free catalog.

The Good Earth is working with you now!

Sincerely ... Pat O'Bryan

== LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT ==

If you are already in the Angus business, you know the value of your cattle, you think. But I think that the Black Angus cow prices are going to soar just as the bull prices are - it just stands to reason!

The past couple of years have not exactly been barn burners in the cattle business as far as profits are concerned, in fact, profits have been virtually nonexistent in the cow/calf end of the business. I guess it would kind of make you want to burn the barn because it has been so bad.

If there was a bright spot in the cow/calf business, it was in raising black-hided calves for the feedlot. The prices for these calves have been poor, but compared to the rest of the market, black-hided calves have been selling for a premium over every other breed.

Everybody was asking, Why are these calves selling at a premium when my yellow or my spotted calves are not bringing hardly anything? We, in the Black Angus seedstock business, KNOW why! We've been preaching it for years! Black calves are proven BEEF producers and they consistently marble, they are fast gainers in the feedlot, they can go in any feedlot in the U.S.A. and do good and THEY FIT THE BOX for the packers - they are not giants. But mainly, our American Angus Association had the foresight in the latter 1970s to come up with the Certified Angus Beef Program.

Certified Angus Beef is the largest branded beef product in the world and is recognized as the most consistent beef on the market today. The CAB program continues to expand at a very healthy rate each year. Currently, all of the Big Three packers, IBP, Monford and Excel, as well as many of the smaller packers are processing and marketing CAB. This combined group of packers are looking at 85% of all beef animals coming out of the feedlots to see if they qualify for the CAB program.

While in St. Joseph, Missouri last year, I had the privilege of visiting with Mick Colvin, the Executive director of the CAB program, and was quite impressed with his drive in promoting Black Angus cattle through the CAB program. He informed me that he was very excited because all of the big Three signed up to market CAB and he was living for the day that the demand for CAB outstripped the production capabilities of these and other packers. He told me that this should happen in later 1997 or early 1998 and when this did happen, he felt that the premium swing for black-hided calves will soar in the market.

Commercial cattlemen have realized this premium for the black-hided calves as evidenced by the strength of Black Angus bull sales in the last several months. Black Angus bulls are selling higher than any other breed in nearly every sale reported.

So, to sum up what I have been saying to you is this: IF YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY IN THE COW/CALF BUSINESS, YOU BETTER GET YOUR CALVES BLACK!!!

If you're in the seedstock Black Angus business, you better think about expanding your herd now before those very high prices come along that we knew in the not too distant past.

The best place I know of for you to do this is at our May 3rd IMPACT '97 sale to be held in conjunction with the Texas Angus Association Field Day at the beautiful Watson Fly Bar W Ranch in Eustace, Texas. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the A*L*O*T Angus Association annual meeting Friday evening on May 2nd and at the exciting events planned for Saturday, May 3rd. The Watsons are gracious hosts, the field day events promise to be enjoyable and informative and I'm predicting the best sale that we've hever had. I know a lot of the cattle being consigned and I'm excited about the possibility of adding to my herd through our sale!

SEE YOU IN EUSTACE, MAY 2ND & 3RD, 1997!

... Learon Roberts

== NEW REGIONAL MANAGER NAMED ==

Matthew D. "Matt" Perrier, a native of Eureka, Kansas, has been named American Angus Association regional manager for Texas and New Mexico.

Perrier replaces Michael Bennett of Portales, New Mexico, who has resigned to pursue a career in cattle ranching. We all wish Mike the best in his new endeavors.

Perrier is the son of Tom and Carolyn Perrier of Eureka, Kansas, owners of Dalebanks Angus, where he participated in all aspects of the ranching operation, even managing a small herd of his own. He earned a bachelors in animal science and industry with an option in business, graduating in 1996. He worked as a teaching assistant in the Kansas State Ag Orientation class and took courses in both Spanish and French. He was active in FarmHouse agricultural fraternity, served a term as president of the organization, and was also vice president of the KSU Block and Bridle Club.

Perrier will locate in Texas in March. Until he has a permanent address and telephone number he can be contacted through the American Angus Association headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri: telephone 816/233-3101, fax 816/233-9703t6 and email angus@angus.org

== BEEF ALLIANCES IMPORTANT ==

Dr. Bill Turner, Texas A&M University, Dept. of Animal Science,
Beef Cattle Science Section

Most cattlemen are trying to forget 1996 with all the industry problems and look for better opportunities in 1997. Industry structure and leadership organizations have come under scrutiny while most individuals are worried about economic survival and long-term change that force adjustments in their herds and management. Increased prices and more value to cattlemen are paramount concerns. The USDA total cattle inventory has improved and our feedlot industry is relatively current and is managing cost of production fairly well. Prices for fat cattle, stockers and culled breeding cattle have improved and are expected to be more stable in 1997. However, total meat supplies are still high so increased attention to market share will continue to be addressed. Mainly, the beef industry is changing to product orientation, and beef quality aspects that reflect higher unit price will be stressed. This causes changes in breeding decisions for bulls on crossbred cow herds to provide predictable performance and value. Such changes come slow due to the nature of the business, but many will see the impact in discounts to prices paid for cattle in the production chain. The interest in alliances will continue where cattlemen with common genetics or business orientation will find advantages to an alliance. The marketing and reporting of cattle prices will continue to be hotly debated along with the USDA grading standards. When times are hard, changes are openly considered and some adopted. When prices are good, change is avoided. Therefore, most cattlemen need to study their operations and consider what flexibility is allowed and be prepared to adjust when required. A business attitude and industry awareness are surely required as we face the future. Changes are not always bad, but it can hurt when you are forced. It is better to study and anticipate. The industry can survive but not evaluated in terms of past standards. Individual decisions must be made. Are you prepared and adequately informed to make any needed changes?

== THE ANGUS PREMIUM ==

Premiums on Angus-Based and "Generic" Black-Hided Commercial Cattle (Compared to Non-Black Cattle of Similar Weight, Condition and Type.) Excerpted from a CattleFax® Report presented to the American Angus Association.

	Angus-Based	"Generic" Black
Steer Calves $/cwt	$2.81	$1.93
Feeder Steers $/cwt.	$1.56	$1.02
Rplcmnt Fmls $/hd.	$51	$30
Total Progeny	$965	$633

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