By Joyce L. Ritchie
JEROMESVILLE, Ohio — Members and guests of the Ashland County Cattlemen’s Association held their annual meeting at Hillsdale High School April 7.
Diana Clark, of Certified Angus beef was the special guest speaker. She offered an informational slide presentation focused on meat grading for quality and yield and how and why these are vital to the beef producers’ pursuit.
Nan Wertz gave the treasurer’s report and Christina Fisher read the minutes of the last meeting. OCA District 6 Director Pam Haley stated the industry is doing well across the state, with a record year for the Ohio Beef Expo.
Feed directive
She urged the county’s producers to consider broadcasting the upcoming FDA’s Veterinary Feed Directive Program (VFD) that will become in effect Jan. 1.
The directive will include all species of animals and her concern is that the new or young producers of particularly small animals will not be fully informed of the need of the veterinarian’s written statement to authorize the use of any “medically important” antibiotics used in feed.
These feeds will no longer be available at the local feed store without this VFD document. Additional information on this topic can be found on the FDA website.
Scholarships presented
Two area graduating seniors, Stetson Bryson and Kate McGovern, were presented with the Carl and Thelma Stitzlein Scholarship, each receiving $1,000 certificates redeemable after specified requirements are met during their first year of schooling in pursuit of their careers in agriculture.
Elected as the association’s new officers was Matt Stewart, president; Jared Wynn, vice president; and Nan Wertz, secretary/treasurer. The cattlemen will continue to offer their food trailer at local events to maintain funds for educational opportunities and scholarships
