Fall brings us closer to some of the larger Belted Galloway shows. There are several in Maine plus the Big E in Massachusetts, World Beef Expo in Wisconsin, the show during the Annual meeting in Vermont, the KILE in Pennsylvania and NAILE in Kentucky. Whenever possible, please support our members that devote significant time, effort and expense to exhibit their Belties at these and other shows. The quality of Belted Galloways currently being shown rivals that of many better known breeds and can be used as a source of pride and a basis for promoting Belties when visiting with exhibitors and spectators. Their visibility at these shows helps educate the public about the benefits of the breed, particularly now with the increased interest in forage based beef and breeds that do well in a grass fed program.

Currently there is a controversy brewing at the Wisconsin State Fair regarding the agricultural director having partial ownership in two animals that won awards at the fair. The fact that the Agriculture director is involved with securing judges has created ethical concerns. A similar situation could just as easily occur in Belted Galloway shows and should be used as an example of what can happen when full disclosure does not occur regarding a show’s management. I feel it is the Belted Galloway Society’s obligation to our members, especially the youth, to provide total transparency when organizing a show and selecting show judges thus removing any perception of unethical behavior. The International Association of Fairs and Exhibitions provides excellent guidelines for show organizers to follow to ensure they are using an ethical approach to establishing shows.

The Annual meeting is a wonderful experience, not to mention socializing with  incredible people, and is also your opportunity to participate in your Society!  We would encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about the breed and the Society to which you belong, or would like to belong, to come to Vermont October 19th-21st.  Information for the meeting is available online at www.beltie.org, or in the August newsletter and through the Society's office at (717) 677-9655. Mail in meeting registrations must be post dated no later than September 30th, however, members may register at the door.

Who is eligible to vote?  
Any Regular or Lifetime member in good standing is eligible to vote.  Associate and Junior members are unable to vote. 

How important is my vote?  
Your vote for Council is your opportunity to be represented by a member in your region, or someone who may share your views. Ballots can be submitted in person at the meeting, via fax prior to October 12th, or via mail prior to September 30th. If mailing or faxing your ballot, please be sure to sign it with your member number and signature. Ballots can be found in both the August and the September newsletters. However if you are unable to find your ballot and would like another sent to you, please contact the office at (717) 677-9655 or by Fax  (717) 677-9755.

Annual Meeting Air Travel

We hope to see many members at the Annual meeting in October.
To assist you with your travel plans, the following airports serve the Lyndonville area.

                Manchester, New Hampshire (2 hour commute to Lyndonville.)
                Boston, Massachusetts (3.5-4 hour commute to Lyndonville.)
                Burlington, Vermont (2 hour commute to Lyndonville.)

In the August issue we profiled members of the BGS who have volunteered to run for Council or be re-elected. The Nomination Committee takes their task very seriously by choosing candidates that are dedicated to our breed and have the willingness to serve the Society. Speaking from past experience, being a Council person isn’t for those who are not industrious.  It involves many hours of planning and communication to ensure that the Society is moving forward. The Nominating Committee asked the Newsletter Office to print the nominations in two consecutive newsletters.  We cannot stress enough how essential your vote is!

Regular and Lifetime members are eligible to vote either by mail prior to the deadline set forth on the ballot or in person at the Annual General Meeting. Each membership number is allowed one  (1) vote. 

 
Gayle Cerullo (WA) and her husband, Joe, own an eighty acre working ranch in Oak Harbor. The Cerullos have owned Belted Galloways for over ten years and their Sunny “C” Ranch promotes their Belties as a beef breed, not just as strikingly beautiful animals. Gayle has been a member of Council for the past two years most recently serving as Chair of the Beltie Youth Group. Gayle has also served the regional Western Belted Galloway Association as secretary/treasurer. Gayle enjoys exhibiting her cattle and her love for the breed makes her an excellent spokesperson for Belted Galloways.

Ann Furr DVM (NC) has admired Belted Galloway cattle since her aunt and uncle, Wilma and Bill Craig (NC), first purchased their animals in 1969.  In 1994 she obtained her first Belted Galloway as a present from the Craigs when she graduated from the North Carolina University School of Veterinary Medicine. Her farm Rockwater Farm is located in Salisbury, North Carolina where she lives with her husband and son. Her son, Chris, has been a junior Society member who enjoyed showing Belties and participating in Beltie Youth Group activities. Ann is very involved in artificial insemination, embryo transfer and carcass evaluations and has always been very interested in knowing exactly where her meat comes from.   

Loren Olson, MD (IA) has been involved with Belties since 1995, with Malabar Farm’s current herd exceeding over 60 head grazing on 500 acres. He is a regular contributor to the Beltie Forum and strong proponent for “grassfed Beltie Beef.” Loren served as President of the Great Plains Belted Galloway Association and has served as the editor of that regional group’s newsletter. He was the driving force behind the first Belted Galloway Bull Performance Test held at Guthrie Center, IA in 2000, and conducted his second forage-based bull test utilizing forage based feeding programs. Loren has previously served on Council for four years serving as Chairman of the Newsletter and Marketing Committees and continues to conduct studies with the Rose Herd focusing on the identification of bloodlines most suitable for the production of quality, grass-fed beef.  

John Rozelle (AZ) grew up on a small ranch in southern California providing him with deep appreciation for animals and the outdoors. He enjoys working on his ranch located outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, where his family rides horses and manage a small herd of Belties.  At an elevation of 7,400 feet, just 80 miles from the Grand Canyon, they experience all the diverse seasons that occur in their part of the country.  From snow and frozen stock ponds during the winter to the hot, dry days of summer, they spend hands-on time with their Belties virtually every day.  John purchased his  herd of Belties in January 2000 and still owns many of their original animals today.  Holding a degree in electrical engineering with a minor emphasis in business, John’s  professional career has included work in the aerospace, medical, and construction industries.  John has  held the position of President in the Western Belted Galloway Association for the past two years, and enjoys promoting his unique breed of cattle.

Steven Silberberg (NH) has been actively engaged in raising Belted Galloways on Holbrook Hill Farm at Bedford, NH since 1990. He has been a member of Council since 2005 currently serving as the Chairman of the Advertising and Promotion Committee. He coordinated the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy genetic pool creating reserve Beltie genetics and has contributed articles to the U.S. Beltie News on AI matters. Steven plans to continue the promotion of our breed to family farms and first-time cattle producers and developing marketing materials.

Exhibitors, Antietam Farm (IL), Dickinson Farm (MN), Hunt Club Farm (WI), Klover Korners Farm (IL) Oak Valley Farm (IL), Red Barn Farm (IN), Sunnybrook Farm (IL), Sutliff Farm (IA), Wayside Valley Farm (IL), White rock Ranch (IL), Wisconsin River Farm (WI).

 
Spring Heifer Calf born after 3/1/07, Sunnybrook Sarasota. Senior Heifer Calf 9/1-10/31/06, Wayside Surprise Party owned by Wayside Valley Farm.

Champion Heifer Calf, Wayside Surprise Party owned by Wayside Valley Farm. Reserve, Wayside Valley Polka Dot owned by Sunnybrook Farm

Late Summer Yearling 7/1-8/31/06, Red Barn Stockins. Early Summer Yearling 5/1-6/30/06, Klover Korner Shiraz (AI). Late Junior Yearling 3/1-4/30/06, Red Barn Lucky Lady.

Champion Junior Heifer, Klover Korners Shiraz. Reserve, Sunnybrook Tequila.

Late Senior Heifer 11/1-12/31/05 , Stonesthrow Reality owned by Antietam Farm. Late 2 Year old Heifer 4/1-8/31/05, Ridgeview Rosanna (AI) (ET) owned by Oak Valley Farm.

Senior Champion Heifer, Ridgeview Rosanna (AI) (ET). Reserve, Stonesthrow Reality owned by Antietam Farm.

Grand Champion Heifer, Wayside Surprise Party owned by Wayside Valley Farm. Reserve, Ridgeview Rosanna (AI) (ET) owned by Oak Valley Farm.

Cow with natural calf not older than 270 days, Oak Valley Page.

Grand Champion Cow, Calf Oak Valley Page. Reserve, Uphill Eleanor owned by Sunnybrook Farm.

Spring Bull Calf born after 3/1/07, Sunnybrook Remington. Senior Bull Calf 9/1-10/31/06, Sunnybrook Camelot.

Champion Bull Calf, Sunnybrook Camelot. Reserve, Sunnybrook Remington.

Early Summer Yearling 5/1-6/30/06, Hunt Club Legacy. Late Junior Yearling 3/1-4/30/06, Antietam special Edition (AI).

Junior Champion Bull, Antietam Special Edition (AI). Reserve, Sunnybrook Camelot.

Three Year Old Bull 4/1/04-12/31/04, Antietam Porsche owned by Oak Valley Farm.

Senior Champion Bull, Antietam Porsche owned by Oak Valley Farm.

Grand Champion Bull, Antietam Porsche owned by Oak Valley Farm. Reserve, Antietam Special Edition (AI).

Feeder Steer, Red Barn Hercules. Finished Steer, Driftwood O8S owned by Oak Valley Farm.

Grand Champion Steer, Driftwood 08S owned by Oak Valley Farm. Reserve, Sutliff’s Sampson.

Best Pair of Heifers, Sunnybrook Farm. Get-of Sire, Sunnybrook Farm. Best Pair of Bulls, Oak Valley Farm. Produce of Dam, Sunnybrook Farm.

Premier Breeder, Sunnybrook Farm. Premier Exhibitor, Sunnybrook Farm.

Grand Champion Heifer, Wayside Surprise Party. Bred by Larry & Sarah Musselman (IL). Owned by Ryan Fogle (IL).	Grand Champion Bull, Antietam Porsche. Bred by Jeff & Lisa Lovett (IL). Owned by Mark & Sally Jane Keller (IL).
Grand Champion Steer, Driftwood 08S. Bred by Sue & Gene Drew (SC). Owned by Jake Keller (IL).

Writing aboard the car ferry, Badger, on the way back to Michigan from the Blow and Go Show in Pecatonica, IL.

It was a great first time experience for us as former exhibitors of Belties. The people responsible for this gathering of Beltie young and old are to be commended.

The exhibitors were all very helpful to one another, their cattle were in excellent condition and the show went off without a hitch. Hot dogs and hot beef barbeques were served in style along with the goodies brought by the people exhibiting.

What a great example for future BYG young people. Keep up the good work!

Your supporters, 

On behalf of the Belted Galloway Foundation, Inc. and the members of its Board, I would like to thank all of the Society members and friends of our breed for their contributions this past year. More individuals made gifts than ever before!

Without your continued support, the Foundation will not be able to meet our goals or the aspirations of our Society. We appreciate your participation and look forward to an even greater membership effort next year.

It is our hope and desire that the Foundation will prosper and we wish the same for each of you and your herds.

For the past two months, Dr. Michael Caldwell (WI) has provided scientific reports and analyses about DNA. His purpose was to educate breeders about carcass traits that are found in an animal’s DNA. Caldwell has researched that the Belted Galloway breed is genetically predisposed, showing advantageous carcass characteristics regarding beef tenderness, leanness, ribeye area and carcass weights. He further identified herd sires within the breed that carry desirable carcass traits.

The membership will continue to hear from Dr. Caldwell and his research. Breeders who wish to be more informed about the genetic carcass traits of the animals they produce annually, would certainly benefit from pulling tail hairs to identify those superior genetic carcass traits within their herd. The Marketing Committee will need the compliance of many herds for their research and promotional literature of the Belted Galloway.

Use the letter T as the official Year Code when tattooing animals born in 2007. The letter S applies to animals born in 2006. 

Windsor Fair 
August 26-September 3, 2007, Windsor, ME. 
Contact Curtis Prime (207) 621-4167.

The Big E (Eastern States Exposition)
September 14-30, 2007, Springfield, MA. 
Contact Michelle Ogle (908) 781-5576 or mobcurly@aol.com.

World Beef Expo
September 28-30, 2007 Milwaukee, WI.
Contact Mark Keller (815) 248-4687 or oakvalley@stateline.isp.com.

Fryeburg Fair
September 30-October 7, Fryeburg, ME. 
Contact Fair Office (207) 935-3268.

Keystone International Livestock Exposition
Show October 5, 9:30 a.m., Harrisburg, PA,
Contact Joyce Jones (724) 924-2938 or Galloway@zoominternet.net.

Western Belted Galloway Association 2007 annual meeting
October 5-6, Reno, Nevada.
Contact John Rozelle (928) 779-5704 or SARbelties@aol.com.

Annual General Meeting & New England Fall Classic Sale
October 19-21 at  Meadow View Farm, Lyndonville, VT. 
Contact Laura Glassmann (717) 677-9655 or beltiecows@aol.com. 

Secretarial Office Phone Hours ...
Phone hours are Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST). A detailed message may be left at any time. 
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