Emily posted on April 04, 2011 11:48
Houston – Santa Gertrudis breeders from across the United States, as well as several international guests were in attendance at this year’s 60th Anniversary of the SGBI Annual Meeting & International Symposium. The two and one half days, March 3rd – 5th, were packed with committee meetings, educational workshops, an international forum, and a purebred cattle sale, along with nightly internationally flared receptions including entertainment at the Crowne Plaza Medical Center – near Reliant Center.
On Friday, guests were educated in “The Power of Advertising” with a presentation by Victoria Lambert, owner of Caballo Rojo Publishing, taught that “The Beef Story is Your Story” presented by the Texas Beef Leader Team, learned from Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser’s Association Special Rangers, Hal Dumas and Jimmy Belt about “Livestock & Equipment Theft Prevention”, as well as received instruction in a “Grilling” demo by Texas Beef Council’s Roger Hall. In the afternoon, a three-panel team of Dr. Tony Hinojosa, a Foreign Marketing Consultant with TRM International, Jon David Garza, Texas Department of Agriculture Foreign Marketing Agent, and Morgan Gronold of Queensland Australia Agriculture Department discussed international cattle marketing, as SGBI Executive Director, John Ford moderated. The “Fiesta” aisle party at the Reliant Center kicked off the 2011 International Super Sale, which sold 28 lots of halter broke, quality Santa Gertrudis cattle.
The gathering of the SGBI Annual Membership Meeting began Saturday’s festivities with the election of new board members: John Denson, Bud Clark, Wes McDaniel, Darren Richmond and Gene McCarter along with several special awards from the SGBI Steer Feed out program and membership being awarded. The membership was surprised by the special drawing of several autographed copies of Russell Reeds’ “Australia” donated by Silverbrook Ranches. The afternoon followed with the election of the 2011 SGBI Officers: Scott Moore-President; Pat Stults-Secretary/Treasurer; Allen Grainger, John Denson, Tom DuBois, Charla Borchers-Leon and Gary Harding each elected as Vice-Presidents on the Board of Directors that will serve through out the year.
As “True Grit” came back to life in a movie remake this year, so did the tradition of this Annual Meeting. In the Stetson’s & Sterling President’s Dinner, guests were entertained by the “red carpet” parade of special “haltered” guests. Presented by San Jose Cattle Company, the spotlight shined on several head of Santa Gertrudis cattle, which joined the members in the Sam Houston Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza. Prior to his retirement as President, Lamar Kelly presented Allen and Cheryll Grainger with the prestigious President’s Award. Musical entertainment by the David Glenn Band closed out the event for the year in time for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo International Santa Gertrudis Show in the main arena at the Reliant Center on Sunday morning.