Last time for snow - promise! (maybe)

If you've heard the news you know that parts of southern Alberta are once again white - will this never end? Two weeks ago it was +28 and now it is +2. Nothing like Alberta weather.
However, snow is wet and moisture was badly needed with more rain predicted.

More snow!

Can you believe it? It's snowing again. Not quite the amount we had last week, but loads of wind as well. But moisture and mud are still most welcome.
How about in your part of the country?

Wild Prairie weather once again

It may be spring in the rest of the country but right now in parts of Alberta it looks more like the middle of winter. Nothing unusual for these parts and moisture in any form is mostly welcome, although snow is not great for commercial operations calving right now.
Reports say that areas needing it most have received a mixture of rain and snow (10 mm for Stettler area), with the effect of the storm system reaching east to Manitoba. Parts of Saskatchewan are expecting up to 50 mm of rain, with even more in Manitoba. Bring on the mud . . .
The power is flicking on and off and internet connections are down (with the good ol' portable internet stick to the rescue once again) as heavy, wet snow plays havoc with towers and wires.

Ken Munton makes Vulcan Advocate Front Page

Unfortunately, this claim to fame is because his cattle shed collapsed in the strong winds that have plagued most of Western Canada lately. Full story available HERE.
Copy as appears below:

Ken Munton inspects damage done to his open front cattle shed on Friday morning after strong winds the day before tore half the structure's roof off and collapsed much of the rest. He was in Calgary to see his granddaughter at the time of the incident, and found the mess when he returned to his acreage, which is located east of Vulcan. None of his livestock was hurt in the incident, and although Munton has wind insurance, it was too soon to estimate the total cost of the damage. Bill McMurtry, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said that wind gusts in surrounding areas, like Claresholm and Lethbridge, were reaching upwards of the 90 kilometre per hour range during Thursday's storm, which then moved over to Saskatchewan, where that province was hit by 115 kilometre per hour wind gusts, McMurtry said. Simon Ducatel photo

Parrot rescue mission flies West Jet

Besides working for Alberta Beef (and updating EA on the best Angus beef served in Calgary) Gloria Fantin is very involved in parrot rescue and education. She and a couple other parrot lovers recently made the news while flying their feathered friends via West Jet to Vancouver Island.
If you ever have a question about the birds, Gloria is a fountain of information!

Alberta Angus Association Meets at Last!

Second attempt was a charm for the Alberta Angus Association annual meeting (the first scheduled date in December was cancelled due to weather). Attendance was down some due to calving and other commitments as AAA President Darren Hipkin chaired the procedings. An interested group listened to good financial news all round - both from the Alberta Association and regarding the World Angus Forum.

New directors elected to the Alberta Board were Carolyn Congdon, Blake McMillan and Richard Latimer. Laurie Hunter and Ricki Fleming were re-elected for another term. Doug Newton retired from the board and was thanked for his service.

Ben MacLeod is this year's Honourary President. Doug Reid was honoured with the Cecile Fleming Spirit of Angus Award for his service to the Association and the successful Alberta WAF bid. John Lee also received a special WAF belt buckle from the Alberta Association for his dedication as the WAF Chairman. Emily Pugh won the Dorothy Banks scholarship.

Two Canadian Directors from Alberta had terms that were up and both Cecilie Fleming and Gary Latimer were acclaimed to another 3 year term.

Notes: Many of the usual awards will be made later in the year - Breed Builder, Contemporary Breeder, 25 year awards, etc. Talk around the coffee urn and lunch table centered around the fantastic showing from Canadian cattle and breeders south of the border.

WAF momentum carries over to Denver

The interest and momentum created by the World Angus Forum 2009 in Canada has carried over to the Denver National Western Stock Show with reports of high interest and great sales of Canadian genetics filtering in. The showing by Canadians thus far has been extraordinary - all four Grand Champions in the Red Show were exhibited and/or bred by Canadian breeders. The Black Bull Show saw two division winners including the Reserve Grand Champion.
UPDATE: Capping off this success was Soo Line Cattle Co. winning Grand Champion in the Black Angus Pen Show.
Kinda makes you get just a little bit excited about where Canadian genetics can go from here, doesn't it?
Links to all the results can be found at EverythingAngus.com

Happy Christmas to one and all

Here's hoping your shopping is done, the feathered beef tastes great and the weather cooperates for family and friends to visit. May all your cows find a dry, soft spot to calve on and choose to do so in daylight hours.
Season's best to one and all. On to 2010 - a year full of possibilities for the Angus breed and Angus breeders!

Calgary Bull Sale Entries Extended

Weather conditions in Alberta also caused the Calgary Bull Sale to extend its entry deadlines to Monday, December 7th at 4:00 PM. Traditionally a large percentage of breeders drive their entries in to the Stampede Grounds and that was rather impossible last Friday.
I'm already worn out shoveling snow - and its not even officially winter yet!

Wild Weather: Alberta Angus Annual Meeting Postponed

The Alberta Angus Association Annual Meeting scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5 at Crossfield has been postponed (future date yet to be determined). To read the full text of the emergency email circulated, click the headline above or HERE. We can only hope weather clears for the sales scheduled. The JoNomn Hereford Sale at Clyde has been postponed and it certainly could happen to others. Be sure to double check any event before heading out on the road.
The EA internet is down, but the 2009 World Angus Forum came to the rescue. How? In order to update results as they happened during the WAF this past summer, an internet stick had to be purchased. Turns out it still works, though rather slowly, during raging blizzards and 70 km/hour winds when every other source is buried in snow. Hooray for the Bell network (about the only time I'll ever say that!).
Remind me again why we live here (just kidding) . . .