Nick is leaving

[sjcattleco]

Nick Hammett is leaving the ASA... not suprised just sorry to see him go.... The ASA lost another good one!!! I hope and pray that the new Exec Sec is as good as Ron and Nick was...  BTW  is anyone going to be out in Kansas for the shorthorn university????

 

[DL]

sj - sorry to see him go - was also sorry to see Ron go - do you know what he is going to do?  hmmm, well thee is always shorthorn plus (tonight it sounds like a plush toilet paper)

 

[shorthorns r us]

if i were a betting man, i could have won some money on that one.  it came roaring down the tracks.  where is he going?

Nick Hammett is leaving the ASA... not suprised just sorry to see him go.... The ASA lost another good one!!! I hope and pray that the new Exec Sec is as good as Ron and Nick was...  BTW  is anyone going to be out in Kansas for the shorthorn university????

 

[Doc]

I heard he was going to work for Circle A Angus. This is crazy. There is no one left out there steering the ship. New exec. Sec. that doesn't have a clue, no one in reg. left, they put Shirley back to answering the phones, still no on line reg. working. If you ran a regular business the way they are running the ASA right now you wouldn't have any customers left and no money to pay your employees with.

 

[aj]

The shorthorn breed is an amaazing breed. I don't know if we will ever be accepted in the commercial world. I saw how the politics of the election of directors works in(in denver) 2 years ago. I think there is one common sense guy on the whole board. If I as a shorthorn breeder wants to push into the commercial bull market I will have to to gain customers in a hard fight one by one. It's about (I think solid colors and birthweights). It seems like most breeds have a couple of real worldpeople on their board of directors. Now you have cagwin and bunch of country club guys running the show. Ron and nick ran on priciples and belief's. Some people stick their fingers in the wind and see which way the wind is blowing and make desisions. I wish ron and nick the best and I pray for the breed. If you have ever been around them the shorthorns are amazing cattle. It is know going to be a matter of selection pressure and breeding programs. Has the board had enough guts to mandate pha testing for durham reds? There is probably more pha and th in the crossbred club calf deal then the shorthorn breed but this thing is going to neat to watch.

 

[shortyjock89]

Nick Hammett is leaving the ASA... not suprised just sorry to see him go.... The ASA lost another good one!!! I hope and pray that the new Exec Sec is as good as Ron and Nick was...  BTW  is anyone going to be out in Kansas for the shorthorn university????

It looks like we have next to no one to run anything out in Omaha...too bad...I like both Nick and Ron, they're good guys and will be an invaluable asset wherever they go to work next.  Oh, and I'll be in Kansas for the KEY conference..it was a whole lot of fun last year in Lafayette, IN.  I learned alot and met alot of cool people.  I can't wait for it actually...I just hope things can get straightened out with the ASA...

 

[shorthorns r us]

a new registrar starts on monday. i threw it in with another topic the other day but here it is again. maybe now i can get the papers that i sent in 5 weeks ago. nothing better to insure a good relationship with her, or him, than to call and beg on their first day, eh.

 

[red]

wow, I registered Maines on-line & had my papers in a week.
Too bad about the situation.

Red

 

[justintime]

I am sorry to see Nick go as well, as I felt he brought a different opinion to the table. Nick and Ron stopped in here a few years ago while they were on a whirlwind tour of Western Canada ( why they did this, I was never real sure).Nick is supposed to judge the Shorts at Canadian Western Agribition in November ( Canada's biggest show). But let's remember, that no one is ever irreplacible, and life will continue. In some ways, I think it is easy to rely on breed association employees to develop markets. If anything they are no more than resource people for breeders. If you feel that you want to develop more commercial acceptance for your breed, you really have to do 90% of the work yourself. It is not an easy road and it doesn't happen over night. You start by trying to breed cattle that might interest commercial people in your area. You try to breed cattle that are as good and hopefully better than some other breeds near you that are popular. If you don't have a product, why would any commercial breeder ever consider your cattle or your breed. Nick or Ron, or no one else can do this from their desk in Omaha. It is up to you.
It doesn't help sometimes to just complain about the way things are run, as you get labeled as an unreasonable person. Yes, you make it plain what your opinions are but don't dwell on it forever. Actions speak better than words, so if you are convinced you are right, breed some cattle that will prove you right.

 

[itk]

It seems like most breeds have a couple of real worldpeople on their board of directors. Now you have cagwin and bunch of country club guys running the show.

The first thing I think of when I see Derek Jungels is country club. I don't know if you remember Virginia Davis' comments from Louisville but she seems like a no bs kind of lady to me. I only wish someone could have convinced Roy to run again because there are a large number of breeders who shared his sentiments and we needed his voice heard on the board. Other then that I think this is a pretty balanced, common sense board of directors. I hate to see Nick go he did the breed alot of good and laid a solid foundation for future commercial growth. The new Executive Secretary will definitely have a chance to rebuild the ASA staff in his own image. Ron trimmed a bunch of the fat at the office before he left and now with Nick leaving there are alot of positions to fill and it will be interesting to see how they get filled.

 

[garybob]

Is he sticking around to finish with Shorthorn University? When is his last day?

 

[aj]

So in the know.... what is your opionon on requiring a th and a pha test to get into the durham red deal? Do you think a balanced and common sense board of directors would require such a deal or is pha no big deal. Was it disscussed it louiville? I missed the darn thing. :-\

 

[sjcattleco]

Nick's last day is July 13th... so no Universtiy for him... I am expecting Ruehle to run the show... This will be his first opportuntiy to interact with breeders.... I really am glad I am going...If he is not there I will be a bit peeved!!!!

 

[itk]

So in the know.... what is your opionon on requiring a th and a pha test to get into the durham red deal? Do you think a balanced and common sense board of directors would require such a deal or is pha no big deal. Was it disscussed it louiville? I missed the darn thing. :-\

If I remember right animals have to be tested THF to be registered in the Durham Red program. PHA was not really discovered in shorthorns when the DR program was started so I don't think the board put it in the DR regulations. However, if it is a big concern call one of the board members and express your concern over PHA in the Durham Red program and I am sure it will get discussed. My opinion on the Durham Red program is well established but if we are going to have the program I think it is crucial that all cattle targeted to commercial operations should be free of genetic defects. I would venture to guess that the board of directors feels the same way. I don't think people can be anti-TH but pro-PHA it just doesn't make sense to me. I also wanted to tell anyone who is coming to Shorthorn U or the Key Conference we would be more then happy to show you the cows at our place. We are 20 minutes north of Manhattan on HWY 77 just drop me a line at [email protected].

 

[DL]

ITK - one of my big concerns all along re the whole TH and PHA deal is the idea of selling carrier bulls to commercial cattlemen - sure if may not be a concern this year with their Angus x cows, but keep back some females and then buy another carrier bull or the same or amybe different breed - a Maine or a SHorthie, or a Simmie with Theobald 696 in his pedigree or one of the chi crosses and bingo you have a wreck and you have a commercial guy who probably will never buy that breed again. When I (and others joe bou, show heifer, gypsy, telos to name a few) people thought we were insane.

I agree whole heartedly that the Durham program has to be based on animals free of defects. Seems like a no brainer to me, but so does requiring testing of Shorthorns (AI sires, donors, Natl Sales etc) for PHA - much of the popular show ring genetics carries PHA lines - again seems like a no brainer -

In my short time dealing with the ASA I really have to wonder where they think they are going when they pushed out excellent and foresightful people - but to paraphrase JIT I don't expect much from the association so I am not disappointed. Same thing basically with any association, but as Red says with the Maines you can get you calf registered on line in no time - now that's a bonus!

 

[NHR]

The new search engine is extremely limited with the upgrade.

Who was the person (rocket scientist) who decided to upgrade the system in the spring with Junior Nationals approaching! What, it could not wait until summer!!!

And just when will the online registrations be available? I'm mailing in registration papers on 1 month olds so that I might get them back before the calf is 6 months old.

Its a shame that Ron and Nick left. It is also a shame that Roy Lovaas decided not to run for the board again. He was the only board member that acknowledged my letter regarding TH testing in Shorthorns a few years ago. The policy is a pacifier policy and should have been more stringent from the outset. PHA? Where is the Shorthorn policy on PHA?

Ok, I might stop venting now, Might!

 

[Jill]

I'm going to have to agree with NHR on this one.  Everyone has gotten on the bandwagon of applauding ASA for the th policy, they seem to have forgotten it was swept under the rug for many years.  It is an established fact that there is just as much PHA in Shorthorns as there is in the Maine-Anjou breed, they are listed on the carrier list in black and white and have been for 6 months.  Where is the Shorthorn policy on PHA??

 

[sjcattleco]

Simple solutions to your ASA problems

1 in 2007 register calves the OLD way... get some apps and fill them out!!!! mail them in and get your reg papers.....

2 TH and PHA policy.... Test or cull suspect animals in your own herd.... If there are suspect animals for sale either private or public auction and they are not tested and gaurenteed DON"T BUY THEM!!!! you do not need to have the ASA have an "official policy" for you to do what it right!!

3 There are never any good times to make major changes.... There are calves being registered year round... Just bear with them...the majority of folks who register 5-6 scream louder than the ones that register 50- 60....

4 Stop conplaining its not the end of the world.... If the ASA is still not running at full speed when the Fall sales start. and you don't have papers on sale cattle.. send in your reg app and then include a copy of it with the animal at the sale... Its the best that you can hope for and we are all in the same boat..

 

[NHR]

Simple solutions to your ASA problems

1 in 2007 register calves the OLD way... get some apps and fill them out!!!! mail them in and get your reg papers.....

2 TH and PHA policy.... Test or cull suspect animals in your own herd.... If there are suspect animals for sale either private or public auction and they are not tested and gaurenteed DON"T BUY THEM!!!! you do not need to have the ASA have an "official policy" for you to do what it right!!

3 There are never any good times to make major changes.... There are calves being registered year round... Just bear with them...the majority of folks who register 5-6 scream louder than the ones that register 50- 60....

4 Stop conplaining its not the end of the world.... If the ASA is still not running at full speed when the Fall sales start. and you don't have papers on sale cattle.. send in your reg app and then include a copy of it with the animal at the sale... Its the best that you can hope for and we are all in the same boat..

1. Thats what I have done and it is taking awhile to get them back.

2. Still need a policy with more bite otherwise the unsuspecting buyer would never know. I know of TH and PHA because I try to stay informed. If I would have known about possible suspect carrier bulls I could have saved myself 2 train wrecks with TH. I know that means the cows are carriers also but if the association would have acted faster It would have helped. Also the policy that I wanted was to require either parental TH free or tested TH free in order to get a regular registration paper, any animal that was tested TH dirty would get a registration paper stating it was dirty. The association could have taken a tough stance on this and eliminated TH from the breed but the policy we got is buyer beware. I feel for the many new shorthorn breeders who unknowingly bought shorthorn animals that were dirty and then had train wrecks while many of the longtime breeders knew there was an issue and ignored it. Official policy reflects what can and cant be registered so it does matter.

3. True but there are less animals born in the summer then in the fall and spring. And how many breeders of shorthorns register 50 or 60 animals. Not many. The majority of shorthorn breeders have less the 20.

4. I am a member of an Association which does not communicate well with its members, so I have the right to complain. I pay my dues and WHR payments just like everyone else....

 

[garybob]

Maybe poor cusomer service is part of the reason why there are so few big herds. In fact, the largest commercially oriented ranches using Shorthorns refuse to register anymore, Dover Sindelar, for example.

Nick, who? Anyway, I won't miss anyone who said  I lived  in a "backward and uneducated part of the world".