Benoit Angus Ranch, Esbon, Kan., was honored in September by Certified Angus Beef with its CAB 2023 Seedstock Commitment to Excellence Award. The award was given to the family at the CAB Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

Everett and Bonnie Benoit started Benoit Angus with six heifers purchased from a neighbor after he left the U.S. Army. Today, the ranch has grown to sell more than 150 bulls a year. Sons Doug and Chad Benoit have continued the multigeneration family business and its reputation for high-quality cattle that perform on the ranch, in the feedyard and on the rail, according to CAB.

The Benoits, longtime Maternal Plus members, stress data collection and testing in their herd. All replacement females and sale bulls are American Angus Association Genomic Selection-tested, with results applied to herd improvement and marketing.

Read more from CAB at cabcattle.com/benoitangus.

Kansas ranchers honored for sustainability

Wharton 3C Ranch, Syracuse, Kan., was honored by Certified Angus Beef with its 2023 Sustainability Award at its annual conference in Las Vegas in September.

Located along the western edge of Kansas, Syracuse was at the heart of a multiyear drought that left the soil unable to produce much more than dust. Shannon and Rusty Wharton have been working overtime to increase the ranch’s resiliency, as well as using data and science in their cattle selection and management, according to CAB. Shannon is involved in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which has led the couple to consider how its framework aligns with their management on the ranch. They use data to help them devise their grazing management plans, and strive to “take a third, leave two-thirds” when grazing their conservation easements.

Learn more about the Wharton 3C Ranch at cabcattle.com/wharton3c.

NCBA backs legislation to boost foreign ag buy oversight

In September, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services advanced a bill supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association that strengthens oversight of foreign agricultural purchases. The legislation, the Agricultural Security Risk Review Act introduced by Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., would add the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency committee that reviews the national security impact of foreign investments in the United States.

“Cattle producers have been extremely watchful of foreign purchases of farmland, agricultural technology and other important inputs. Adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS would provide a critical voice for American farmers and ranchers and ensure that the federal government does not overlook agriculture’s role in national security,” said Kent Bacus, NCBA executive director of government affairs. “NCBA thanks Rep. Lucas for leading this effort, and we appreciate the House Financial Services Committee’s bipartisan support for this bill.”

CFIUS is an interagency committee chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury with members from the departments of Justice, Homeland Security, Commerce, Defense, State and Energy; and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and Office of Science and Technology Policy. The committee reviews financial and real estate transactions by foreign entities investing in the United States to ensure that these investments do not endanger national security. The committee can recommend that the president of the United States suspend or block investments that may create security concerns.

The legislation passed in committee and now goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

KLA Young Stockmen’s Academy tours Kansas

During its third session, the 2023 Kansas Livestock Association Young Stockmen’s Academy toured central and western Kansas beef and dairy industry segments, Sept. 18 to 20. The YSA program is exclusively sponsored by Merck Animal Health.

The 2023 class started at El Dorado Livestock Auction, El Dorado, Kan. They also stopped at:

YSA will meet for its final session during the 2023 KLA Convention in Wichita, Kan., Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.

Red Angus hires Ohlde

The Red Angus Association of America recently hired Taylor Ohlde, Winchester, Kan., as one of two new commercial marketing specialists. Ohlde will travel to ranches and sales to promote RAAA marketing, conducting audits for the Red Angus Feeder Calf Certification Program and helping commercial producers meet their herd goals.

Ohlde, who has his animal science and business bachelor’s degrees from Kansas State University, has most recently served as a feed sales specialist for Central Valley Ag.

Learn more at redangus.org.