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Greetings, SimTalk readers! Since the last issue hit mailboxes I had the privilege of attending ASA’s Fall Focus event in Virginia. I had been looking forward to it for some time and wasn’t disappointed. From a day-long educational symposium to an afternoon of touring farms, I came home better connected to our breed’s Lilly Platts community, and with a list of ideas. I always enjoy catching up with ASA staff who work from afar and feel lucky to work with such a great group of people. We owe a huge thank you to Dr. Jackie Atkins, Nancy Chesterfield, Kathy Shafer, Linda Kesler, and the Virginia Simmental Association for organizing the event, and their behindthe-scenes work. I would also like to send out a thank you to Susan Russell, and Crystal Albers and Eric Grant with Grant Company, for packing their cameras and helping to cover the event. To read more about Fall Focus, head to page 36. This issue of SimTalk features our annual spotlight on breeders who qualify as Performance Advocates, meaning they have submitted complete data on at least eight measurable traits. Many go above and beyond by gathering additional data, such as DNA. On that note, this issue kicks off a series of articles in collaboration with Neogen. Dr. Jamie Courter penned this issue’s article, focused on the DNA information added to the database through ASA research programs. I had the privilege of speaking to Jay Rezac, Rezac Land and Livestock, for the breeder feature. Alongside his family, Jay owns and operates a successful commercial cow herd and farming operation in Kansas. This past summer they were named Comercial Producer of the Year by the Beef Improvement Federation, and utilize Simmental genetics in their cow herd. Many are dealing with the effects of drought, which makes planning for the future even more difficult. Dr. Rachel Endecott offers her top strategies for managing a cow herd when things get tough, with tips on culling, nutrition, and more. We also have an overview of the American Simmental-Simbrah Foundation, and plenty of industry news!
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