CAB honors commitment to excellence

Certified Angus Beef (CAB) honored several cattlemen during its Annual Conference Sept. 18-20 at Turning Stone Resort, Verona, N.Y.

Carpenter Cattle Co., Brewster, Kan., was recognized with the 2024 CAB Feedyard Commitment to Excellence award. The Carpenters are featured here.

W6 Cattle of Collyer, Kan., was awarded the Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award. The Walt family’s operation is featured here.

Full stories on each of the other winners detailed here, including video features, are posted on www.angus.org via Angus Beef Bulletin^® and the Angus Journal^®. 

Progressive Partner Award: Luling Foundation, Texas

Five years after discovering oil 50 miles south of Austin, Texas, Edgar B. Davis put up $1 million to establish the Luling Foundation. Driven by providential faith, he had a vision of sustainable agriculture and community empowerment. After nearly a century, that vision perseveres.

“It’s just so encouraging. Whenever you see true faith in action, it’s infectious,” says Bonnie Dredla, office manager at the Foundation in Luling, Texas.

Davis foresaw a demonstration farm to teach diversity beyond cotton toward more sustainable practices in Caldwell, Gonzales and Guadalupe counties and beyond. Many facets of agriculture have been explored, but cattle now form the core.

Herd manager Michael Kuck says today’s Foundation cattle were bred for multiple traits to deliver profit in the pasture and enjoyable beef for the consumer. It’s more than genetics, he says, noting a holistic approach that encompasses care for the land and animals.

That enduring focus on quality, unwavering commitment to hospitality and education earned the Luling Foundation recognition as 2024 CAB Progressive Partner.  Access more about the winners here.

Ambassador Award: Pleasant Valley Farm, Maryland

It’s only 33 miles from the White House steps to Pleasant Valley Farm’s driveway.

In a metro that seems to grow by the day, the Stabler family of Brookeville, Md., stands out as a beacon of agricultural dedication and community engagement. Established in 1954, three generations of Stablers work side by side on their farm today.

“The farm has always been a place where our family comes together,” Kelsey Stabler says. “It’s not just about the work we do, but the bonds we build and the values we uphold.”

Kelsey Stabler and sister Shelby Stabler Stambaugh play crucial roles in daily operations, extending beyond the farm’s borders. They’ve become key ambassadors for CAB, hosting and educating large groups of brand partners.

Blending tradition and innovation seamlessly across the land they care for, the willingness to share their excitement for the Angus breed and raising high-quality beef earned them the 2024 CAB Ambassador Award. Access more about the winners here.

Sustainability Award: JY Ferry & Son, Utah

Located north of Salt Lake City, brothers John and Ben Ferry manage their century-old business, JY Ferry and Son Inc., along with family. The multifaceted operation encompasses ranching, farming and wildlife management.

“There’s a good cycle to wetlands,” says Joel Ferry, John’s son and current executive director of Utah’s Department of Natural Resources.

Serving as a habitat for wildlife, the wetlands also have a hydrologic purpose. They act as both filter and sponge, cleaning the water and absorbing it when soils become saturated. Drying out, the wetlands slowly release water, which keeps the land green longer into summer. More plant life means greater grazing opportunities.

“Grazing is a really important part of that cycle,” Joel says. “It stimulates a lot of regeneration of the wetland vegetation.”

With a determined focus on enduring for generations to come, the family has made strides in land restoration and genetic progress within their Angus cow herd. These efforts earned them the 2024 CAB Sustainability Award. Access more about the winners here.

Seedstock Commitment to Excellence: Connealy Angus, Nebraska

The Connealys of Whitman, Neb., could easily go unnoticed if not for their customers. Their remote location paired with their quiet demeanor doesn’t draw attention, but their character does.

When potential buyers fill the Connealy Angus sale barn, they’re not just there for the genetics; they’re also there because of the customer service guarantee.

“Your reputation is paramount,” Jerry says. “You can’t cut corners. You can’t be shortsighted.” Not if you want repeat customers, which is the family’s measure of success.

“For our customers’ calves to ultimately be profitable, they need to ring the bells and whistles that bring back greater bonuses by performing at a higher level to get off the commodity list and into premium territory,” Jerry says.

Through Connealy Marketing, son Jed acts as broker to place groups of calves that match a feeder’s goals. His relationship with feedyards allows him to share information with his family and their customers to make informed management decisions.

For getting that and a lot more right, Connealy Angus was recognized with the 2024 CAB Seedstock Commitment to Excellence award. Access more about the winners here.

Canadian Commitment to Excellence: Gilchrist Farms, Ontario

Brad Gilchrist knew the commercial cattle side well, as the four generations before him built the family’s operation near Lucknow, Ontario. However, a twist of fate took Gilchrist Farms from a commercial cow-calf ranch to a thriving Angus seedstock enterprise.

A light-bulb moment switched on in 2003 when Gilchrist purchased an Angus female that would become the cornerstone of the family’s now renowned seedstock program.

“That female really showed me the clear advantages of Angus over our commercial herd,” Gilchrist says. “At that time, we had about 200 commercial cows, but she showed us what a low-maintenance and highly productive female could do for a herd.”

The family’s dedication to improving their breed and adhering to the highest standards of beef production earned them the 2024 CAB Canadian Commitment to Excellence award. Access more about the winners here.