SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) welcomed IBBA members, convention participants, and more than 200 international guests to Houston February 27 – March 2, 2013, for the IBBA Annual Convention hosted in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
During the convention banquet Friday, March 1, the IBBA recognized three influential industry members for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to the Brangus breed.
John McKnight (left) presents Dr. Robert Vineyard with the Pioneer Award
The Pioneer Award recognizes an IBBA member, past or present, for his/her service, loyalty and contributions to the Brangus breed. Robert S. Vineyard, D.D.S., owner of Vineyard Cattle Company (VCC) in Wharton, Texas, was the recipient of this year’s award in recognition for more than 40 years of leadership and devotion to the breed, which still continues today. Vineyard was among the first breeders to utilize technologies such as embryo transfer, ultrasound, Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), and his Breeding Up to Brangus program has allowed VCC to introduce productive new genetics. He has served the IBBA in numerous capacities and was a past recipient of the Breeder of the Year award in 1989.
Bill Morrison (second from right) receives the Breeder of the Year award from Larry Parker and other Brangus friends
Bill Morrison of Clovis, N.M., was the recipient of the 2013 Breeder of the Year award. Morrison has been in the Brangus business for 32 years and has been a partner with Joe Paul and Rosie Lack for the past 21 years who together own and manage Lack-Morrison Brangus. Morrison was born in Silver City, N.M., and grew up on his family’s diary operation in Hanover, N.M. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural education from New Mexico State University and has taught high school agriculture and been an FFA advisor for 35 years and retired six years ago. Currently, the Lack-Morrison Brangus operation includes 100 registered cows and markets 25 to 30 bulls annually.
Joy Reznicek presents Wes Williamson with the Commercial Producer of the Year award
The 2013 Commercial Cattleman of the Year award was given to Frank Wesley “Wes” Williamson, III, a third generation cattleman from Florida. Williamson Cattle Company, where Williamson is president, is a 60-year-old family owned and operated diverse agriculture operation managing approximately 10,000 head of cattle on 75,000 acres on the ranch headquarters in Okeechobee, Fla., as well as on ranches in Alabama and Texas. Their beef cattle business is complemented by citrus operations in Florida and catfish production in Alabama. Williamson has received state and national recognition for his environmental stewardship, leadership abilities and service to the industry.
“I think we found three very deserving recipients for these awards,” said Larry Parker, Chairman of the Awards Committee. “We are pleased to be able to recognize them and their accomplishments.”
Award recipients are nominated and selected by the IBBA Awards Committee and recognized annually at the IBBA Convention. See highlights in photos on the GoBrangus Facebook page. Please visit www.gobrangus.com for more information.
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