California Ag Network

Tag: The Livestock Marketing Association

  • Mike VanMaanen Elected President of Livestock Marketing Association

    Mike VanMaanen married into a family of Livestock Marketing Association members in the 1980s, but never dreamed he’d one day lead the organization. Even though he immediately recognized the benefits of membership, he thought he was too busy to get involved or since his niche market wasn’t nationally known, he didn’t have a place. Soon enough, VanMaanen learned he was wrong on both accounts, and May 17, he was elected president.

    VanMaanen, who grew up on a corn, soybean and hog farm in Iowa, attended Missouri Western State University, where he graduated with degrees in agricultural economics and agronomy. It was there he met Lori Angell, a third-generation livestock marketer. The two married soon after graduation and joined her family’s auction market business in Columbia, Missouri, and bought into it in 1990. In 2000, the couple, along with two of her cousins, took over Eastern Missouri Commission Co., in Bowling Green. Last year, they became sole owners.

    The World Livestock Auctioneer Championship was VanMaanen’s gateway to Livestock Marketing Association leadership, first serving as a judge in the Parsons, Kansas, qualifier in the fall of 2009 and at the finals in Oklahoma City the following summer. He joined the association’s government and industry affairs committee in 2014 and the board of directors in 2016. During his tenure on the board, he also chaired the membership services committee for two years. He said his time on the board has had many highlights, and he looks forward to what’s to come.

    “I’ve had the opportunity to testify in front of the House Committee on Transportation, I worked alongside many others to get Dealer Statutory Trust signed into law and was a part of the producer profitability initiative we launched last fall,” VanMaanen said. “I’m extremely proud of the work LMA has done and look forward to continuing it.”

    VanMaanen will take over the reins from Mark Barnett during the association’s annual convention in June. First up on his agenda? Having deep discussions with members and staff about how to protect the livestock auction market sector.

    “We’re going to take a look at what it takes not only for the larger markets to survive, but what it takes for those small markets that are so important in their rural communities, to keep them alive and going,” VanMaanen said.

    But the conversation won’t just be about markets. He said Livestock Marketing Association members will continue to push their producer profitability initiative, aimed at bringing the entire industry together for a common goal.

    “By supporting America’s farmers and ranchers, we are supporting the future of livestock marketing, too,” VanMaanen said. “We know producer profitability is industry sustainability.”

    The incoming president said he hopes all members will take the opportunity to get more involved this year, whether that means attending the convention, participating in the D.C. Fly-In, joining a committee — or even just staying in touch with their region executive officer.

    “I think when people start getting involved, they find it really rewarding,” he said. “And you don’t have to be a big operator — I’m a good example of that. You just have to want to pitch in and do some work to improve your livelihood. If you can stay active and participate in conversations, we’d love to have you.”

    About the Livestock Marketing Association

    The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, is North America’s leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through member support, education programs, policy representation and communication efforts.

  • LMA BlockTrust Network Pilot Project Sales Kicks off in California June 17

    Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) in cooperation with BlockTrust Network, Mobile Cattle Marketing, Petaluma, Calif., Humboldt Livestock Auction Yard, Humboldt, Calif., Turlock Livestock Auction Yard, Turlock, Calif., Cattlemen’s Livestock Market, Galt, Calif., and Blue Grass Stockyards, Lexington, Ky., are conducting a pilot project to determine how blockchain technology offered by BlockTrust Network may allow LMA member livestock marketing businesses to leverage voluntary data capture of cattle moving through the auctions.

    The first of a series of sales will kick off on June 17 in Petaluma, Calif., conducted by the Mobile Cattle Marketing Group and featuring 1,500 fancy calves and yearlings. Additional sales are scheduled for July 8 and July 22.

    “We see opportunity in discovering how the decentralized database technology, like that offered by BlockTrust Network, may help our member livestock auctions capture greater value for auction customers while also protecting the privacy and rights of the farmer/rancher, the livestock auction and each additional stop along the supply chain” said Kristen Parman, Vice President Membership Services for LMA. “We know that livestock auctions have access to a tremendous amount of information about their customer’s herd management practices that result in top quality calves coming to auction, and we want to help auctions and auction customers translate that information in to improved value.”

    For each animal that is voluntarily electronically identified and enrolled into the BlockTrust Network, a record is created on the Blockchain; this record can contain as much, or as little additional data as desired and in this pilot project that information will be managed and controlled at the discretion of the participating auction. An example of additional data would be records containing health events or routine examinations, nutrition information, or animal demographics.

    The participating auction and consignors can then access a web portal where the participant can securely access the data on the network that they have permission to see. As more animals go through the supply chain, and matches are made, more data will become available.

    Results from the pilot project will be reviewed to determine all costs and changes in value that can be attributed to the BlockTrust Network enrollment with full results reported back to LMA’s leadership for future member service development.

    About the Livestock Marketing Association

    The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is North America’s leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through support, representation and communication efforts. For more information, visit www.LMAWeb.com.

  • Livestock Marketing Association Announces New Scholarship Program

    The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) is pleased to announce the release of a new scholarship program. With the goal of investing in the next generation, the program is designed to award five (5), $2500 scholarships to individuals that are interested in or display knowledge of the importance of the agriculture industry and its supporting entities, with plans to use their career to advocate for or advance the livestock marketing industry.

    “We are excited to launch this new scholarship program to encourage and recognize the next generation of leaders in our industry,” said LMA President Mark Barnett. “We are always looking for ways to get the younger generation involved, and I believe this is a step in the right direction.”

    Applicants must be a graduating high school senior and/or currently enrolled at an accredited, postsecondary institution and maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher. A letter of recommendation from an active LMA member must accompany the application at the time of submission. LMA members may not recommend more than two (2) applicants for the LMA scholarship in the same academic year.

    Applications will remain open until March 31, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Following the deadline, scholarship applications will be reviewed by a panel of LMA leadership, LMA membership and allied-industry relations.

    For more information on the LMA Scholarship Program, visit https://lmaweb.vercel.app/About/scholarships or contact LMA at lmainfo@lmaweb.com.

    About the Livestock Marketing Association

    The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is North America’s leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through support, representation and communication efforts. For more information, visit www.LMAWeb.com.

  • California Well-Represented at 2022 LMA Annual Convention & World Livestock Auctioneer Championship

    Shipshewana Auction, Inc., Shipshewana, Ind., will host the 2022 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) on Saturday, June 11. The 58th annual WLAC will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association’s (LMA) Annual Convention.

    A total of 31 semi-finalist auctioneers will compete in the contest comprised of an auctioneering and interview portion. The auctioneering contest will take place during a live sale, where contestants will sell cattle to actual bidders in the seats. Additionally, because of the important, high-profile role, each WLAC semi-finalist must clearly establish and demonstrate their knowledge of the livestock marketing industry in an interview competition.

    Contestants who qualified to compete are Zach Ballard, Presho, S.D.; Andy Baumeister, Goldthwaite, Texas; Neil Bouray, Webber, Kan.; Justin Dodson, Welch, Okla.; Eric Drees, Caldwell, Idaho; Dean Edge, Rimbey, Alberta; Will Epperly, Dunlap, Iowa; Brandon Frey, Diagonal, Iowa; Joshua Garcia, Goliad, Texas; Philip Gilstrap, Pendleton, S.C.; Steve Goedert, Dillon, Mont.; Brandon Hamel, Natoma, Kan.; Michael Imbrogno, Turlock, Calif.; Marcus Kent, Dunnellon, Fla.; Lynn Langvardt, Chapman, Kan.; Kyle Layman, North Platte, Neb.; Wade Leist, Boyne City, Mich.; Jacob Massey, Petersburg, Tenn.; Justin Mebane, Bakersfield, Calif.; Daniel Mitchell, Cumberland, Ohio; Sixto Paiz, Portales, N.M.; Ross Parks, New Concord, Ohio; Jake Parnell, Sacramento, Calif.; Chris Pinard, Swainsboro, Ga.; Jack Riggs, Glenns Ferry, Idaho; Jeff Showalter, Broadway, Va.; Barrett Simon, Rosalia, Kan.; Dustin Smith, Jay, Okla.; Andrew Sylvester, Wamego, Kan.; Curtis Wetovick, Fullerton, Neb.; Tim Yoder, Montezuma, Ga.

    Reigning World Livestock Auctioneer Champion, Chuck Bradley will be in attendance, along with many other past World Livestock Auctioneer Champions. Each will sell cattle during the Parade of Champions, a portion of the WLAC sale between the semi-finalist and finalist rounds.

    Members of the 2021 Leadership in Livestock Marketing Seminar class will also be present at the event.

    If you are interested in viewing WLAC, tune into the live, online broadcasts. The interviews will be on Friday, June 10, and can be viewed live on www.LMAauctions.com or LMA Facebook Live starting at 3:00 p.m. (ET). The auctioneering competition will be at Shipshewana Auction, Inc. beginning at 8:00 a.m. (ET) and will also be streamed live on www.LMAAuctions.com and the LMA Facebook page. Following the event, WLAC will be broadcast as a special, one-hour show on RFD-TV.

    About the Livestock Marketing Association

    The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., is North America’s leading, national trade association dedicated to serving its members in the open and competitive auction method of marketing livestock. Founded in 1947, LMA has more than 800 member businesses across the U.S. and Canada and remains invested in both the livestock and livestock marketing industries through support, representation and communication efforts. For more information, visit www.LMAWeb.com.