CattleFax, an organization created by cattle producers, has been selected to receive the 2018 Don L. Good Impact Award.
The award, presented by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council Inc., is named in honor of Good, who is a former head of the Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, and recognizes positive impact on the livestock and meat industry or agriculture. CattleFax will be recognized during the K-State ASI Family and Friends Reunion, set for Oct. 12 at the Stanley Stout Center in Manhattan, Kansas.
Started in 1968, CattleFax is a member-owned organization that serves producers in all segments of the cattle and beef business. For half a century, it has been a global leader in beef industry research, analysis and information. Its exclusive industry database has set the standard for market information and analysis.
Information was critical in the 1960s to cattle producers, who believed their negotiating power for marketing their animals needed improvement. The answer was partially found in mining and sharing data.
“It felt like we needed our own information and data sharing business, where you could see some of the trends more frequently during the year, and also have our own double check on the system,” says Randy Blach, CattleFax CEO.
CattleFax’s first market analyst, Topper Thorpe, became the CattleFax general manager in 1972. For 30 years, he provided a steady hand for staff leadership and guidance. According to Blach, Thorpe helped revolutionize both the gathering and sharing of market information in the cattle industry, and allowed CattleFax to deliver the most complete, accurate information from which beef producers could make better marketing decisions.
The CattleFax staff monitors more than just cattle markets. Grain, weather, beef demand and competing proteins—not just domestically but globally—are carefully monitored. Keeping up with the times to make sure producers have quality information in a timely basis, allowing them to make informed marketing decisions, is a daily test for the staff.
“The Department of Animal Sciences and Industry is pleased to join with LMIC in recognizing CattleFax as the company celebrates 50 years of making contributions to the beef industry,” says Evan Titgemeyer, K-State ASI interim department head. “We invite our ASI alumni and friends and all who have worked with CattleFax to join us as we recognize the organization and its staff and celebrate the organization’s contributions to the agriculture industry on Oct. 12.”
More information and registration is available online for the Oct. 12 K-State Animal Sciences and Industry Family and Friends Reunion at www.asi.k-state.edu/familyandfriends.
