Newsmakers ASSOCIATION @Items of interest about and for members of our Angus family. Compiled by Linda Robbins. z IN THE NEWS Supreme Genetics, providing bulls, donors Steven Lastovica of Salado, Texas, was and high-end heifers to customers across the awarded one of three 2016 Outstanding nation. Alumni Awards from the Texas A&M A Texas 4-H volunteer, Lastovica has University College of Agriculture and Life long been a supporter of 4-H and FFA, Sciences at the annual Legacy and Leadership fostering a love for agriculture through the Banquet Nov. 18, 2016. Steven found his beef cattle industry and ultimately helping calling in agriculture early — on his family’s young Texans go to college to pursue Angus farm in Bell County, Texas. As an degrees in agriculture. A respected cattle animal science major at Texas A&M, he judge, he officiates at livestock judging worked at the Beef Cattle Center and was competitions on the junior, senior and active in many student organizations, collegiate levels, and judges livestock shows including the Corps of Cadets, the Ross Steven Lastovica, Salado, Texas across the country on a local, state and Volunteers and the Texas A&M Senior national level. Livestock Judging Team. than 1.5 million head of cattle. No longer Steven and his family share a passion Soon after graduation, he began working operating as a weekly livestock auction, for Texas A&M and the Department of as an extension agent for agriculture in Steven has transitioned MLE to operate Animal Science. He served on the Dr. Washington County, Texas, where he as a USDA-licensed livestock dealership, Howard Hesby Atrium Committee to developed his people skills — and a business providing stocker and feeder cattle to the provide funding for the renovation of idea — as he worked with local livestock feedlots, as well as high-quality replacement the Kleberg Building atrium. He is a breeders. In May 1986, less than a year after females through Internet and private- guest speaker in animal science classes college graduation, he and his brother started treaty sales. and at the Beef Cattle Short Course, and Milano Livestock Exchange (MLE). For 30 Steven and his wife, Sandra, also a 1985 currently serves as a board member of the years, it was Milam County’s oldest family- graduate, along with their children, own Agricultural Leadership, Education, and run livestock market, having sold more and operate Lastovica Cattle Co., as well as CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 Canadian Angus Gold Show winners The Canadian Angus Association (CAA) has announced the and exciting to watch,” says CAA CEO Rob Smith. “Our members winners of its 2016 National Gold Show Program. Awards were take great pride in their show cattle. The Gold Show program is presented before the Power and Perfection Sale at Agribition in a tremendous opportunity to display premium Angus genetics Regina, Sask. to fellow Angus producers, cattle folk from other breeds, beef The 2016 Black Angus Show Bull of the Year, receiving industry influencers and the public at large. champion aggregate status, was MAF First Impression 4420, The Canadian Angus Gold Show All-Star Team awards were also owned by Mogcks Angus Farm of Tripp, S.D., and Mick and Debbie announced as follows: Trefiak of Edgerton, Alta. In the black Angus bulls, bull calf champion went to BOSS LAKE The reserve aggregate champion for Black Angus Show Bull of Brilliance 615, owned by Boss Lake Genetics; junior champion the Year was awarded to BOSS LAKE Brilliance 615 owned by Boss went to EF Titan 545, owned by Sean Enright and Barry Enright; Lake Genetics of Stony Plain, Alta. and senior champion went to MAF First Impression 4420, owned by Runner-up aggregate champion for Black Angus Show Bull of Mogcks Angus Farm and Mick and Debbie Trefiak. the Year went to EF Titan 545, owned by Sean Enright and Barry Angus Female All-Star awards went to Greenwood Beauty JJP Enright of Renfrew, Ont. 23D, owned by Jayden and Jaxon Payne of Lloydminster, Sask., and The 2016 Black Angus Show Female of the Year, receiving HLC Barbara 776D, owned by Hollinger Land & Cattle of Neudorf, champion aggregate status, was SC Mich Rose 30X owned by Katie Sask., tied as the heifer calf champion. Remitall F Tibbie 51C owned Serhienko of Maymont, Sask., and heifer calf SC Mich Rose 613D, by Remitall Farms Inc. of Olds, Atla., was junior champion; and SC also owned by Katie Serhienko. Mich Rose 30X, owned by Katie Serhienko, and heifer calf SC MICH The reserve aggregate champion for Black Angus Show Female ROSE 613D, also owned by Katie Serhienko, was senior champion. of the Year went to DMM Blackbird 105A, owned by Lee and Dawn The Gold Show program was developed in 1989 by the Wilson, Miller Wilson Angus, of Bashaw, Alta., with bull calf DMM Canadian Angus Association to provide an incentive for breeders International 54D, also owned by Lee and Dawn Wilson, Miller to move between regions to show cattle. Gold Show winners are Wilson Angus. determined by the animals that earned the highest number of Runner-up aggregate champion for Black Angus Show Female points in three Gold Shows. If an animal accumulated points in of the Year went to Royal S Pride 42B owned by Brianna Kimmel of more than three Gold Shows, the points from their best three Lloydminster, Alta., with heifer calf Twst She’s A Heartbreaker 66D, shows were used in determining end-of-year awards. also owned by Brianna Kimmel. The All-Star awards were first presented in 2012 making this “The competition for our Gold Show program is always fun year the fifth annual recognition. 30 n ANGUSJournal n January 2017 z NEWSMAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 Communications Advisory Committee. died Nov. 19, 2016, at the Sturgis Regional During the past 24 years, Leo had battled They also support the university through Hospital. cancer. He always said, “There is life after the Association of Former Students and the Leo was born July 15, 1927, in Perley, cancer,” “Cancer is limited,” and “Can’t 12th Man Foundation. Minn. He was the son of Alex and Lucy never did anything.” He meant that cancer Lastovica was appointed by former Texas (Mell) Baker. Leo grew up on a family farm doesn’t have to be a death sentence, and he Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples to located 2 miles west of Ada, Minn. In 1945 he showed it. He never gave up; he was faithful serve on the board of directors of the Beef graduated from Ada High School. to get his cancer treatments, because it meant Promotion and Research Council, which Following high school, he turned down going forward, fighting and living. Leo wasn’t directs all beef check-off activities, as well a football scholarship at the University of a quitter. He always looked for the silver as serving as chairman of the Domestic Minnesota and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. lining in things. He was lovable, positive, Marketing Committee. He serves in other Leo served his country during World War encouraging to others, courageous, loyal and professional organizations such as the Texas II from 1945 to 1946. During those years, he generous. He will be missed greatly by his Angus Association, the American Angus served as an M.P., which yielded many stories family and friends. Association, and the National Livestock for a small-town farm boy from Minnesota. In addition to his wife, Leo is survived Marketing Association. The Seabees were a good fit for him. He was by son Mike; brother Ronald; sister Doris; Steven has been a strong supporter of stationed on the USS Shipley Bay and became granddaughter Elizabeth; great-grandsons his community — coaching youth sports, part of the liberation of the Philippines. Elias and Sylvain; and many nieces and serving in many capacities with St. Stephen After his honorable discharge, Leo nephews. Catholic Church, serving as a member of became a college student at North Dakota the Chamber of Commerce, and serving as State University in Fargo, N.D., majoring in z INDUSTRY EXTRAS a founding member and donor of the animal science. He attended there for two Doug O’Brien has been named executive Salado Education Foundation. He was years before returning to the farm near Ada, vice president for programs of the National a creator of the annual Chisholm Trail where he grew small-grain crops and sugar Cooperative Business Association CLUSA Cattleman’s Ball, which has raised half a beets. International effective Nov. 1, 2016. million dollars in scholarship funds since Leo met the love of his life on a blind date, 2002. and he was united in marriage to Marilyn Anne Simmons has been named Steven and Sandra have two children: Nelson in Ada, on July 23, 1950. Democratic staff director for the House Stephanie, a 2016 graduate in agricultural In 1977, a small down payment was placed Agriculture Committee. She formerly served leadership and development and a graduate on a ranch located near Saint Onge. The as the Committee’s senior policy advisor. student in the Texas A&M Department of Baker family moved west with 100 cows, and Animal Science; and Stuart, a freshman at shortly after they arrived they named their Bruce Schmoll, Claremont, Minn., was Salado High School who has his sights set ranch, “Baker’s Lemar Angus” by combining elected the U.S. Meat Export Federation on graduating as an animal science major in the names Leo and Marilyn (Lemar). Over (USMEF) chairman for 2016-2017. Dennis 2024. time the ranching operation grew and later Stiffler is the chairman-elect.