THORNTOWN, Ind. — The Indiana Hereford Assoc. (IHA) is looking forward to a busy season of shows and breed promotion, and is hoping the action translates into two goals: new members and hosting the National Junior Hereford Show in 2009.

“We want to encourage membership now more than ever,” said Rick Davis, IHA president. “We want to help our members promote Hereford cattle, and provide them with a market that is low cost to give them more dollars per pound. We’re not one of those groups where you just pay a fee and get a newsletter.”

The Indiana State Fairgrounds is also being considered as a site for the American Hereford Assoc.’s Junior Nationals in 2009 or 2010.

Next month, the IHA will have its state preview show June 23-25 at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Greenfield, Ind. A junior association show and open show will be for all members.

Participants are reminded that Hereford steers shown in any IHA-sanctioned event are required to have an American Hereford Assoc. certificate listing both the dam and the sire registration numbers. A free meal is provided on Saturday night of the show followed by an auction, with proceeds going to the Steer Fund to pay $500 to the 4-Her showing the champion Hereford steer born in Indiana at the Indiana State Fair.

The IHA also sponsors a feeder calf sale for members in the fall, and members can advertise on the IHA website, www.indianaherefords.org, for a minimum fee.

A new breeder’s directory will soon be available.

Dale and Leslie Kottkamp of Clayton, Ind., who serve as secretary/treasurer of the state organization, are also members of the AHA Junior Advisory Board. Their daughters, Chandis and Emilee, are active in the junior association.

Annual meetings are in February. Ray Ramsey of Greenfield has been nominated for the AHA board, and will be voted on at the national meeting this fall.

The Indiana Hereford Assoc. began in 1945 - and just a few years ago - joined the Hereford and Polled Hereford associations, a move Davis describes as “positive.”

Davis has set a goal of 30 percent membership growth in Indiana this year.

“The number of Herefords and the number of members is growing in other states,” he said. “Indiana can, too.”

For more information, visit the website or contact Davis at 765-436-7505 or rldavis@inmotion.net

This farm news was published in the May 24, 2006 issue of Farm World.