Man-Sask 

londe d'Aquitaine  

Association

 

     

  

 

 

 

                                                      

 

    

Andy McKay, President of the Man-Sask Blonde d'Aquitaine Association, presents the trophy for the high-gaining Blonde bull in the 2006-2007 bull test at the Douglas Manitoba Test Station to Dave Gerega of Blue Diamond Blondes.  The trophy presentation took place on April 6, 2007 at the Association's Annual Meeting in Brandon.

 

 

 

 

Blue Diamond Sancho ARI 38S, high-gaining Blonde bull in the 2006-2007 test for yearling bulls at the 

Douglas Manitoba Test Station (photo taken at 14 months of age).  Sancho's ADG was 4.37 lbs per day.

 

            

Blue Diamond Samson ARI 110S, inaugural winner of the Best All-Around Blonde Bull Award initiated in 2007 by the Man-Sask Blonde d'Aquitaine Association.  The new award is based on points allocated to average daily gain during the bull test (60 percent) and carcass traits determined by ultrasound evaluation (40 percent) to yearling Blonde bulls consigned in the bull test at the Douglas Manitoba Test Station.  To qualify, a bull must be eligible for the Sale.

 

                                               

 

 

The Man-Sask Blonde d'Aquitaine Association Inc. had it's fall meeting by teleconference Dec 7/07. 

Holland Beef Days on January 23, 2008 will have our Blonde d'Aquitaine display set up with pamphlets and "Blonde Bullets" to give out. The booth at Holland, Manitoba will be managed by David Chevalier.

 
A new fund raising program for the Association was approved. The "Sponsorship Program" will have different levels of participation and recognition will be made in our publication the "Blonde Bullet" Anyone wishing to become a sponsor may contact one of our directors for details.
 
A report was given on the Douglas Bull test station and indicated that 16 bulls were currently on test. Next weigh day will be January 2, 2008.
 
A report was given about this associations continuing support of the 4H programs, as well as the support the association gives to individual 4H members when they involve Blonde d'Aquitaine animals in their projects. Support will continue in 2008.
 
The news letter "Blonde Bullet" should be out early in the new year. The deadline for advertising is January 8, 2008. Any one wanting to advertise in the Blonde Bullet please send in your ad to Pat  at fortyacreblondes@sasktel.net. This year we will e-mail the Bullet. For those who do not have an e-mail address we will still send by mail. Please call Pat to see that your name is on our mailing list.

Blonde Heifer Wins Big at 2006 Agribition

 

The Canadian Blonde d’Aquitaine Association and the Man-Sask Blonde d’Aquitaine Association are pleased to recognize the achievement of Marlin Firby whose Blonde d’Aquitaine heifer was declared Grand Champion in the heifer carcass competition at the 2006 Agribition in Regina.  There were 32 heifers in the competition with several breeds represented.  The carcass was sold by auction to the Farm Credit Corporation for $2000.

 

The two Blonde d’Aquitaine associations presented Firby with a cheque for $500 to honour his achievement at the 2006 Canadian Blonde National Show and Sale held in Neepawa, Manitoba, on December 1.

 

Marlin farms at Minnedosa, Manitoba, about 40 km north of Brandon.  He commutes to Brandon where he works part-time at Heartland Livestock.  Marlin spotted this heifer as part of a group of feeder calves being sold in the sale ring at Heartland by Bill and Brian Woods of Hazel Grove Blondes at Carberry, Manitoba.  Marlin recognized this heifer’s potential immediately and so he bought her and fed her to finish.  The rest is history.

 

 Blonde Steer Flies the Colors at 2006 Agribition

 

A Blonde d’Aquitaine steer, entered in the steer carcass competition by Marcel and Jeanne Fouillard of Sundance Valley Ranch in St. Lazare, Manitoba, had the largest ribeye area in a field of 40 steers and placed fourth overall in the steer carcass competition at Agribition.

 

The members of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Blonde d’Aquitaine Association collected a purse of money from within their ranks and presented it on December 1 at the start of the 2006 Canadian Blonde National Sale to Marcel and Jean who were accompanied for the occasion by Marcel’s father, Arthur Fouillard.

 

Arthur Fouillard is well known in Blonde circles as one of the pioneers in importing Blonde d’Aquitaine cattle and other exotic breeds into Canada going back 35 years ago.

2006 Canadian Blonde National held in Neepawa, Manitoba

 

The Canadian Blonde d'Aquitaine Association held its 2006 Annual Meeting, Show and Sale at Neepawa, Manitoba in a three-day event ending on December 1.  Participation was respectable, considering the near-blizzard conditions that moved across the Prairies during the days leading up to the event.

 

There were 47 persons at the banquet which concluded with musical and dancing entertainment provided by a group of staff from Blue Diamond Blondes.  Don Mehler of Forty Acre Blondes joined the Blue Diamond group with some impromptu but impressive vocals of his own and Garland Laliberte played a few fiddling tunes.

 

Mayor Robert Durston brought greetings at the banquet from the Town of Neepawa and welcomed out-of-town visitors.

 

Karen Emilson, rancher and author from Manitoba's Interlake country, was the guest speaker, sharing some of her experiences as she was writing the BSE story as it affected families and individuals.  On the Association's invitation, Karen brought along extra copies of her book Just a Matter of Time.  Twelve banquet guests took advantage of the opportunity and purchased books from her.

 

The silent auction conducted during the day and the evening was a great success, netting over $1500.

 

There were 17 Blondes (all pedigreed) in the Show.  Dave McNevan and Ian Kruis were the clear heavyweights but Stephen Dmytriw, Andy McKay and David Chevalier kept them honest.

 

There were 28 Blondes (again all of them pedigreed) in the Sale which was managed by Bob Mcintyre of McIntyre Blondes.  Twin heifer calves born on New Year's Day 2006 were generously donated to the Sale by Andy McKay of Thunder Creek Blondes with one being sold on buyer’s choice.  Thunder Creek Sophia 2S was purchased by Dave Gerega of Blue Diamond Blondes, fetching $875, with the entire proceeds going to the Man-Sask Blonde d'Aquitaine Association.

 

Myrna Flesch was elected President of the Canadian Blonde d’Aquitaine Association in a Board meeting held after the Annual Meeting.  Ian Kruis is the new Vice-President.  Marcel Lachance is back on the Board as Treasurer.  Newcomers to the Board include Murphy Baker and John Plas.  Myrna Flesch and Ken MacKenzie both returned to the Board for new three-year terms.  John Vink, Ian Kruis and Ron MacArthur are continuing on the Board for terms that end in 2007 and 2008.  The Board is fully populated for the first time in a long time.

 

 

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