Press room at the North American Beef Congress

News Releases

November 2004 Media Release
North American Beef Congress

Anticipation and excitement filled the air as the inaugural North American Beef Congress (NABC) got underway on Thursday, October 28 and continued through Sunday, October 31 in London, Ontario at Western Fair's new Agriplex.

Five hundred forty-eight head of livestock competed in the premier show, which included culinary, educational and youth activities for beef enthusiasts from across Canada, the United States and France.

Earley Brothers of Kerwood, ON captured the first Grand Champion honors of the NABC and a $500 award for their winning British influenced bred heifers in the Commercial Bred Heifer Pen Show. Top Meadow Farms, Clarksburg, ON, took home the Reserve Grand Champion ribbon and $300 with their continental influenced pen.

The Pick of the Earley Brothers Grand Champion Commercial Heifer Pen sold later in the day to Flynn Hastings, Cambridge, ON for $4,100.

In the Merial Pen of 3 Bull Show, Dunford Royal Cattle Company's Angus entry took top accolades winning Grand Champion, while Windy Gables of Warkworth, ON nabbed the Reserve Grand Champion honors with a pen of Limousin bulls. The Grand Champion selection received $500 and the Reserve Grand Champion pen received $300 prize money.

Jason Koudys, Bellwood, ON received the $200 Canadian Red Angus Promotional Society Award for his pen of Red Angus bulls.

Four purebred sales took place on one day beginning with the Ontario Fast Forward Charolais Sale, managed by T Bar C Cattle Company. Twenty-five lots grossed $62,025 and averaged $2,481. The high seller was lot 304, Rollin Acres Golden Touch 5M, a cow consigned by Rollin Acres and purchased by Verberk Charolais, Arkona, ON for $6,000.

The NABC Angus Sale, managed by Optimal Bovines Inc., sold 22 1/3 lots for a gross of $106,600 and an average of $4,774. The high seller was lot 223, Red Swan Creek T-Bone L 206P, consigned by Swan Creek Farms, Elora, ON. He sold for $30,000 for 2/3 Interest and Full Possession to DKF Red Angus, Gladmar, SK. Lot 206, Early Dateline 2M, consigned by Early Bros., Kerwood, ON, sold for $16,500 for 2/3 Interest and Full Possession to Get-A-Long Stock Farms, Wetaskiwin, AB & Semex Alliance, ON.

Twenty-eight lots grossed $135,175 and averaged $4,828 for the Steppin' Out National Limousin Sale, managed by Venture Livestock Enterprises. Top Meadow Farms, Clarksburg, ON purchased the high seller, lot 100 for $13,750, and Ferme BLB purchased lot 108 for $12,000.

The final sale of the day, the NABC Simmental Sale, managed by Bouchard Livestock International grossed $72,375 and 33 lots averaged $2,190. The high seller was lot 32, Destiny Jackpot Beauty, consigned by Destiny Simmentals, Meaford, ON and sold to Petro Farms, ON. The second high seller, lot 18, Bar 5 SA Main Lady 801N went to Agro Zurita, Brazil and was consigned by Bar 5 Simmentals, Markdale, ON.

Agribrands Purina and Elanco Animal Health teamed up to sponsor the Congress Cattlemen's Club, an informative morning of speakers with topics geared toward the feedlot sector. Marketing meat, animal welfare, immunization and a Canfax market update filled the morning session and the participants enjoyed a free steak and eggs breakfast.

Four of Ontario's finest collegiate chef programs competed in the Top Meadow Farms Brass Ring Rising Chefs Challenge. Students from St. Clair and Niagara Colleges, George Brown Chefs School and Humber College competed for $1,000 scholarships for each team member. Niagara Colleges entry of Merlot Braised Beef Shank on Blue Benedictine-Celeriac Mash with Bosc Pears, Root Vegetables and Fresh Chanterelles won the team members both first place prize money and the People's Choice Award.

The John Deere Purebred Championship Challenge awarded grand champion females and bulls $1,000 each in the four breeds competing at the first Congress. Brockhill Farms, Sunderland, ON exhibited the Grand Champion Angus Female and Justamere Ranches, Lloydminster, SK exhibited the Grand Champion Angus Bull. Saunders Charolais, Markdale, ON won Grand Champion Charolais Female honors and Ross Cattle Services Ltd., Innisfal, AB claimed Grand Champion Charolais Bull. Grand Champion Limousin Female was shown by Top Meadow Farms, Clarksburg, ON and Highland Stock Farm, Calgary, AB & Payne Livestock, Stoney Creek, SK received the Grand Champion Limousin Bull award. Winning Grand Champion Female in the Simmental division was the entry from Jetstream Livestock, Orton, ON and Car-Laur Simmentals, Hanover,ON won the Grand Champion Simmental Bull.

Porky's BBQ & Leisure of London sponsored a burger challenge between six London area restaurants. The London Hilton's burger received Grand Champion Best Tasting Burger and The Tasting Room, another London establishment, received the People's Choice Award. The People's Choice voting served as a fundraiser for the London Health Foundation (London Children's Hospital).

Martin Koyle's entry, Koyle Naomi, received top accolades as the Overall Grand Champion Heifer in the Top Meadow Junior Beef Heifer Show. Martin also won the Overall Champion Showperson Award, one years use of an aluminum stock trailer courtesy of Granton Trailers Ltd. Martin is the son of Dwight and Cathy Koyle of Iona Station, ON. Winning reserve honors in both confirmation and showmanship categories was Allison Argue, the daughter of Al & Gail Argue, Dunrobin, ON.

Organizers are already making plans for the 2005 show, scheduled for the last week in October.

For additional information, please contact Laurie Fisher in her office at 519-685-1005 or her cell at 519-878-5473 or by email at lfisher@gtn.net.

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