Angus' 135 year heritage celebrated at field day

The Kansas Angus Association will host its 2008 field day on Sept. 27 in Victoria, in conjunction with a day of celebration of the heritage of Angus cattle and the 125th Anniversary of the American Angus Association. A day-long program is planned, and will include a historical perspective, featured speakers and a Certified Angus Beef lunch. Area Angus breeders will also display cattle around the Grant Cemetery monument, which is located at 1st Street and Angus Drive.

The field day begins at 10 a.m., with cattle viewing. A formal program will follow lunch along with the unveiling of the monument renovations. The American Angus Association has been working closely to revitalize the monument that honors Grant and those first Angus bulls during this year -- the 125th anniversary of the Association.

"In order to look to the future, we must study and celebrate the past," says Jim Shirley, vice president of industry relations, who spearheaded the project to restore the monument and the cemetery where Grant is buried. "It is important to commemorate the beginning of our breed and to keep future generations of beef producers informed on how Angus in the U.S. got its humble start."

Historical tours are tentatively planned. The field day will conclude in late afternoon, allowing historians to visit more of the German settlement or attend Saturday evening mass at St. Fidelis Church, also known as the "Cathedral of the Plains," and one of the eight wonders of Kansas.

There is no registration fee to attend the tour, but pre-registrations are appreciated to accurately plan for the meal. To pre-register or for more information, contact Anne Lampe, Kansas Angus Association secretary at (620) 872-3915 or e-mail her at kansasangus@wbsnet.org.