2002 Continuing Service Award Winner

S.R. Evans, Greenwood, MS, receives the 2002 BIF Continuing Service Award from Connee Quinn, 2001 BIF president.

S.R. Evans Jr. Receives BIF Continuing Service Award

The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) honored S.R. Evans Jr., Greenwood, Miss., with its Continuing Service Award at the organization’s 34th annual meeting July 12, 2002, in Omaha, Neb.

Evans graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in chemical engineering in 1960. He then received his master’s degree from the University of Mississippi Medical School and trained in general surgery and gynecologic surgery during the next six years in Memphis and New York before returning to his hometown to open his practice in 1972. In his free time he joined his father in the farm and cattle operation and expanded the purebred Angus program.

He served as president of the Mississippi Angus Association, as well as serving as the association’s longtime secretary-treasurer. Evans began attending BIF almost 20 years ago, after taking an active interest in the Mississippi Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA). He has served on the board for six years. He received the Purebred Producer of the Year award from the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association in 2001.

The ranch consists of approximately 1,550 acres of gently rolling hills and fertile creek bottoms. Pastures consist of improved bermuda, Pensacola bahia and native grasses. The land is fenced into 20-30 acre plots in order to facilitate the intensive grazing program. The cow herd is made up of about 500 brood cows, mostly purebred Angus, with a few commercial cows. They are split into two calving seasons, the fall season being September to October, and the spring season being February to March. These cows are run on grass in the same fashion as commercial customers. At weaning, all calves are retained and run on grass as stockers, with a minimum of supplemental feed provided to maintain a moderate rate of growth. All bulls participate in a grass-based performance test. All heifer calves are retained and given a chance to become a brood cow. Any calves culled are fed with Evans Angus retaining ownership until slaughter.

The breeding program begins with an extensive embryo and artificial insemination (AI) program, and then the farm’s bulls are used as herd bulls. The program is concentrating on carcass merits in order to improve their final product. With the improvements in technology, the farm has been able to take ultrasound readings of every calf, and the breeding program is run using expected progeny differences (EPDs) as major criteria. The cattle have been performing well, gaining nearly 5 pounds a day in the feedlot, grading 95%-100% low-Choice or above, and about 45% qualifying as Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) product. Evans Angus Farm also runs a stocker program, with the calves coming from their buy-back program with bull customers. The farm runs this program knowing that the only reason for a purebred operation is to raise quality seedstock, mainly bulls, for the commercial producer.

Evans has taken an active role in the Boy Scouts of America, serving as assistant scoutmaster, camping committee chairman, and on the medical staff at national jamborees. He received the Silver Beaver award. Evans is married to June and is the father of three children, S.R. Evans III, Claire Evans and Caroline Evans.