Downey Ranch Honored as
2010 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year
COLUMBIA, MO. (JUNE 29, 2010) — The Beef Improvement Federation named Downey Ranch Inc. (DRI) of Wamego, Kan., as its 2010 Commercial Producer of the Year. Located just southeast of Manhattan and nestled in the Flint Hills, DRI has ensured the proper handling of its cattle since its formation in 1986 by Joe Downey.
From left, Joe Carpenter and Barb Downey receive the 2010 BIF
Commercial Producer of the Year Award from Burt Rutherford, BEEF magazine.
[Click here to download high-res. photo]
Joe Carpenter and Barb Downey, DRI managers, accepted the award from BEEF magazine Senior Editor Burt Rutherford during the 42nd BIF Research Symposium and Annual Meeting, June 28-July 1, in Columbia, Mo. The Kansas Livestock Association (KLA), located in Topeka, proudly nominated the ranch.
“The Downeys make a great commercial producer nominee because they work hard every day to make sure that a good quality product makes it to the consumer’s plate,” said Scarlett Hagins, communications program manager for the KLA. That has been their focus since Day 1, she added.
Presently, the Downey Ranch encompasses more than 6,300 acres occupied by 550 cows. Along with its 140 registered Angus cows, DRI manages commercial Angus, F-1 baldies and Red Angus and Angus-cross cows, 425 that calve in the spring and 125 that calve in the fall.
Downey Ranch’s low-stress handling techniques ensure that no animal “ever has a bad day.” Integrated disease management, fenceline weaning, early weaning, research- and feedback-based management and individual end-point management are also utilized by the DRI team to efficiently produce high-quality beef.
Most DRI calves are marketed through U.S. Premium Beef (USPB) on an age- and source-verified grid, while commercial bred females and registered bulls are sold at an annual production sale. Downey Ranch assists its customers in optimizing returns on their calves by using the tools that are proven successful.
Downey Ranch is now focused on financial analyses and has added a family member to the team to assist with the process. With its superior production techniques and financial planning, DRI hopes that its well-run business will support family and employees well into the future.
For more information about Downey Ranch visit www.downeyranch.com.
###
The Beef Improvement Federation has been a means to standardize programs and methodology and to create greater awareness, acceptance and usage of beef cattle performance concepts for more than 40 years. The 42nd Annual BIF Research Symposium and Meeting, conducted this year in Columbia, Mo., was hosted by the University of Missouri Extension and other cattle producers, organizations and leaders in the state. For more information about BIF and the conference, log on to www.BIFconference.com or www.beefimprovement.org.
Editor’s Note: This article is provided as a news release by the Beef Improvement Federation. For more information, contact Katie Maupin.
For additional 2010 BIF Award Winners, see the "Awards" page at www.BIFconference.com. API coverage of the 42nd BIF Research Symposium and Annual Meeting is available in the site's "Newsroom," with photo galleries of the tours and meeting located on the "Photos" page.This site contains materials with various copyrights. Please refer to the "Reprint Guidelines" for guidance.
