Back

Grid Masters Capitalize on Value-Added Marketing to Capture Carcass Premiums

Posted October 1, 2018

Denver –The Grid Master Award, an honor bestowed by the Red Angus Association of America, is earned by operations that have successfully combined superior Red Angus genetics, skillful feeding and precise marketing to achieve success with the slaughter of superior beef carcasses. Harold Bertz, RAAA commercial marketing programs coordinator, announced the recipients of the 2018 Grid Master Awards at the 65th annual National Red Angus Convention held Sept. 12-14, 2018, in Watertown, South Dakota.

“The Grid Master Award truly rewards the combination of artful breeding, precise feeding and focused marketing in creating elite beef carcass results. This year's 1,322 head of Grid Master cattle exemplified Red Angus' ability to achieve top quality and yield grades. The award-winning 22 loads averaged 66 percent Prime and upper 2/3 Choice, with 61 percent of the cattle at Yield Grades 1 and 2,” said Bertz.

To be named a Grid Master, entries must be Red Angus or Red Angus-influenced cattle enrolled in the RAAA’s Feeder Calf Certification Program or the Allied Access tag program, and must achieve a specified level of carcass excellence. The program is open to both conventionally and naturally fed cattle.

Conventionally fed Red Angus cattle must be marketed in lots of at least 30 head, reach a minimum of 85 percent Choice and Prime, have a maximum of 5 percent Yield Grade 4s and a minimum grid score of 100.

Naturally fed Red Angus cattle must also be marketed in lots of 30 head or more, achieve 90 percent Choice and Prime, with a maximum of 10 percent Yield Grade 4s and a minimum grid score of 100.

Firms receiving Grid Master honors include the following:

Conventionally Fed Division

  • Anderson Land and Cattle, Oberlin, Kansas, earned Grid Master honors on two loads, home fed.
  • Chain Ranch, Canton, Oklahoma, fed at Cattleman’s Choice Feedyard, Inc., Gage, Oklahoma.
  • DeLong Ranches, Inc., Winnemucca, Nevada, fed at Whitham Farms Feedyard, Leoti, Kansas.
  • Hayes Red Angus, Jetmore, Kansas, fed at Boothill Feeders, Jetmore, Kansas.
  • Hueftle Cattle Company, Cozad, Nebraska, earned Grid Master honors on four loads, home fed.
  • Kniebel Cattle Company, White City, Kansas, home fed.
  • Pelton Red Angus, Burdett, Kansas, fed at Anderson Land and Cattle, Oberlin, Kansas.
  • Prairie Dog Creek Cattle, Dresden, Kansas, earned Grid Master honors on two loads, home fed.
  • Toedtli Ranch, Stoneham, Colorado, fed at Croissant Farms, Inc., Johnstown, Colorado.
  • JYJ Red Angus, Columbia, Alabama, fed at Hy-Plains Feedyard, LLC, Montezuma, Kansas.

Naturally Fed Division

  • Christensen Brothers, Weldona, Colorado, earned Grid Master Honors on two loads, home fed.
  • Harris Ranch, Drewsey, Oregon, earned Grid Master honors on two loads, fed at Beef Northwest Feeders, Boardman, Oregon.
  • Leon Tuttle, Gove, Kansas, fed at Witt Enterprises, Flagler, Colorado.
  • Wagonhound Land and Livestock, Douglas, Wyoming, home fed.

For those who would like additional information on the Grid Master Award program, or to learn more about the Red Angus-specific marketing grids and the FCCP program, please contact Harold Bertz at harold@redangus.org or call (816) 661-2289.

 

The Red Angus Association of America serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. The RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and utilizing scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.

###

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Brandi Buzzard Frobose, Director of Communications 
(785) 448-0239 • brandi@redangus.org

Attachments:

Grid Masters awards winners - conventionally produced
L to R: Jim and Jessica Yance, Mary Ann Kniebel, Dustin and Kendra Pelton, Jason Anderson and Britt Hayes.

Grid Masters awards winner - naturally produced
Harold Bertz presents Cory Everett, Wagonhound Ranch, with a Grid Master award.