DENVER — The Red Angus Association of America recognized George Chiga as the recipient of the Master Breeder Award. It was presented posthumously by Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences George Chiga Endowed Professor Ryan Reuter, Ph.D., and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist David Lalman, Ph.D., at the 70th National Red Angus Convention Awards Banquet on Friday, Sept. 15.

“George Chiga exemplifies the Master Breeder Award. From humble beginnings to becoming an animal breeding entrepreneur, George had a passion for animal breeding principles that avoided prevailing traditions,” RAAA Past President Melvin Leland, of Sidney, Montana, said. “His influence helped establish the core values that founded the Red Angus breed.”

Chiga symbolizes an American success story and serves as an inspiration for cattle producers across the nation. He was born in 1913 in Regina, Saskatchewan. In 1940, the native of Canada graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry from Oklahoma State University (then Oklahoma A&M College.) He then received a master's degree in animal husbandry, with special mentions, from OSU in 1942. Chiga was a World War II veteran, an Olympic wrestler and an OSU athlete, participating in wrestling and football.

Chiga established Red Plains Cattle Co. on the grounds of the former OSU Red Plains Experiment Station near Guthrie, Oklahoma. His wife, Vernice, shared his passion for Red Angus and served as his business partner and manager.

The Red Angus breed was an easy choice for Chiga as he and his wife searched for high-quality animals who shared bloodlines with black Angus. The couple traveled the country in search of the best Red Angus cattle they could find. The foundation of Chiga’s cowherd was built from the Breyfogle Ranch located near Garden City, Kansas.

Chiga was applauded for believing strongly in performance testing and scientific animal breeding principles that became RAAA's guiding policies. Chiga served as president of the association from 1956 to1960 and was RAAA's Personality of the Year in 1977 and 2004.

He developed concepts he referred to as "comfort zone" and "convenience traits," which became a base of his Chieflining breeding system. These practices are still used in production and management systems today.

Chiga loved to write and produced several articles and newsletters for a publication that later became the Red Angus Magazine, the breed's most comprehensive resource guide.

Choctaw Chief 373, born in 1965, which appears in approximately one-third of all Red Angus pedigrees today, was developed by Chiga. Choctaw Chief 373 was purchased to start the Pioneer Red Angus Herd and was intentionally bred to 20 of his daughters for the purpose of identifying any detrimental genes. Results met 100% of his expectations, while creating progeny of superiority and again proving Chiga’s excellent breeding strategies.

The Beef Improvement Federation honored Chiga with the Pioneer Award in 2003. The award is for cattlemen who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle.

Chiga passed away in 2007. He established the George Chiga Professorship in Animal Science to encourage excellence in teaching and scholarship in beef cattle production and genetics.

“The Master Breeder Award is intended to recognize outstanding contributions to progress in breeding registered livestock by OSU alumni. While I never met him, Mr. Chiga’s accomplishments in the Red Angus breed are legendary," said Reuter. "His legacy is more than deserving of the Master Breeder Award, and we felt it should be recognized.”

This award was originally announced at the OSU Animal Science Scholarship and Awards Banquet on April 14.

For more information about the Red Angus Association of America or marketing programs for Red Angus-influenced cattle, visit RedAngus.org.

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 using 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.

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Suggested cutline: The Red Angus Association of America recognized George Chiga as the recipient of the Master Breeder Award. The award was presented posthumously by Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences George Chiga Endowed Professor Ryan Reuter, Ph.D., and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist David Lalman, Ph.D., at the 70th National Red Angus Convention Awards Banquet on Friday, Sept. 15.