Montgomery, Ala. – The Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) recently named the 2008 Purebred of the Year during their Annual Meeting and Awards Program held in conjunction with the 66th Annual Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting in Montgomery on February 14. 

Wendell, Nan, and Doug Gibbs of Gibbs Farms in Ranburne, Alabama were named the 2008 Alabama BCIA Purebred Producer of the Year.  Gibbs Farms is a family owned, multi-generational operated SimAngus seedstock operation.  Production of the “SimAngus HyBred” is not the by-product of a purebred operation for it is the focus of Gibbs Farm.  The fall calving herd of approximately 500 cows uses the best genetics of the two highly complimentary breeds of Simmental and Angus, along with modern reproductive tools, carcass ultrasound, live animal harvest data, DNA testing, the American Simmental Association Total Herd Enrollment (THE), and EPDs to produce a hybrid that will offer the beef industry an added value genetic product.  The Gibbs’ are very serious about their mission and commitment to not only their customers, but to the entire beef industry.  Gibbs Farms was co-nominated for this honor by the Alabama Simmental Association and the Cleburne County Farmers Federation.  Gibbs Farms has also been nominated by Alabama BCIA for the Beef Improvement Federation’s Outstanding Seedstock Producer of the Year Award.

The Alabama BCIA is a non-profit organization seeking to promote, educate and facilitate the use of performance data, record keeping and marketing opportunities to improve the Alabama cattle industry.  Formed in 1964, BCIA currently cooperates with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System of Auburn University under a formal agreement.