New SA Stud Book president appointed

Russell Clark, a Hereford and Merino sheep breeder near Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape, was elected as the new president of SA Stud Book at the organisation’s recent annual general meeting.

He took over from outgoing president Freddie Wasserfall, who had served in the role for the maximum permissible two consecutive terms.

Clark told Farmer’s Weekly that his most important focus area would be to ensure that the organisation remained at the top of its game in the information technology field.

“What was new today is old tomorrow, and it is frightening the way changes take place,” he said.

Clark was involved with the SA Hereford Cattle Society for more than 30 years, and also served on several other committees focused on livestock improvement.

He stepped into his new role after having served on the executive committee of SA Stud Book as vice president for the past two years.

“I received [the organisation] in a very good state from Freddie Wasserfall. I am very thankful for that and have to make sure it carries on along the same track,” he said.

SA Stud Book general manager Dr Japie van der Westhuizen said he was looking forward to working with Clark, who brought a wealth of experience in livestock improvement to the position.

Commenting on the organisation’s AGM, Van der Westhuizen said he was very positive about the fact that the financial year had been closed off with a positive balance for the second year running.

Despite challenges in the agriculture sector as a whole, the atmosphere at the AGM was extremely positive, he said.

Van der Westhuizen also highlighted the expanded services SA Stud Book was providing, saying the organisation was now delivering genomic services and milk reports, and had also seen growth in the services offered to the smallstock sector. – Sabrina Dean

Russell Clark