Practically Ranching (Matt Perrier)

Join Matt Perrier as he provides some backgound for Practically Ranching.

He'll give a brief history of his family's ranch, Dalebanks Angus, plus outline some of his past experiences in the beef industry that will help shape the conversations in future episodes. 

Darrell Stevenson is always up for a challenge, and in 2010, he began building a registered Angus herd from scratch in Russia. Not only did he provide genetics and consultation on the venture, but he also worked alongside his Russian partners and employees as they developed a 7500 head ranch within a few short years.
While in Russia, Darrell learned much about the Russian culture, and he saw first-hand the early escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, as his ranch was 2 hours east of the Ukranian border.
Darrell will share the fascinating story of building a business in Russia, plus share his unique perspectives on the cultural challenges that are being brought to the forefront today.

Dr. Tom Field is the Program Director for the Engler Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska. He was raised on a family ranch on the western slope of Colorado and has been a lifelong learner, motivator and instructor throughout his life. 

I've known Dr. Field for twenty-five years, and each time I read or hear his comments, I am challenged to think about new ways to address challenges in business, agriculture and life in general.

If you want a straightforward "how-to" on ranching, this is not your episode. But if you want to stretch your mind a bit and consider new perspectives to our lives today, I think you'll really enjoy Dr. Field's comments this week.

For more information, go to:
Engler | Mission-Driven Enterprise Builders (englerjourney.com)
The Engler Journey on YouTube 
engler_unl on Instagram

Father Nic grew up on a sizable family farm and ranch in northeast Oklahoma. He has served as our local Pastor for the past year and has a wonderful way of putting God's word into very relatable terms for our parish.
Faith is very personal for me, so I don't intend to "push" mine on others, but after hearing one of Father's sermons a month or so ago, I felt that his message was valuable for all of us--regardless of our faith and/or journey. 
While there is very little "Ranching" info in this one, I think Fr. Nic's wisdom is still plenty "Practical" as we strive to be the best versions of ourselves. 

While we've all established that the hit series Yellowstone isn't the most accurate depiction of everyday ranch life, there's no denying its popularity.

Mo Brings Plenty plays "Mo," Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater's driver, enforcer and overall calming influence on the hit series.

Last August, my father-in-law, John Teagarden, introduced my family to Mo during the Linn County Fair & Rodeo in Mound City, KS. On a last-minute request, Mo addressed the crowd during the rodeo and captured everyone's heart as he spoke of the relationship of the cowboy and native cultures from the past.

Whether we like it or not, popular culture has a way of forming the world's opinions and perspectives. While most of us don't solve problems today by "taking someone to the train station," Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, Mo, and the rest of the Yellowstone cast are rejuvenating the world's interest in ranching  and the western way of life. It's now up to us to  find ways to tell our everyday stories of the real trials and tribulations of providing food and fiber for folks across the world.

@MoBringsPlenty

Troy Marshall is the Director of Commercial Industry Relations at the American Angus Association. Throughout his professional career, he has served in a variety of roles within the beef industry, working for breed associations, CattleFax, publishing The Seedstock Digest and helping develop his family's progressive seedstock herd at Marshall Cattle Company.

Troy has made a habit of studying industry trends, consumer preferences and market drivers to envision the future of seedstock production.  In this episode, Troy and I discuss the issues of Sustainability,  Seedstock Selection and adding value to Angus-influenced commercial cattle through  Angus Link and the Genetic Merit Scorecard.

www.angus.org/AngusLink

Lydia Yon and her husband, Kevin, are the founding owners of Yon Family Farms, Ridge Spring, South Carolina.
A first-generation ag venture, they have quickly become a leading source of Angus seedstock in their region and across the country. They--alongside their three adult children and their growing families--continue to turn Yon Family Farms into a diversified agribusiness including cattle, farming and retail beef and pecan business, the Nut House.
Their story is a wonderful testament to the American values of faith, hard work and determination. They are loyally dedicated to the land, their family and the legacies of folks who have farmed the land before them.

Learn more about the Yons at...
www.yonfamilyfarms.com
www.nuthouseandcountrymarket.com

Shawn Tiffany and his brother, Shane, own and manage Tiffany Cattle Company, Inc, a complete cattle feeding and marketing service in eastern Kansas. Tiffany Cattle Co. has a one-time capacity of 35,000 head in their three feedyards. Shawn’s primary duties are the farming and grain inventory side of their business, as well as assisting in cattle health, feeding management, marketing and financial aspects of Tiffany Cattle Co. 

Shawn currently serves as President-Elect of the Kansas Livestock Association. In addition, Shawn is part of Elevate Ag, a company that offers products, services and knowledge for regenerative agriculture.

Shawn and his wife, Nicky, spend countless hours educating their family, their community and the world about agriculture and the values that rural America holds dear.

Links:
www.tiffanycattle.com
www.elevateag.com
www.Wingit.us
Twitter: @Shawn_Tiffany

Market to Market Podcast: www.iowapbs.org/shows/mtom/mtom-podcast/podcast/7827/taking-hat-congress-talk-cattle-shawn-tiffany

Jeanne and David Clawson are farmers and ranchers. They're leaders. They're former 4H'ers and raised their three children in the Kansas 4H program in Meade County.

Join us as we discuss the many values that 4H offers our youth, plus get insight on how to find that balance between "winning at all costs" and "letting the kid sink or swim."

Good luck to all of you involved in 4H during this busy time of year. We wish you all the best.

...now I have to go help the kids clip show steers.

Charly Cummings is an auctioneer, cattleman and entrepreneur from Yates Center, Kansas. An LMA World Champion Auctioneer, Charly continues to be a proponent of the auction method of marketing cattle, land and other agricultural products.

As we continue our discussion of beef cattle marketing, Charly shares his first-hand perspective of how producers can study trends, consult with marketing experts and formulate a plan to best market their cattle. In addition, he shares his belief that producers need to research the issues, consider various viewpoints, communicate and then develop some unity to address marketing challenges and help sustain our farms and ranches into the future.

If you haven't already, listen to Episodes 3 and 8 as we continue this topic of beef cattle marketing.

www.superiorlivestock.com
Vaughn Roth Land Brokers

Jarrod Gillig is President of Business Operations and Supply Chain - North America Protein at Cargill. In this role, he oversees operations for their beef division, as well as several other protein segments within Cargill’s scope.

Jarrod grew up on a farm near Odessa, MO, and has been with Cargill in a variety of roles over his tenure. In addition to his “day job," Jarrod and his family also have a small herd of cattle and his children are active in 4H and the National Junior Hereford Association.

My conversation with Jarrod is a continuation of several episodes (#3, 8 and 10) over the past month or two that have touched on fed cattle marketing and the challenges that we have seen over the past few years in cattle marketing—especially at the fed cattle level.

Glen and his family are great neighbors, customers and friends. They own and operate a diverse ranching operation consisting of custom grazing, a cowherd and even a small direct beef business.

We cover plenty of practical ranching issues this week, ranging from tasks associated with custom grazing of yearlings in the Flint Hills to rangeland fire to cattle handling and even family communication and succession planning. 

Notes:
www.ksfire.org

Kurt Hogan was formerly the lead of Digital Transformation at The Boston Consulting Group and lives in Atherton, CA, where he continues to work with growing software companies as an investor and operator.  Originally from the Spearville, KS, area, he has worked as a business consultant in computer and digital technology for more than 25 years.

Kurt and his wife, Kate, have both spent their careers travelling around the world while assisting large companies improve their technology, data management, labor and other business operations. Now living in the heart of the Silicon Valley, they are on the forefront of business and social trends. As they work and live in this competitive, fast-paced region, they still recognize the importance of rural America, its people and values.

Listen as Kurt highlights some areas where the beef community can best adapt and implement technology to most effectively grow and improve our businesses in the future.

Luke Westerman is a Supervisory District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Kansas. He provides consulting, technical assistance and leadership for farmers, ranchers and landowners wishing to best manage the natural resources on their land.
In our conversation, we touch on the formation of the Flint Hills, the woody invasion of the plains and the many functions of this unique ecosystem in Kansas.
We are fortunate to have folks like Luke who look at their government "job" as much more than just a paycheck. Luke is deeply invested in the Flint Hills region and all of its flora and fauna. 
He and his wife, Mindy, are our friends and fellow leaders in our community.  Mindy is our kids' 4H club leader and Luke now serves as our Eureka City Fire Chief (didn't even get time to talk about that on this episode), as well as various other volunteer positions.
So enjoy this discussion about the Flint Hills, how they have persisted through the centuries, and what lessons they can teach us as we go forth.

Home | NRCS (usda.gov)

Gordon Hibbard owns the Kansas Heartland franchise of the Dale Carnegie Training Course. He formerly led both the Kansas 4H Foundation and the Kansas Farm Bureau, plus has held countless volunteer leadership positions throughout his life.
 
Gordon grew up in my home county, serving as an FFA District officer for SE Kansas in 1971, just 51 years prior to our son Lyle serving in this same capacity. He's always had a knack for communication, interpersonal communication and finding the best in people.
What's more, his lovely wife, Karen also leads the Manhattan (KS) Convention & Visitor's bureau as their longtime Director.

In the podcast, your host incorrectly associated Dale Carnegie with the Carnegie Library system. In fact, Andrew Carnegie, the  19th century steel mogul and philanthropist, was the man who funded thousands of libraries built across the U.S. (and countless other philanthropic endeavors). The two men are not related.
My apologies for the incorrect association.

www.dalecarnegie.com
Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie

Dr. Larry Corah has served the beef industry in various roles over the past 60 years. His diverse degrees within animal husbandry and science are only eclipsed by the diverse jobs that he has held within the industry. 
Larry has seen many wild swings within the beef industry but has always maintained a steady demeanor and strong desire for knowledge and solutions for producers.
In this episode, we talk about the effect of Beef x Dairy product on our industry, beef demand through the pandemic, increased carcass size challenges, new mid-sized packers and price discovery. 
Like always, Larry is well-versed in just about any beef topic he's thrown, so it's a great conversation.

Kelli Retallick is President of Angus Genetics, Inc, a subsidiary of the American Angus Association. AGI was established in 2007 to provide services to the beef industry that assist in the genetic evaluation of economically important traits.

In this episode, we start with the basics of Expected Progeny Differences. We then discuss the continued need for phenotypes and measurements, even as genetic evaluations incorporate more genomic information into their calculations and algorithms. We talk about new EPDs coming down the pike for better reproductive efficiency selection tools. We touch on gene editing technology and even get philosophical on whether all this science diminishes the "art" that many still believe should exist in cattle breeding.

This episode may best resonate with those in the seedstock sector, but it's a conversation that should be good for other industry segments, as well, as we strive for the most practical, profitable genetics possible in the beef industry.

Angus Genetics Inc.

Ryan Arndt is a rancher and a cowboy from the Emporia, KS, area. He and his family own and operate Arndt Farms, a diversified farming and ranching entity that spans portions of several counties in the Flint Hills. They run cows, purchased yearlings for grazing, plus are partners on several feedyards in western Kansas. 
Their no-nonsense, no-frills approach to farming and ranching has served them well for generations, as they have continued to adapt to the times, while expanding their business to include more family members. 
Ryan and his family enjoy youth rodeo and ranch rodeos, plus he serves on several volunteer boards, including the Flint Hills Beef Fest committee.

Dr. Ty Lawrence is a Professor of Animal Science and Director of the Beef Carcass Research Center at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX.  He was reared on a cow-calf operation north of Dalhart, Texas before pursuing formal education in the animal sciences at West Texas A&M University (B.S. '97, M.S. '99) and Kansas State University (Ph.D. '02).  Dr. Lawrence spent two years with Smithfield Foods in the position of research manager for pork harvest and processing facilities on the eastern seaboard.

Dr. Lawrence spends countless hours consulting with businesses throughout the industry, especially in the packing, feeding and dairy segments.

Dr. Ty Lawrence | WTAMU
tlawrence@wtamu.edu

Don Graham lives in northeast Oklahoma and works with Crossroads Cattle Co.
Don buys and sells tens of thousands of commercial cattle each year throughout the high plains.
His focus is on value-added "program cattle," and he works with feedyards, stocker operators and cow-calf producers.

Crossroads Cattle - Our Team
918-706-8875

Bruce Mershon and his wife, Tracey, own and operate Mershon Cattle, a 2000 cow operation in western Missouri. In addition, they purchase and background 4000 yearlings annually. Bruce spent 30 years in the commodity trading world as he grew his family's cattle business.

Bruce currently serves as President of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association. He and Tracey have both been active leaders in their community and with ag organizations on the state and national levels.

Diana Clark and her husband, Dr. Daniel Clark, are the resident meat scientists at the Certified Angus Beef Culinary Center in Wooster, OH. A native of suburban Chicago, Diana attended the University of Illinois where she, under the tutelage of Dr. Tom Carr and other top scientists, received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal and Meat Science.

She works with meat purveyors, distributors and consumers as she advocates and educates about not only high-quality beef, but the high-quality folks who raise and produce it every day.

David Kleinschmidt is an Ag Economist by training. This background, coupled with a passion for soil health, holistic management and practical management make him a wealth of knowledge and perspective.
On this episode, we cover a host of topics: Cover Crops, Soil Health, Microbes, GMOs, Chemistry, Biology, Profit over Production, Organic Matter. David used so many terms that I finally got tired of writing them all down in my notes.
And little did I know that my recording software was basically self-destructing the podcast as we spoke. So you'll have to put up with a largely unedited version (see how many times you hear the land-line ring or our 3-year-old in the background) with TERRIBLE sound quality.
But for those willing to put up with the noise, you're in for an interesting conversation about farming, ranching and as David appropriately states, "The Business of Growing Things."

David Kleinschmidt
217-370-3799
 dkleinsc@gmail.com  

Kyle Perrier is a hero. He won't say it, so I will.

It's not just because he served in the Navy. AND in the Army.
It's not just because he worked his tail off to earn a spot flying the Apache helicopter on numerous deployments...most with significant combat.
It's not even just because he helped defend our freedom for more than twenty years as an enlisted man and then an officer.

It's because he did all of the above and still put priority on his family. He figured out how to do the best with what he had. He believed in words like respect, sacrifice, structure, discipline and communication. And he used them to not only do the job that he swore an oath to do, but also to maintain a marriage, a family and a life stateside.

Kyle now lives with his wife, Melinda, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Not one to stop serving, he now flies a medical helicopter for the Broward County Fire Rescue. He moonlights as a pilot carting tourists to the Bahamas. But as you'll hear, he's a wonderful human being who --in his humble way-- helps us civilians understand just how fortunate we are to have members of the armed forces who are willing to serve.

Lamar Steiger is a consultant to Walmart and other businesses in the beef supply chain. He owns The 808 Ranch in southwest Missouri and calls the Bentonville, AR, area home today. 
Lamar is a lifelong student of the beef industry and today uses this perspective to help retail companies find new and better ways to manage the beef supply chain and deliver consistent, high-quality beef to consumers. 

Dr. Glynn Tonsor is an Ag Economist at Kansas State University. 

He focuses on beef/cattle and pork/swine demand and supply decision-making tools and information. His broader interests cover aspects throughout the meat supply chain ranging from production level supply issues to end-user consumer demand issues.

Links:
AgManager.info
gtonsor@ksu.edu

Joe Urban is a chef, entrepreneur and currently is the Director for the Greenville County Schools Food and Nutrition Services, a public K-12 school district with 77,700 students located in Greenville, SC.

He leads a team of 750 employees to prepare delicious, nutritious food for students each day.  He strives to get a little better today than he was yesterday. 

Best of all, he's a fan of high-quality beef and Certified Angus Beef, and he does all he can to keep it in his recipes often.

School Food Rocks - Home
(3) Greenville County Schools Food and Nutrition Services | Greenville SC | Facebook

Cheramie Viator is a lifelong beef producer. She was raised on a family farm in Louisiana, has worked for some of the nation's largest ranches and now hangs her hat near Houston, TX, as she balances her day job with Westway Feeds while managing her family's cowherd and putting on youth cattle clinics in her free time.
Throughout her career in the beef industry, Cheramie has found ways to promote junior programs and inspire those around her to best tell cow-calf producers' story to consumers and all segments within our industry.

Jacqueline Leffler is a worker.
She's also a thinker. 
And a competitor.

When you throw in her father, Bill, and grandfather, Jackie, who had business cards listing their contact info alongside the slogan, "Leffler Farms, Inc...Where Agriculture is a Profession," it's a recipe for success.

In addition to farming alongside her dad and grandpa, Jacquelyne has started a direct-to-consumer beef business, Leffler Prime Performance, that helps her add value to their family's stocker/backgrounder and cattle feeding business.
In addition, she coaches athletes competing in track and field throwing events. 

She's also been part of various programs to help tell farmers' story to our consumers, one of which is "A Farmer's Journey." Links are below.

www.facebook.com/LefflerPrimePerformance/
A Farmer’s Journey: FieldView™ Documentary Series (climate.com)

Callahan Grund is the Executive Director of US Cattle Trace, a private, not-for-profit corporation made up of representatives from all beef industry segments with the mission of securely maintaining and managing data collected for disease traceability.

We talk the recent history of cattle identification, technologies used and applicable uses for ID in the U.S. beef industry. 

www.uscattletrace.org

Other podcasts mentioned during the episode:
https://theangusconversation.buzzsprout.com/2029894/11702471
https://ksubci.org/?powerpress_pinw=5438-podcast

Tom Black is manager of Reynolds Cattle Co. 

Well into his 80's, he has forgotten more about cattle production than most know today. In an age when loyalty to a company or ranch is fleeting, he has worked for the same family in the panhandle of Texas for 64 years.

He's soft-spoken and polite, but after eight decades living off the land in some of the harshest environments in the U.S, his toughness and tenacity are evident. 

The Reynolds family is a stalwart of Texas ranching, and Mr. Black has been with them through thick and thin. Their story is a great one, and Tom touches on some of the high points during this epidsode.

Casey Niemann is founder of AgriSync, a customer-service platform for ticketing and remote support built specifically for ag businesses and equipment dealers. 

Casey, his wife Tammy, and their children reside in Des Moines, IA. Both of them served as FFA State Officers while at Kansas State University, and both have continued to provide exemplary leadership within the agribusiness segment.

Tom Perrier is President and majority owner of Dalebanks Angus. He's been a servant leader in nearly every community and agricultural organization in his home of Eureka, Kansas. Most importantly, he's been a great husband, dad and grandfather to his family. 
This week, his family is being honored by the Livestock and Meat Industry Council as their 2023 Stockman of the Year. I sat down with Dad last January to record this podcast and it was posted immediately prior to the award, presented in Manhattan, KS, on March 2, 2023.

www.dalebanks.com

Doug Spencer is the State Grazing Specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He's based in Kansas, and his mission is to help ranchers and land managers maintain grasslands throughout his area and even across the high plains.
While he works in a myriad of areas, his passion is native rangeland preservation. He lists several links to help range managers have the best data and info to help in this effort.

douglas.spencer@usda.gov

Rangeland Analysis Platform (RAP): https://rangelands.app/rap/

 RAP Production Explorer: https://rangelands.app/production-explorer/

Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW): https://www.wlfw.org/landscapes/great-plains/

 Vulnerability Guide for Woody Plant Encroachment: https://www.wlfw.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/E-1054WoodyEncroachment.pdf

 Yield Gap Info: https://www.wlfw.org/yieldgap/

Flint Hills - 14th most intact grassland: https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/csp2.626

Gregg Doud is Chief Economist for Aimpoint Research. He served for three years as the Chief Ag Negotiator for the U. S. Trade Representative. He has also worked in Ag Policy in our nation's capitol for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, U.S. Wheat Associates and the Commodity Markets Council. 
A native of Mankato, KS, Gregg now lives in Edgewater, MD.

www.aimpointresearch.com

Dr. Dan Thomson is a professor in the College of Animal Science at Iowa State University. He produces Doc Talk on RFD-TV and online. He is also a partner in Production Animal Consultation. 
Dr. Dan also works with various segments in the beef industry to help connect the dots and foster what he terms a "One Beef Concept."

www.doctalktv.com
www.pacdvms.com

Lee Borck is Chairman of Innovative Livestock Services, Inc. and Chairman of the Beef Marketing Group Cooperative.  He's a past president of Cattle-Fax and the Kansas Livestock Association and has served on the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the National Cattlemen's Association. 

A graduate of Ag Econ at Kansas State University, Lee is a huge supporter of his alma mater and has served in various volunteer capacities within KSU.

Raised in Marshall County, Kansas, he spent much of his adult life in the Great Bend area and now calls Manhattan, KS, home.

www.ilsbeef.com

Chelsea Good is the Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs and Legal for the Livestock Marketing Association. She lives and works in the Kansas City area and represents beef producers in a myriad of avenues. 

Raised in a generations-long family dedicated to beef industry progress and leadership, Chelsea takes every opportunity possible to educate folks about today's beef industry. 

Kelly Tastove is the Operations and Donor Relations Manager with Symphony in the Flint Hills, a non-profit organization that  heightens appreciation and knowledge of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie.

Each June, the Symphony brings more than 5000 people into a pasture in Kansas and provides one of the most picturesque settings for a symphony that you'll ever witness. 

www.symphonyintheflinthills.org

Diana Rodgers is a registered dietitian from Concord, Mass. 

She has authored three books, most notably, “The Sacred Cow.” She hosts the Sustainable Dish podcast, plus she founded the Global Food Justice Alliance. This Alliance has quite a mission statement: to advocate for the right of all people to choose nutrient-dense foods such as meat, milk, and eggs, which are critical for nutritious, environmentally sustainable, and equitable food systems that can sustain both human life and the planet.

Global Food Justice Alliance
Sacred Cow
Podcasts Archive - Sustainable Dish
Eat Like a Sustainavore (thinkific.com)

Joe Kovanda is Chief Development and Strategy Officer for Compass Ag Solutions. 
After a successful career with Bartlett Cattle Co and Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, he now lives on his family farm near Columbus, MT.
Joe specializes in helping beef producers manage price risk with a suite of tools, including Livestock Risk Protection (LRP).

Links:
www.compassagsolutions.com
joe@compassagsolutions.com
970-372-0482

Tucker Stewart is the Senior Agricultural Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Roger Marshall.

Raised on his family's farm and ranch, Mid-Continent Farms, near Washington, KS, he strives to share the story of production agriculture with all those around him, whether at work or play.

Links:

Advocacy for Agriculture, The Show Circuit, https://bit.ly/SCAdvocacyForAg
Episode #35, Practically Ranching, Gregg Doud, Building the Coalition

Dr. Tera Barnhardt is a Veterinarian from Johnson City, Kansas. She consults with various feedyards, large cow-calf producers and dairies in southwest Kansas. 
She is a mother of three, and she and her husband are also involved in other businesses in the region. Plus, she is a tremendous advocate for the beef industry, appearing on various national news shows to help consumers better understand modern beef production methods and beef producers' dedication to a safe, wholesome food supply.

Joe Goggins is an auctioneer, livestock market owner, commercial cow-calf producer, yearling operator and seedstock producer near Billings, MT. His family has a long history as a passionate advocate for beef producers.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Livestock Marketing Association and has served in a variety of leadership roles in beef producer organizations.

Angus Conversation Podcast link:
Episodes | Angus Journal

Websites:
www.lmaweb.com
www.vermillionranch.com
www.publicauctionyards.com

Dr. Ted Schroeder is a Professor of Economics at Kansas State University. 
His research on livestock marketing and price analysis provides information and direction for the livestock and grain industries. This research focuses on improving commodity market efficiency by investigating price discovery methods, improving market coordinating mechanisms, and applied risk management. Schroeder also teaches courses in marketing and risk management.

Links:
Cattle Contract Library: Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program | Agricultural Marketing Service (usda.gov)

General Ag Market and Econ info: AgManager.info | AgManager.info

A bit different episode, as Matt will give a summary of the sires in their upcoming bull sale.

Dr. Frank Mitloehner is a professor and air quality specialist in cooperative extension in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis. 
He shares his knowledge and research, both domestically and abroad, with students, scientists, farmers and ranchers, policy makers, and the public at large. Frank is also director of the CLEAR Center, which has two cores – research and communications. The CLEAR Center brings clarity to the intersection of animal agriculture and the environment, helping our global community understand the environmental and human health impacts of livestock, so we can make informed decisions about the foods we eat and while reducing environmental impacts.

• https://twitter.com/GHGGuru
• fmmitloehner@ucdavis.edu

CATTLEMEN'S CONVERSATION | DR. FRANK MITLOEHNER | SEASON 2 EPISODE 1  Cattlemen's Congress (cattlemenscongress.com)

Cattle and Land Use: The Differences between Arable Land and Marginal Land and How Cattle Use Each | CLEAR Center (ucdavis.edu)

GWP* — a better way of measuring methane and how it impacts global temperatures | CLEAR Center (ucdavis.edu)

Organic vs. Conventional: How do Dairy and Beef Production Systems Impact Food Quality, the Environment, and Social Perceptions? | CLEAR Center (ucdavis.edu)

Randy Blach came to CattleFax in 1981 and served as Director of Market Analysis for 15 years. He was promoted to CEO in January of 2001, a role that he continues to serve in today.  During his tenure, the company has enjoyed significant growth and has continues to lead the industry with timely market information, in-depth analysis and forecasts on cattle, protein and grain markets in the United States and globally. Blach has been a keynote speaker at thousands of cattle, beef and related business meetings, seminars and conventions.

A Colorado native, Randy Blach and his family remain actively involved in the cattle business and farming. He was raised on his family’s ranch in Yuma, Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in animal science. Blach received the Honor Alumni award from its College of Agricultural Sciences in 2004 and the Livestock Leader Award in 2011. In 2016, he was awarded the Industry Leadership Award through the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame.

Randy and his wife Karen have been married for 33 years. She is a retired school teacher. Their son, Ty, plays for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, and daughter, Haylee, attends Creighton University in Omaha and competes in soccer. Randy and his family enjoy spending time together at sporting events and at the ranch in eastern Colorado

www.cattlefax.com
Article from Industry Achievement Award - The Cattle Market Teacher - CAB Cattle

Dr. Brad White is Director of the KSU Beef Cattle Institute a Professor of Production Medicine and Host of the BCI Cattle Chat podcast.

He wears a lot of hats, but in this week's episode, we'll explore collaborative work that he has recently been doing in the area of Bovine Heart Disease.

Called by a variety of names (non-infectious heart disease, bovine, congestive heart failure, mechanical heart failure, high altitude disease, brisket disease, AIP and others), it continues to be the topic of many industry discussions...especially in the feeding segment.

Phone: 785-532-5700
E-mail: bwhite@vet.k-state.edu

Ava Perrier is a Junior at Kansas State University, majoring in Animal Science with a Communications option. She is originally from Eureka, KS, and yes...she is Amy and my firstborn.

At KSU, she has judged on the Intercollegiate Meats Team, served as VP of Finance for Sigma Kappa sorority and continues to be involved in various campus groups and organizations.

Her perspective about agriculture, college and life in general is an interesting one, as she connects the dots between her youth, education and future life in the "real world." 

Dr. Phil Bass is an Associate Professor of Meat Science at the University of Idaho.
He applies industry experience to teach, advise students and others involved in the Pacific Northwest meat production and processing community; conducts applied research in meat quality with emphasis in beef.

We cover human nutrition, beef cattle genetics, livestock selection, value-based marketing, politics, Economics, Animal ID, Exports, public land use, beef promotional efforts, restaurant wait staff training…and THEN we finally touch on the meat science topics of carcass weight, extra ribs, higher USDA grading standards and, yes…portion size of steaks today, as this episode’s title so aptly implies.

Links:
MeatsPad Podcast: MeatsPad - Learn about the Meat Industry
It's Not a Cow book by Phil Bass PhD (thriftbooks.com)

pbass@uidaho.edu

Stan Bevers worked for nearly 3 decades as an extension economist with Texas A&M University. He has also served as a professional consultant on hundreds of ranches from New Mexico to Montana.

He helped develop the Beef Cow-Calf SPA (Standardized Performance Analysis) program and uses Key Performance Indicators and accounting fundamentals to help various sized ranches increase profitability by improving their ability to make marketing and purchasing decisions.

www.ranchkpi.com
stan@ranchkpi.com
940.886.7601

Miles Theurer coordinates research projects for Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, LLC, a practice comprised of 12 veterinarians who specialize in feedlot production medicine and research across the high plains region. Miles grew up on a family farm and cow/calf operation in south central Kansas. He did a dual DVM/Ph.D. program at Kansas State University. 

miles@vrcsllc.com

Lance Zimmerman is the Senior Beef Analyst for Rabobank. Prior to joining Rabo, he has worked for the Certified Angus Beef Program and Cattlefax. He holds a BS in Ag Communications and an MS in Ag Economics from Kansas State University.

To access both the summary and complete report we discuss, go to:
Rebuilding with resiliency is a necessity for the US beef supply chain (rabobank.com)

Contact:
Lance Zimmerman (rabobank.com)

Dr. Temple Grandin is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University. She is a livestock industry consultant, offering advice on animal behavior. She is also an autism spokesperson and advocate.

www.grandin.com

Don Close is Terrain’s Chief Research & Analytics Officer. Don’s prior experience includes his work as a senior animal protein analyst at Rabobank, and as a market director for the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, where he worked on all economic and market-sensitive policy issues for cattle feeders in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. 

In his three decades of professional experience, Don has been a licensed commodity broker, handled risk management and pricing for large cattle operations, managed a grain procurement program, and published market updates and outlooks for cattle and hogs. Don has conducted research on a wide range of topics including confinement cow/calf operations, dairy-beef crossbreeds, and development in international trade. Don earned his BS in agricultural economics from West Texas A&M.

www.terrainag.com
dclose@terrainag.com

Andy Bishop is a cow-calf producer from Bardstown, KY.  He also serves as a loan officer at their local bank. In addition, he currently serves as Chair of the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board.

Cattlemen's Beef Board | Beef Checkoff

This was a live audio recording from last March at South by Southwest in Austin, TX.
SXSW is an annual festival that celebrates the convergence of various fields and genres. 
This panel consisted of host, Tyler Florence, world-renowned chef and Food Network Star, Dr. Temple Grandin, Animal Behaviorist from Colorado State University, Harris Heckelman, CEO of Chef's Warehouse and Matt Perrier, Eureka, KS.

www.sxsw.com

Kevin Ochsner was born and raised on an irrigated farm and registered cattle operation in Fort Collins, Colo. He attended Colorado State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness. During his undergraduate studies, Kevin was a member of the CSU livestock judging team earning high individual honors at the National Intercollegiate Livestock Judging Contest and was actively involved in FFA, serving as a National FFA Officer in 1987-88. In 1997, Kevin earned his master’s in management from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.

Kevin spent more than two decades working for the Indianapolis-based consulting firm Agri Business Group before founding his own consulting practice, Agcellerate, LLC. Over the past 24 years, he has had the privilege of providing strategic planning, marketing consulting, sales/management training and keynote speaking services to some of the country’s largest animal health, crop protection, seed, feed and farm machinery companies.

Today, Kevin, his wife Julie and their three children, Caitlyn, Ashlyn and Collin, make their home in the small agricultural community of Kersey, Colo., 60 miles northeast of Denver. In addition to his consulting and TV hosting responsibilities, Kevin manages his family operation consisting of 130 head of registered Limousin and Lim-Flex cows together with irrigated corn, alfalfa and grass hay along the South Platte River. In addition to marketing bulls to commercial cow-calf operations, Kevin’s family also operates Ochsner Tenderlean Beef, a small branded beef company that markets beef directly to consumers along the Front Range of Colorado. 

Josh Mueller and Charly Cummings both work with Superior Livestock Auction.

Josh and his wife, Macey, also operate Eldorado Livestock Auction, plus farm and ranch with their family near Halstead, KS.

Charly is an auctioneer, real estate agent, and partners on his family's diversified hay and livestock operation near Yates Center, KS.

On this episode, we cover decisions that producers should consider when they decide how best to merchandise their calves and yearlings this fall. We cover some market trends and even get into the need for producers to join their industry organizations to help make better decisions and represent all producers.

El Dorado Livestock Auction, Inc.
Superior Livestock Auction – The leader in Livestock Marketing

Tyler Florence has hosted shows on Food Network, Discovery and several other networks for nearly three decades. He owns restaurants in California, Hawaii and cut his teeth in kitchens in South Carolina. He’s a chef, a businessman, a creative mind, an amazingly nice guy and he LOVES beef and the families who raise it.

Miller & Lux (millerandluxrestaurant.com)

Dr. David Lalman is a professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at Oklahoma State University. Dr. Lalman holds the Harrington Endowed Chair with split extension and research appointment. He works primarily in the beef cattle industry focused on cow/calf and stocker cattle production. His extension and applied research program includes beef cattle nutrition and management with emphasis on beef cattle grazing and genetic by environment interactions in beef production systems. His program goals are to provide producers with information and decision tools to facilitate production system profitability, improve cow herd efficiency and to improve product quality. At Oklahoma State, Dr. Lalman serves as the Animal Science Extension Program Coordinator and the supervisor for the Range Cow Research Center.

Identifying-Forage-Efficient-Cows-Lalman-BIF-2024-1.pdf (beefimprovement.org)
david.lalman@okstate.edu

Kara Lee is Director of Producer Engagement for the Certified Angus Beef Program. A native of Indiana, she now resides in northeast Kansas.

On the episode, we highlight the many speakers and information shared at the 2024 Feeding Quality Forum, held in Dodge City, KS, last month.

Slides and further information may be found at:

www.feedingqualityforum.com

Bradley Wolter is a relative newcomer to the beef business, but has certainly been a student of the industry since his move from a successful career in the swine industry.
In this episode, we talk about his tenure with Maschhoffs, one of the largest family-owned pork producers in the United States. We talk about data collection, management strategy, operational efficiency and the major differences between pork and beef production systems and cultures.
Bradley and his family now own and operate Windy Hill Meadows, an Angus seedstock and consumer-focused beef business in Aviston, IL.

Dr. Dale R. Woerner, Professor and Cargill Endowed Professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, is an academic professional and meat and food industry consultant. Dr. Woerner earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science, Meat and Food Industry Management from Texas Tech University in 2003 and 2005, respectively, and earned his Ph.D. in Animal Science/Meat Science from Colorado State University in 2009.  He served on the faculty at Colorado State University for 9 years, and recently joined the faculty at Texas Tech University in an endowed chair position. He has conducted more that 12 million dollars in industry funded research and has published more than 300 scholarly works. Dale has served as a member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Beef Innovations Group, has served as the president of the AMSA Intercollegiate Meat Coaches Association, serves as chairman of the National 4-H Meat Judging Advisory Committee,  and is a member of the American Meat Science Association Board of Directors.  In 2013, Dale was selected by Vance Publishing as a “40 Under 40” honoree as a young leader in the agricultural industry contributing to the 2050 challenge, the challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2050. Also, Dale was named one of the Top Ten Industry Leaders for 2014 by Cattle Business as a “Difference Maker”, was recognized along with his wife Wendy in 2014 by Texas Tech as Horizon Award Recipients, in 2015 he received the American Meat Science Associations Achievement Award, in 2018 was recognized by the American Society of Animal Sciences with the Early Career Achievement Award, and, was recognized in 2018 as a Distinguished Alumni by the TTU College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Also, in 2018, Dr. Woerner was selected by the American Meat Science Association membership to be the chairman of the Reciprocal Meat Conference, the premier meat science conference in North America. Most recently, he was awarded the North American Meat Institute's 2018 Harry L. Rudnick Educator's Award.

dale.woerner@ttu.edu

Matt takes a solo flight in this episode as he highlights the sires of this year's sale bulls and then gives an overview of the Dalebanks Practical. Profitable. Genetics. breeding philosophy.

52nd Annual Bull Sale
November 23, 2024
NW of Eureka, KS

mattperrier@dalebanks.com
www.dalebanks.com

Amy Perrier is a Christian, Physical Therapist, Mother to five children...and a ranch wife. 
In this episode, she discusses the challenges, rewards and learnings that she has gathered over the past two+ decades of trying to balance all of these duties.

We talk spousal communication, generational transitions, Retirement (or lack thereof) and community leadership. 

Like the one I did with Ava last January, we recorded this on Bluetooth in the truck, so get ready for a little road noise and a few pauses as we navigate the byways of south central Missouri while recording our discussion.

It's real, raw and hopefully relatable for a lot of you. 

We pray that you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sam Hands and his family own and operate Triangle H, a diversified cow-calf, farming and feeding operation near Garden City, KS.

Sam and daughter, Marisa Kleysteuber, provide the management and leadership for this progressive, quality-focused beef operation.

In this episode, Sam shares some of his outlooks on employee management, working with the younger generation; plus the lessons he has learned from his time at Kansas State University, the military and just careful observation of what motivates people to do their best.
And, of course, we talk quality beef production, challenges to farming and ranching in southwest Kansas and other production-related issues.

Bill Bowman works with Method Genetics, LLC, in St. Joseph, MO. Through the years, Bill has worked in a variety of roles within the Angus breed, from the production to association levels.

In this episode, we talk about the early days of multi-trait indexes, the move to genomic-enhanced EPDs, how commercial producers can benefit from the use of indexes; and finally, a few trends that Bill envisions as the beef industry moves into the next decade or two.

https://youtu.be/uEf7iJRWvSU

https://www.methodgenetics.com/

Dale Brisby is the self-proclaimed greatest bull rider who ever lived. You may know him from the popular Dale Brisby YouTube channel, the Rodeo Time YouTube channel, and other social media platforms. He also has a Netflix original series How to Be a Cowboy. In addition to his rodeo apparel line, he’s a bona fide rancher, cowboy, and rodeo rider who proudly lives the life 24/7. Follow the World’s Greatest Bull Rider on Instagram.

Links:

www.rodeotime.com

Don Schiefelbein is President of Schiefelbein Farms, a large seedstock operation near Kimball, MN. He is the past-president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the American Angus Association.

In this episode, Don outlines his family's business structure and efforts to sustain their family business for generations. He also shares his hopes and vision for the beef industry leadership in the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Links:

Grappling with the Family Farm - Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com

schiefelbeinfarms.com

Bill Rishel and his wife, Barb, live near North Platte, Nebraska. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, he has always had a passion for Angus cattle and beef cattle improvement. 

Bill will be honored in November with induction into the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery, and an in-depth synopsis of Bill's industry accomplishments may be found in this article:

Bill Rishel To Be Honored with 2025 Saddle & Sirloin Portrai

Ed Greiman is General Manager of Upper Iowa Beef, a mid-sized beef processing plant located in Lime Springs, Iowa.

He was born and raised as a typical farm kid in rural Iowa, went to college at Iowa State University, and has had significant experience in nearly all segments of the beef industry supply chain.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in early February 2025, so some of the references to political landscape and economics may sound a bit dated.

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