Unlock the secrets of the Beef Checkoff in this episode of Cattle Convos! Experts discuss origins, structure, and the impressive $13.41 return on investment for producers. Learn about key marketing strategies, producer involvement, and how the Checkoff benefits the beef industry. Watch to understand how the Checkoff works for YOU!

Specialty sales and value-added programs are also great opportunities for cattle producers to participate in at auction barns. Joplin has their own tagging program but has seen countless producers benefit from breed-specific tagging programs too. Skyler said, “The more we can tell buyers about the calves, the more the value of the calves increases.” These programs are another tool to differentiate your calves and build up your reputation which is the most important piece of marketing calves. “This business is all about reputation,” said Skyler. If someone buys your calves and they are healthy and perform well, they’ll want to buy them again next year.

Lindsleys are showing cattlemen and women how to take back their time and live the lifestyle that draws many people to agriculture. They are leading by example by finding the right technology for their operations, building a team to support all areas of their business and never losing sight of why they chose the cattle business.

The foundation behind Cattlemen’s Heritage and Legacy Beef Co-op is to keep more family farms in business for generations to come by implementing a business model that gives producers a share of processing and brand profits plus it offers a more favorable pricing and delivery model.

“The whole premise behind the business is that we need more butcher education. But, we need to do it in a way that meets butchers where they are at whether that’s making the most of an older facility or a modern on-farm facility that was built from grant money after COVID,” said Jepsen.

Ranchers are resourceful. After all, they are using natural resources to produce a high-quality protein source with countless by-products. But, there is more to the story of the resourcefulness of ranchers. Cattlemen and women across the country think outside the box to repurpose materials from other industries that would otherwise end up in landfills. Damon Carson – the owner of repurposedMATERIALS – has a front-row seat and hand in helping ranchers across the country make this happen more and more each day.

Testing the feed is one thing. Raising high-quality, cost-effective feed is another. We tend to do a lot of things like generations before us, but our cows and economy are not the same. This makes it important to explore different options and be flexible with our environment and weather to raise cost-effective, high-quality feed.

Mark Johnson – Professor of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University – discusses the pros and cons of using creep grazing versus creep feeders as well as what producers need to consider before creep grazing during Season 7, Episode 34 of the Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast.

I believe cattlemen and women are the true leaders of our world.

“The reality is that the things that are happening in rural America affect every single American dinner table,” said Reisinger. He recognizes that the factors driving this change can be viewed as both good and bad and the history of American agriculturists is rich with innovation and resilience which is something to be celebrated.

One of the main reasons Katie encourages people to learn a second language is due to the respect you create and the positive outcomes that come as secondary benefits. 

In an era where there is too much information and too little time to consume it all, how do cattle producers manage to sort through what matters most to them on top of all the day to day tasks their never ending to-do list? A small group of ranchers have turned to the RancherMind program to just this while simultaneously building a community with ranchers from around the country.

“A lot of my travel made me who I am today. It affects my management decisions and helps me come up with new ideas all the time.”

Telling the beef story is often associated with being a social media influencer or selling beef directly to consumers. These advocacy avenues are effective, but not for everyone. It’s important that beef producers and supporters find ways to share the beef story that compliments their own skillset and lifestyle. Cheramie Viator sets an example for cattle producers everywhere when it comes to advocating for our industry and creating informed constituents for generations to come with her program – Not Your Ordinary Cattle Clinic.

Efficient moisture utilization and additional grazing for livestock are only two of the many benefits of utilizing diverse cover crop mixes. Additional benefits include breaking up compaction, building up organic matter and improving infiltration rates.

Her concerns stem from her past experiences seeing ranchers in other countries impacted by government mandates and seeing how other protein industries have been impacted by what look like small compromises on the surface but pose greater challenges down the road.

What started as a wedding gift has turned into something that serves not only the community of San Diego County but also the entire United States beef community. Alli and Bryce Fender – owners of Flying F Ranch – go above and beyond to connect with and create experiences for beef consumers while taking advantage of owning a smaller than average herd in the United States.

The main challenge he faces is communication between the rancher and the customer. “If the customer can’t get out to your farm to see which animal they are buying, communicate with them about the animal. Let them know if it is a steer, bull or heifer. Let them know the age and if it is grain or grass-finished. It shouldn’t be a surprise to them when they come to pick it up. If they are used to grain-finished,” said Sandquist.

Imagine a beef industry where commercial cattlemen and women have the power to negotiate prices and the ability to collaborate without losing their independence and ability to make their own management decisions? Truth be told, some cattlemen and women are already living in this world.

“I think in the same way your genetics impact how you look, your legacy is what gets handed down to you through hard-won experiences. It’s how your family handles problems and challenges. To have a family legacy is to know how we as a group of people handle ourselves when challenges inevitably come up,” said Vance Crowe – founder of Legacy Interviews.