Yesterday morning, I ditched the frigid temperatures of South Dakota to take in the heat at the 2009 Cattle Industry Convention in Phoenix, Ariz. The next four days are going to be packed, with forums to attend, a tradeshow to check out and cattlemen to meet with. BEEF staff is here in full force, and it’s a great time to regroup and collaborate on industry ideas that we hear about during this convention.

Yesterday, I spent time attending the tradeshow, meeting with the National Beef Ambassadors and catching up with old friends. The pace will certainly pick up today with the Cattle Fax Industry Outlook session, industry forums, Young Producers Council meeting and a media reception. For those of you that are joining me at the 2009 convention, you already know that this event is truly a great one. Industry professionals, sponsors, ranchers and the media experience a great sense of fellowship during this annual meeting, and this is a great way to revamp your goals for the upcoming year, share ideas with others and learn about this great industry.

If you are in Phoenix this year, I want to know what your favorite part of this conference is? If not, what do you like best about local meetings and conferences? What are you looking for in good seminar topics? What do you want to learn more about in 2009? Better yet, what topics do you want to discuss more on the BEEF Daily Blog? Next week, I will have a full update from my time spent in Phoenix including: interviews with producers, talk about COOL, videos for BEEFtv and more. Stay tuned!

With the recent passing and implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL), the long-term effects are hard to decipher right now. Yet, as consumers head to the meat case, they are starting to notice the labels stamped on their beef products. So what do they really think about this labeling system? I recently received this insightful email from a friend of mine who thought it might be of interest to beef producers and industry professionals. This is definitely an encounter in the meat case worth paying attention to. Enjoy.

more

At South Dakota State University, the students received a month long Christmas break for hard work and good grades. Yes, it was quite a nice vacation, catching up with friends, attending a wedding, celebrating the holidays, going to a cattle show, and oh yeah…helping with chores?

more

I ran across this article by AnimalScam, a project of the Center for Consumer Freedom, that focuses on protecting the freedom of consumer choices. I was very impressed with this blog entry, and I thought I would share it with you. Here it goes…

more

Editor’s Note: Although this was published on Wednesday, January 21, this is Thursday’s edition of BEEF Daily. Technical errors published today’s blog and newsletter twelve hours early. Sorry for the inconvenience. Happy Reading. -Amanda

You don’t have to lead a walkout at a Carrie Underwood concert, take off your shirt for Cosmo Magazine or wear a hamburger patty suit at a college’s Meat Out Day to stand up for the beef industry. Sure, these bold statements made in the name of livestock production and the future of agriculture are great examples of how to serve as industry advocates, but bells and whistles aren’t always needed to do what is right.

more

As I watched the Inauguration of President Obama on TV yesterday, I realized what a historic day it was for the United States. Of course, he is the first African-American president our nation has ever had. Obama won the election in a landslide, and his speech yesterday indicated that he will work hard to meet the needs of the American people. Although he didn’t present any definite plans, Obama promised to address the struggling economy, the markets and the federal deficit.

The next four years will be interesting for agriculture under this new administration. We face many challenges in our industry including: gaining access in global markets, keeping the next generation in production agriculture, keeping input costs low, battling world weather patterns, securing farm credit loans, earning premiums for our quality products, keeping beef at the center of the plate, educating misinformed consumers, fighting animal rights activists and lobbying against anti-ag legislation.

Today, BEEF Daily extends best wishes to President Obama. Without a doubt, Obama has inherited a nation in extreme crisis, and it will take great leadership to weather the storm. For now, I want to ask all of you…what do you think about an Obama administration? How about our new Secretary of Ag? Who should we watch out for in Congress? What legislation are you most worried about? What can we do to fight these oncoming propositions? Let’s talk. The floor is all yours…

In addition to speaking at the Women in Blue Jeans Conference this weekend, I spoke at the Kingsbury Co. Cattlemen’s Association’s Annual Meeting on Saturday night. This time, the topic of conversation was my experiences in Argentina this past summer.

more

This past Saturday, I was a guest speaker at the Women in Blue Jeans Conference in Mitchell, SD. If you have never heard of this event, it’s a three-day convention held exclusively for women in agriculture. Featured speakers range in topics like, “Hair on the Go,” “Hazards on the Farm,” “Renting Your Land After Retirement,” and “Being Good Ranching Parents.” Obviously, the topics at this event fit the needs and interests of women at any age, and the $40 registration fee is a very attractive price for a conference/girls’ getaway.

Anyway, my speech was titled, “Back to the Farm After College,” and I discussed the challenges and obstacles young people face after graduation. There is a very strong tug between staying in rural agriculture and pursuing a career in the big city, and I discussed the pros and cons of both decisions. I identified the top 10 issues that face multi-generational farming operations, and I also provided five tools for young people to utilize if they choose to stay in production agriculture. If you are interested in seeing the powerpoint notes or listening to this speech for yourself, please contact me via email or the comments section.

At the end of the day, it was interesting to see the women share their experiences. Some had children that returned home right after college, others left the ranch for a few years before realizing where they really wanted to be and even more were undecided about how their futures were going to pan out. So, the big question of the day is…what is your next generation going to do? Will they be back to the farm in two years or 20 years? Are they off to the big city, or are they coming home after graduation? Let me hear your story. The secret to success in this industry is to ask questions and compare notes. So, let’s get talking, folks!

Well, if you read my post yesterday, then you heard that I’m going to try a new recipe from the Healthy Beef Cookbook every week until completion. This week, I’m preparing Cowboy Beef and Black Bean Chili, a delicious and nutritious new take on the old classic. I woke up and got the chili stewing this morning for an early supper with my roommates and friends that are returning to Brookings, S.D. for the start of school today.

more

I realize January 1, 2009 has come and gone, and by now, most of you are off to a great start in your 2009 resolutions. For many, resolutions will be set and achieved. For others, these resolutions will be a passing in the wind, a fleeting attempt to change something in one’s life. And, for me, my 2009 resolution is getting started two weeks late.

more