It’s time to kick off another BEEF Daily Summer Sweepstakes, and two winners will be randomly selected to win one of two books, Brands of the West and Barns of the Great American West by well-known agriculture photographer David R. Stoecklein. The sweepstakes will run until noon on Tuesday, July 14, 2009, and it’s really simple to enter. Don’t miss your chance to enter and be a part of an ongoing dialogue about beef industry issues!

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I spent the weekend at the Illinois Beef Association Summer Conference, where I presented a workshop, “Table Truths in a New York Minute.” The theme this year is “Reclaiming our Legacy,” and I was joined on the program by several dynamic speakers including radio personality, Trent Loos, Masters of Beef Advocacy trainer, Daren Williams, and world economic policy analyst, Ross Korves. Hot topics of the event were climate change legislation, HSUS agenda, global market economics and agriculture advocacy. Throughout the conference, I met a group of incredibly dynamic individuals, including father-son due, Dale and Cliff Pfundstein of Sterling, IL. Cliff has returned home to the family’s cattle operation, and they detailed the many challenges facing multi-generation ranches. Listen to what they have to say about this topic.

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Note to the winners: Please email me your mailing address, and we will mail you your prize!

Last week, I hosted a sweepstakes contest asking all of you to answer the question, “What is the biggest issue facing the beef industry today?” 31 of you participated in the poll, noting everything from climate change legislation to HSUS to land prices. Using a random number generator, I have identified the two winners that will take home the photography book, Cowboy Ethics, by well-known agriculture authors and photographers, James P. Owen and David R. Stoecklein. Check out the winners and their answers below! Congratulations and be sure to tune in next week for another exciting sweepstakes!

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What’s the biggest issue facing the beef industry today? Answer that question in the BEEF Daily Summer Sweepstakes by noon today for your chance to win cool prizes!

Have you heard of the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program? This program is an e-learning opportunity developed to assist producers across the country in becoming effective spokespersons for the industry. The program consists of six, 1-hour core courses for the 2009 fiscal year: beef safety, beef nutrition, animal care, environmental stewardship, modern beef production and the beef checkoff. Throughout the summer months, I will be highlighting some of the dynamic people involved in the MBA Alumni Program. Today’s featured individual is Danielle Johnson from Navarre, OH, and she is dedicated to telling the beef production story. Listen to her podcast to learn more about her background, her thoughts on the industry and how you can get involved in sharing the agriculture story!

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What’s the biggest issue facing the beef industry today? Answer that question in the BEEF Daily Summer Sweepstakes today!

A few weeks ago, I conducted a BEEF Daily Reader Poll to learn more about everyone that reads this blog, as well as discuss the next generation of food producers. When I made the decision to move close to my family’s cattle operation near Mitchell, S.D. after graduating from South Dakota State University, I knew that I was incredibly lucky to be able to pursue a career in communications while staying connected with my beef cattle production roots. As I think about my often challenging transition back to the ranch with my family, I thought it would be a good time to discuss some of the trends that will change the face of food production in the upcoming years, and what these trends mean for all of us.

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What’s the biggest issue facing the beef industry today? Answer that question in the BEEF Daily Summer Sweepstakes today!

At home in South Dakota, the reach of HSUS and PETA seems so far away. As the agenda of these organizations continues to blaze a trail across the nation, South Dakota is usually left alone. Because these groups stand for complete animal liberation, it’s certainly no surprise to hear that PETA is now targeting South Dakota animal exhibitors in their livestock projects? Does this mean PETA is targeting 4-H and FFA kids, or are they wanting to inspect carnival workers and their animals shows? Read this release and decide what you think…

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In case you have missed it, BEEF is currently hosting a poll on the homepage asking the question, “Should USDA’s National Animal Identification System (as currently proposed) be mandatory, voluntary or scrapped?” With 29,634 votes, at last count, the poll indicates an overwhelming 75% vote for scrapping the proposed plan. However, these polling results don’t necessarily mesh with our regular BEEF readers. Past surveys of BEEF readership have pretty consistently shown that proponents and opponents are 50-50 on this program.

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A year ago, Kellie Pickler announced that she was becoming a vegetarian, joining her country music cohort, Carrie Underwood. Because country music has a fan base of so many agriculturalists, I have a hard time understanding why these gals are still in business. Recently, PETA announced Pickler as the Sexiest Vegetarian Alive, Of her reasoning to become a vegetarian, Pickler told People Magazine, “”One night I couldn’t sleep and I was up just Googling random stuff and I’m like, ‘Hmmm, PETA. I saw all the videos and I just thought it was horrible. It’s animal cruelty. A lot of it has to do with knowing what happens to the animals. It really bothered me and so I will not eat meat.”

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With a full calendar of summer contests and prizes, I thought it was time for a sweepstakes drawing. If you have missed the previous contests, you should check out our photography and story teller winners. However, instead of a contest, where participants are judged on their entries, this sweepstakes is a random drawing for cool prizes. The sweepstakes will run until noon on June 29, 2009, and it’s really simple to enter. Two winners will be selected to win the book, Cowboy Ethics, by well-known agriculture authors and photographers, James P. Owen and David R. Stoecklein. Don’t miss your chance to enter and be a part of an ongoing dialogue about beef industry issues!

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Last Thursday, I traveled to Humboldt, S.D. to the farm site of S.D. Secretary of Agriculture Bill Even to listen to Dr. Temple Grandin speak. While at the farm, Grandin talked to producers about best animal handling practices, and following her presentation, she walked the crowd through Secretary Even’s facilities and showed us places where he could improve the work sight. I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Grandin for BEEF Daily. I hope you’ll take a minute to hear what she has to say about livestock handlers and animal behavior. Thanks, Dr. Grandin, for the interview!

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