Here is a good helping of positive media coverage for farmers and ranchers this week. In a recent article at MSN Careers, a study was conducted to identify the top ten careers people consider the most notable and prestigious. Ranchers were listed at number eight and were joined by firefighters, scientists, doctors, nurses, teachers, military officers, police officers, religious leaders and engineers. Too often, the American public is mislead against farmers and ranchers, and often, they don’t trust our dedication to animal care and environmental stewardship while producing a safe and wholesome product to feed the world. Yet, this study proves that we still have the support of many consumers, and maybe the general public does trust and support the good old American farmer and rancher, after all!

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Hey, you! Yes, you! Calling all Bovine photos! It’s time to enter another BEEF Daily Summer Contest. Two Western Art Prints will be given away for the best cattle photos entered. You know the drill: simply email your photo, description and mailing address to amanda.nolz@penton.com for your chance to win one truly spectacular Western Art Print from our collection. Contest ends at noon on Wednesday, August 19, 2009. So, head out to your pastures and start shooting! Don’t miss your chance to win!

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I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of the National Beef Ambassador Program. I got my start in 1998 when I was 10 years old. I entered the South Dakota Jr. Beef Ambassador Contest with my speech, “Wandering and Wondering About Beef,” a speech that showed consumers how to select and prepare the correct cut of beef for any occasion. I couldn’t wait to be old enough to be a senior contestant. I dreamed of becoming a South Dakota and National Beef Ambassador, so I could have the opportunity to travel the country and speak with consumers and media representatives about the benefits of beef in the diet and about the ranchers that work hard to produce a safe, healthy nutritious protein. As my dreams became reality, I wasn’t yet aware that the program would be a launching pad for my career in agriculture. Over the weekend, I helped judge and select the new representatives for South Dakota at the South Dakota Summer Spotlight in Huron, S.D. and I want to take this opportunity to introduce our newest beef ambassador!

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It’s time for us to take immediate action, cattle industry professionals. I was passed along this information from the U.S. Sportsmen Alert Network, and this issue needs your immediate attention. Senator John Cornyn (R- TX) has blocked President Obama’s choice for a powerful regulatory position in the White House because of the nominee’s support for animal rights. He’s done his part, now it’s time for us to do ours. Your support is needed to make sure the block, known technically as a “hold,” stays in place.

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In the last couple of months, I have been fortunate enough to be able to introduce you to some of the nation’s most dedicated cattle producers. These folks are members of the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program (MBA), and they are trained to quickly respond to negative media messages and promote beef cattle production to consumers. The MBA Program has quickly gained popularity in the industry, and it’s a great opportunity for all of us to get involved in agriculture advocacy. Producers wanting more information should contact Daren Williams at dwilliams@beef.org, 303-850-3346 or contact their state beef council.

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Yesterday, I had a lengthy conversation with a person in the packing industry who was absolutely disgusted with the Humane Society of the United States granting forgiveness to Michael Vick, an NFL player who was convicted of dog fighting, abuse, mutilation and culling for dogs that weren’t aggressive enough in the fighting arena. The conversation lead to said friend’s chosen career. He said, “Amanda, I work in a packing plant, I hunt animals and I eat meat, but I respect animals. Vick’s crime is a disgusting form of humanity, and he has absolutely no respect for animals. And, what gives HSUS the authority to “forgive” him anyway? Why is the world waiting on Wayne Pacelle’s hand of grace?” This conversation really fueled my fire, and I realized that the general public probably does listen to Pacelle’s smoothly versed speeches on forgiveness and second chances. But, has anyone heard what Pacelle has done with Vick’s dogs?

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This week my family and I are working hard in preparation for the upcoming South Dakota Summer Spotlight in Huron, S.D. We are entering four calves at this event, and that means this week is filled with jobs such as loading up the trailer, clipping the calves and getting the camper ready for a weekend of fun livestock showing. I have been showing cattle since I was five years old, and it’s probably one of the reasons I have such a passion for agriculture today.

There is nothing better than showcasing your best cattle for competitions around the country. In young people, it instills a sense of pride, responsibility and a hard work ethic that can’t be easily earned anywhere else. With show season in full swing, I was excited to see positive media coverage about kids and livestock expositions. This media coverage is definitely a win for the agriculture industry. Stay tuned for updates next week on my weekend of showing cattle with my family!

Check out the video here to watch the full report.

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Since June 1, we have received over 18 inches of rain resulting in drowned out crops and difficulty in getting hay put up. To the North of us, ranchers were recently hit with grapefruit-sized hail that killed cattle, deer and pheasants during the storm. While many places have experienced extreme wetness this summer, other ranchers are suffering from drought and heat. More than the weather, it seems ranchers have plenty to worry about these days: ballot initiatives leading to strict regulations, high input costs, low prices, unpredictable markets, estate taxes, etc. While the stresses of being in agriculture certainly never disappear, I thought we should kick off the start of a good week with a little optimism. Today, I want to know why you are thankful to live/work in agriculture.

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Another week is quickly flying by, and it’s time to feature another dynamic alumni of the Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) Program. Producers wanting more information should contact Daren Williams at dwilliams@beef.org, 303-850-3346 or contact their state beef council. A full-day MBA graduation course will be held at the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Cattle Industry Summer Conference. Today’s featured alumni is Rich Roth of IX Ranch in Big Sandy, Montana. Listen to what he has to say about being an advocate for the beef industry today.

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Do you know the story behind the BEEF Daily Quick Facts that are featured at the end of every BEEF Daily blog post? When this blog and newsletter was started in September of 2008, it quickly became known as the sounding board for beef industry issues, news and positive stories. Soon it became apparent that BEEF Daily readers wanted more than to be informed about the issues; they wanted to take action. When a reader suggested that I include a beef fact with every blog, I knew it was just the ticket to help equip producers with the information they needed to begin telling the beef cattle story. This past week, my BEEF Daily Quick Facts have discussed the benefits of beef as a part of a healthy diet, and I included information on the functions of zinc, iron and protein. Today, I would like to discuss another essential nutrient found in beef, the biggest beef misconception of all: FAT.

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