In the past few months, BEEF Magazine has greatly expanded its presence on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I’m also really excited to introduce a new feature in mid-May, audio interviews with the great people in this industry! This weekend, I met with the North American Limousin Junior Association Board of Directors to present a workshop on utilizing social networking tools to begin telling the agriculture story online. Pictured here is NALJA Board Member Nathan Hicks interviewing with me for BEEF Daily. Now, if online resources like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube sound foreign to you, don’t fear. BEEF Magazine will ease you into the process by introducing you to the concept through our own online efforts. To get started, become a fan of BEEF Magazine at Facebook and follow our updates on Twitter.

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It’s not a secret that PETA and HSUS are no friends to farmers and ranchers. Instead of supporting food producers that dedicate their lives to feeding the world, they are driven to make our jobs as difficult as possible in order to eventually push us all out of business. While they continue to make gains in their efforts, I feel there are ways we can slow them down. By keeping in close communication with our representatives and senators, educating the media and keeping in close contact with our consumers, we can work together to tell our side of the story. However, we first have to know what these animal rights activists are up to. I have included a few articles today worth discussing, and I’m anxious to hear your thoughts on our best course of action.

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I had a fun weekend celebrating agriculture at the South Dakota State University’s 86th Little International. 1,700 students competed in judging contests, livestock shows and showmanship events. It was a true gathering of agriculture’s finest, and I’m proud to have been able to participate in Little “I” throughout my years at the university. Because the event was such a success, I’m feeling incredibly optimistic about the agriculture industry today. A quick scan through recent headlines indicates that several media sources are pretty optimistic about animal agriculture, as well.

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Nearly every week I have conversations with many of you about the actions we need to take to help spread the word about beef cattle production to our consumers. Over the years, I have met countless individuals that have taken these conversations to heart, dedicating their time and talents to sharing our stories. One of my friends and a 2007 National Beef Ambassador, Chris Molinaro, is doing just that, and she has established a lasting tradition on behalf of the beef industry at Pennsylvania State University (PSU).

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It’s easy to get down about the headlines that plague our daily lives: another celebrity becomes a vegan, anti-agriculture legislation is introduced, the media unfairly portrays ranchers in a bad light, the economy continues to plummit, more producers are exiting the industry and food prices continue to rise, without adding extra dollars in ranchers’ pockets. It’s hard to stay optimistic in challenging times, but I firmly believe it’s good to always try to think on the bright side. In response to the activities of agriculture’s enemies like Carrie Underwood and Oprah, I have found a celebrity that is worthy of praise. And, she may just be another great spokesperson for the beef industry.

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It’s official: my sister, Courtney, and I just signed up for the 40th Annual Brookings Marathon on May 16. It’s time to get in shape, and fast, as we gear up to run 13.1 miles. While the task seems daunting, I have several friends that have tackled similar races, including BEEF’s Managing Editor, Alaina Burt, NCBA’s Daren Williams and 2007 National Beef Ambassador, Chris Molinaro.

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I was in the airport this weekend, and I picked up a magazine to read during my flight. I bought SELF Magazine, a publication for women similar to the editorial content found in magazines like Glamour and Women’s Health. I was flipping through the pages when I found a title that made me stop short, “Veg Out!” The article explained the benefits of becoming a vegetarian. It detailed the variety of options to try including becoming a vegan—eliminating all animal foods, dairy and eggs; a pescatarian—a vegetarian who includes fish in their diet; a fruitarian—an extreme diet of fruits, nuts and seeds; and a raw foodist—vegans who eat all food raw on the theory that cooking destroys a food’s living nature. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading!

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