Beef Checkoff Hosts Working Days
The beef checkoff in partnership with the Nebraska Beef Council recently hosted two sets of “On the Ranch” work days at feedlots and cow/calf operations in western Nebraska. The events brought together industry representatives, veterinarians, producers and influencers who spent time working on the ranch, asking questions and getting their boots dirty in an effort to help them better understand modern cattle production and everyday life on a farm.
Work day participants included a variety of experts across the fields of nutrition, food safety, culinary, environment, animal welfare and food security.
Barb Cooksley, cow/calf producer and local host, tells us more about what she felt was the biggest eye-opening experience on her farm and what value this state/national checkoff program brings to the future of the industry.
Cooksley 1: “I think the space, the openness, just the beauty of the rolling grass-covered dunes – they had never witnessed that before. Their appreciation of just what the Sandhills of Nebraska are. It promotes our industry; it allows us as producers to reach people who we would not otherwise come in contact with, except maybe by chance. And these were people who wanted to learn more about our industry; I was assured by both of our visitors that they will take our message of how well our cattle are treated, how content they were, the good things we do for the environment, and they will reach sectors of the nation that even our beef checkoff dollars can’t directly get to. These are people who will now have a greater impact.” (:50 seconds)
John Schroeder, manager at the Darr Feedlot and fellow tour host, says visitors were pleased with how happy the cattle were and the enthusiasm and care put into beef operations from top to bottom. He encourages fellow producers to open their operations up to anyone wanting to learn more about modern beef production.
Schroeder 1: “I think it’s worth the risk to make sure we get another beef consumer at our plate. I think it’s worth the time that we invest in what opportunities to teach and to share what the beef experience is all about. And that’s not only about the beef flavor, but it’s also about the passion that goes into producing that beef.” (:22 seconds)
Private chef and FlaNBoyant Eats blogger Bren Herrera was raised on a heavy beef diet and attended the working days because she feels it’s very important that her clients, readers and friends receive the truth about beef; and, that she can intelligently answer their questions about how food is raised. She said she came to the event with little knowledge about today’s beef farmer, and explains what she walked away learning and why it was important for the checkoff to host such an event.
Herrera 1: “I had very, very little idea of how cattle are raised, fed, still a little unclear as to how they’re processed, but very little perception of how they’re raised. I drive through the countryside all the time and see cattle laying about so I think they have a pretty easy life just chilling and not really have ever considered what goes into making sure that they’re healthy, making sure that they’re in a stress-free environment and that they’re taken care of. But not just the cattle themselves but the land and where they’re sleeping and where they’re breeding is safe and clean for everybody, not just the farmers and cattle ranchers and cattle, but the general consumer as well. I definitely think it’s a worthwhile investment. I know that for some of us, a lot of those myths were dispelled; they were very candid in their responses to our questions; they didn’t shy away or shun any of the questioning we had. So they were very open – they had nothing to hide. So I think it’s a great way for farmers and cattle ranchers to excite the general public about what they do, and knowledge is power, knowledge is everything. So the more you know, the better decisions you can make and the better lifestyle you can have if you have more solid, truthful information. so I think for anyone that’s considering it, it’s great to know that we’re walking away with a sense of knowledge that we didn’t have before that we can spread and speak to others about.” (1:21 seconds)
For more about your checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com. (http://www.mybeefcheckoff.com/)
Source: Cattlemen's Beef Board