Agricultural News
Seeing the 'Bigger Picture' in Beef Production
Wed, 04 Sep 2013 15:51:01 CDT
Thirty young South Dakota ranchers recently had an opportunity to learn more about the entire beef industry while setting personal and business goals. The program, called Beef South Dakota, wrapped up earlier this year.
Stacy Hadrick, Beef South Dakota coordinator, said, "We got a three-year grant from the USDA and what we wanted to do was take beef producers through this intensive look at the industry."
Ranchers toured backgrounding yards and feed lots, placed calves in a feed-out program and were matched with seasoned industry mentors.
"We had candid, really open conversations about their management styles, how they got to where they are. The goals that they still have even though we may look at them as established people that don't need to do anything else. But they've been able to help our participants see that you never stop pushing yourself to be better," Hadrick said.
The group traveled to Washington, D.C., and the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention in Florida to broaden their off-ranch experience. They completed classroom sessions on everything from grass management to family communications. And now the lessons are being applied on the ranch.
"I think what we've been so impressed with is they're finishing up our three year time with them and many of them said, 'I get it now. And I see the bigger picture and what a critical role we play and, maybe, how to change and market ourselves differently.'"
That was the goal, Hadrick said, spurring that thought process and showing ranchers why their decisions matter to beef quality and, ultimately, to the future of the beef business.
"I think it's very easy for us in the beef business to say, 'Well, I know that the cow-calf part really well because that's what we do.' And then they get on the truck and leave the place and they never really think about it again."
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