The Oklahoma Beef Council filed a lawsuit Monday in the District Court of Oklahoma County against Edmond-based accounting firm Arledge & Associates, P.C. The lawsuit relates to the embezzlement of OBC funds by one of its former employees, Melissa Morton. OBC's management discovered the embezzlement in July 2016, and Melissa Morton pled guilty to charges arising from it in May 2017. Her sentencing date is currently set for December 28, 2017.

The lawsuit alleges that Arledge, the accounting firm engaged by the OBC to perform audits for fiscal years 2012-2015, failed to reasonably and properly perform a risk assessment of OBC and allowed Morton's criminal activity to go undiscovered. OBC charges that Arledge employed inadequate and flawed audit planning and testing procedures. Through its lawsuit, OBC now seeks to recover all damages caused by Arledge's conduct.

According to OBC Chairman, Angie Meyer, this lawsuit is part of an overall strategy that has been carefully and thoughtfully planned in the board's efforts to maximize recovery, restitution, and justice, for the farmers and ranchers it represents.

"We have taken what we have learned from this situation to create a stronger organization. It's important to note that despite this tumultuous and exhaustive process, the work of the Beef Checkoff to strengthen and protect beef demand continues to move forward in Oklahoma," said Heather Buckmaster, the executive director.

Click here to review the complete statement released by OBC, yesterday.

For the last seven years, the commission companies at the Oklahoma National Stockyards have participated in an annual charity auction, benefitting an organization known as the All American Beef Battalion. This organization has taken on the noble mission of offering a warm welcome and a steak dinner to soldiers returning home from combat missions.

I caught up with Robert York, CEO of National Livestock Credit to talk about this year's event, now in its eight year.

"Many organizations and individuals have joined together for this worthy cause each year. The efforts of many have made this successful and we thank all our partners and friends for their help," York remarked. "The cattle community is like none that I've ever seen. People are more than willing to give a little bit of a thank you - and I am blown away by the support we've had."

In an effort to help fund this project, York leads NLC every year in bidding for a calf that's auctioned off multiple times to collect donations from those who gather to participate in the last auction day of the year at the Oklahoma National Stockyards.


York invites anyone who wishes to get involved in this worthwhile cause, to join them Monday, December 18, 2017 and bid on a donated calf, which will be on the auction block at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the sale arena of the Stockyards. If you are unable to attend but would still like to support the cause, you can call in a proxy bid at 800-310-0220 or visit the All American Beef Battalion web site to make your donation.

You can read more about this charitable event or hear York and I speak in depth about NLC's involvement with it, by

In this week's edition of the Cow/Calf Corner newsletter, OSU's Dr. Derrell Peel examines the dynamics of the beef cattle industry observed here during 2017.

Overall, Peel writes that there seems to be little doubt that herd expansion continued in 2017, albeit at a slower pace than 2016.

Apparently, too, a jump in both heifer and beef cow slaughter reflects a return to more typical relative slaughter rates than have been seen.

"I am currently estimating that the 2018 beef cow herd will be up 1.5-2.0 percent over January, 2017," he writes. "Expansion rates above or below this level are possible, though expansion above 2.5 percent is difficult to reconcile with current numbers. Expansion slower than 1.5 percent is, of course, possible but it would suggest that an unusually large percentage of pregnant heifers available on January 1 did not in fact enter the herd."

Peel suggests that the annual cattle inventory numbers in the January report are eagerly anticipated and should be paid adequate attention - not only to confirm what has happened to the beef cow herd here in 2017, he says, but for indications of what lies ahead in 2018 as well.

Click here to read his complete article in the most recent edition of the Cow/Calf Corner newsletter.

Last year, the folks at AFR came up with the great idea to host a reception at the Tulsa Farm Show, to reach out to our urban neighbors, as a rural community. They brought it back this year, and our own Carson Horn was there to represent the Network. While there, Carson had the opportunity to speak with AFR President Terry Detrick about the success of the event and the important purpose behind the idea.

Detrick insisted that the Tulsa Farm Show was a perfect platform to bring awareness about agriculture right into the middle of one of Oklahoma's most populous, urban areas. By special invitation, AFR has brought together at this reception, top agricultural leaders and welcomed some of the state's political figures to meet and exchange ideas regarding current ag issues facing Oklahomans.

Tulsa's mayor G.T Bynum kicked off last year's reception. And this year's event featured several prominent guests, including Ag Secretary Jim Reese, State House Minority Leader Steve Kouplen, and Gubernatorial candidate Kevin Stitt just to name a few.

You can hear Detrick and Carson speak about this year's reception, as well as some of the issues currently facing those in the ag industry, by clicking or tapping here.

Every year, cattle producers from across the country come together for the annual Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show hosted by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. This year, the convention will be held January 31 - February 2, 2018. Prior to the start of the convention, though, attendees have the opportunity to participate in the industry's premier educational event, Cattlemen's College, which kicks off on January 30th. I spoke with Josh White, executive director of producer education for NCBA, about the slated schedule for this year's program. According to White, there is a lot of special things that make this year's event unique.


"The first thing to mention is it's the 25th anniversary of Cattlemen's College, being held in association with our convention," White said. "Another unique part of that, is Zoetis, formerly Pfizer, has been our sponsor for the whole 25 years. Not many programs have that kind of lasting relationship between sponsor and host."


In addition, White says this year's program will feature live animal demos - something he says that hasn't been offered in several years. The demos this year focus around animal mobility scoring, the latest related research on mobility and genetic influence of cattle mobility and lameness. Animal ID and how it fits into record keeping will also be discussed. New to Cattlemen's College is an encore of some of the most popular classes.


"We did a social media campaign earlier in the fall for past attendees where we asked them what have been (their) favorite topics at what looks most interesting of the topics we have already slated," he said. "And, the top vote-getters, we're repeating those on Tuesday afternoon as well. So, folks will have more opportunity to get more education live than they ever have.


White insists that those interested in attending Cattlemen's College this year, sign up now. He says classes fill up early and after January 6th, prices will increase. To book your convention and Cattlemen's College registration, click over to www.BeefUSA.org.


Listen to White and I discuss the line-up for this year's Cattlemen's College program, featured at the upcoming NCBA Convention, on yesterday's Beef Buzz - click here.

When a loved one is taken before their time- and unexpectedly- it is so hard on those closest to that person- and today, the Oklahoma Ag Community- and really the US Beef Cattle Community- mourns with cattle industry leader Clay Burtrum with the sudden loss of his wife Tina.