Opening Thoughts From The Beef Board Chairman
Posted by Chuck – February 1st, 2012
The Beef Board Executive Committee got down to business today. I caught up with Beef Board Chairman, Wesley Grau, New Mexico, before they got started to get his perspective on the work that will be taking place here this week.
Wesley says the two main things to be discussed are “our new proposed committee structure and also an update of the by-laws.” He says it looks like there will be a reduction of committees which will save the CBB some dollars. The budget it tighter than ever as cattle numbers have dropped. The mood though is “positive” he says and perhaps prices are bringing a smile to cattlemen’s faces right now.
Listen in on my interview with Wesley here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Working On Structural Changes
Posted by Chuck – February 1st, 2012
One of the key issues being dealt with by the Beef Board at the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention is restructuring of the joint committees. Hank Maxey, Beef Board member, is chairing a special committee on the Board’s Joint Committee Coordination Agreement with NCBA’s Federation of State Beef Councils. This is another committee coming out of actions taken at last summer’s meeting. Hank says that the special committee of the CBB and the task force set up by the Federation of State Beef Councils sat down reviewed the agreement and made some changes. Those are being presented here for vote by both organizations. Both have to pass the same agreement for it to work. Actual final action as the result of an agreement will not take place until after this year’s summer meeting.
Listen in on my interview with Hank here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Hank is pictured on the right being interviewed in the Cattle Industry Convention media room this morning.
Proposed Changes to Beef Board Bylaws
Posted by Chuck – February 1st, 2012
Virginia cattleman Joe Guthrie, a Beef Board member, has had a big task in recent months. He’s chair of a special committee to study the CBB Bylaws. Here at the Cattle Industry Convention, his committee will present results of their work. Joe is being interviewed in the photo by one of the many ag media representatives covering the convention.
Joe says this special committee was formed at the summer meeting in Orlando after a motion was made on the floor to change the appointment process for the Nominating Committee. That motion was narrowly defeated but, as a result of the issue raised, this special committee was formed to take a hard look at the organizational bylaws. He says the revisions they’ve proposed will be presented at the business meeting/CBB Update Session on Thursday for a vote. He believes they will improve the structure of the Beef Board.
Listen in on my interview with Joe here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Preview of Beef Board Activities
Posted by Chuck – February 1st, 2012
To get a look at the work of the Beef Board during the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention I spoke with Polly Ruhland, CEO, seen visiting with Ron Hayes, Oklahoma Farm Report.
Polly says there are two main governance issues being dealt with by special committees that were formed after last summer’s meeting. One of those is to review the by-laws. That special committee has presented changes to the Board and those will be voted on during the CBB Update session on Thursday. The other special committee focused on the joint committee structure and will be making recommendations during that same business session.
Get a full preview of Beef Board activities from Polly in my interview with her here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Getting To Know Board Members
Posted by Chuck – August 13th, 2011
Mike Stahly is a Beef Board member who I caught doing a farm broadcaster interview at the summer conference. Let’s learn more about him.
Mike is a 4th generation rancher. He is the past president of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, past president of Central South Dakota Cattlemen’s Affiliate, past president of the South Dakota Hereford Association and county board member for the South Dakota Farm Bureau. Mike is also an Army veteran.
Mike says about working on the Beef Board, “it’s an interesting experience.” He had served on the Federation board so he felt like that kind of prepared him for the experience. For cattlemen who are considering getting involved he says, “It’s well worth it. You’ll meet people that you’ll never get to meet elsewhere, from all walks of life. I just got done eating dinner sitting beside the meat buyer for Wendy’s. Just to listen to him for a half an hour was fascinating.”
You can listen to my interview with Mike here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Getting To Know Board Members
Posted by Chuck – August 13th, 2011
It’s time to meet another member of the Beef Board. This time let’s talk with E.B. Harris. He attended the summer conference where he could interact with other members from around the country.
Ernest “E.B.” is a third-generation cow-calf beef producer on a family farm established in 1916 in Warrenton, NC. He is also president and owner of E. B. Harris, Inc./Auctioneers, which launched in 1977. He is responsible for the farm sales of equipment, cattle, logging equipment and real estate.
E.B. says that Beef Checkoff advertising dollars help increase beef demand which is important to him since he’s in an area where they produce more than can be consumed locally. Besides his financial investment in the Beef Checkoff he says that investing his time working on Beef Board activities is worth it. He also feels very positive about “moving forward” to get beyond some of the recent challenges within the organization and industry. To other cattle producers he says, “Get involved. If you pay that one dollar Checkoff, get involved.”
You can listen to my interview with E.B. here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Getting To Know Board Members
Posted by Chuck – August 12th, 2011
Let’s meet another member of the Beef Board. He’s Larry Oltjen. Like the folks you see at work in this committee meeting Larry was attending the summer conference.
Larry is a fourth-generation farmer/feeder/stockman in Brown County, Kansas. He grows about 4,000 acres of corn, soybeans and alfalfa and also runs a 260-head commercial cow herd in partnership with his father and son. In addition, he feeds out the calves and feed in various feedlots in Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.
Larry says that he gets the feeling that everyone is ready to look forward to the future. He says his time on the Board has been important since it has allowed him to get to know people across the country. He says that if you’ve got the time it’s well worth it to attend these meetings and get involved.
You can listen to my interview with Larry here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Getting To Know Board Members
Posted by Chuck – August 12th, 2011
Here are Beef Board members in action during one of the summer conference committee meetings.
I visited with one of them, Chris Schluntz, Republican City, NE, out in the hall in between meetings. Chris is part of the 4th generation to farm where his great grandfather homesteaded in south central Nebraska. He farms with two brothers, an uncle and two nephews. The farm consists of a commercial cow/calf herd, a feedlot and irrigated and dryland crops.
He says serving on the Beef Board has been very educational to him. It has helped him learn how the process works and how to serve the industry by promoting beef. He’s on the Joint International Markets Committee which he says has helped his business by building demand for his product and creating new markets. He encourages any cattle producer to get involved.
You can listen to my interview with Chris here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
You’re A Blessing
Posted by Chuck – August 4th, 2011
Polly Ruhland, Interim CEO for the Beef Board started off her report during the board meeting with a question.
I’d like to start with a question.
How many of you are BLESSED?
Look around this room, at your neighbor and across the rows. This is an incredible group of people, jam-packed with blessings.
Now, another question.
How many of you are BLESSED to be here, right here, right now, doing what you are doing?
Take another minute to look around you. Nearly everyone in this room recognizes that they are blessed to be here.
I know why.
Every person in this room has been chosen to be here. You are here for a purpose.
What is that purpose?
To lead. To imagine what could be. To make it happen.
To make decisions. Even decisions, especially decisions, that are debatable…difficult…even dumbfounding. You were chosen to do that.
The Checkoff itself is a blessing…don’t you think so too?
You can listen to Polly’s report here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Wrapping Things Up With The Chairman
Posted by Chuck – August 4th, 2011
I started out these posts from the Cattle Industry Summer Conference with a preview interview with Wesley Grau, newly elected Beef Board Chairman. Now we’ll close things out with a wrap up interview.
Wesley says that things went well at the meeting, “We’ve had an attitude change. We’ve had a strengthening of the industry through unification. At the same time we endeavor to remain all inclusive for every producer in the United States.” He says he looks forward to moving in a positive direction.
You can listen to my closing interview with Wesley here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Financial Report
Posted by Chuck – August 4th, 2011
Within mere hours after being elected to the officer team as Secretary/Treasurer, Roger West gave the financial report during the board meeting at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.
This morning’s meeting went very smoothly and the business of the board concluded on a very positive note.
You can listen to Roger’s financial report here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Committee Meetings Doing 2012 Planning
Posted by Chuck – August 4th, 2011
During the Cattle Industry Summer Conference committees get to work looking at projects and funding requests for the coming fiscal year. Most of these committees met yesterday. Let’s learn about what took place in one of the meetings, the Joint Retail Committee.
During this meeting members saw very interesting presentations including one on how consumers can learn to make their own cuts of meat. I spoke with meeting leader Jim Etheridge. He says they looked at “beef intelligence” they have on retail information and then used that to talk about merchandising solutions. He says the committee felt strongly that the Beef Checkoff needs to continue to be very involved in the retail channel.
You can listen to my interview with Jim here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Getting To Know Board Members
Posted by Chuck – August 4th, 2011
During the Cattle Industry Summer Conference I had an opportunity to meet and visit with numerous Beef Board members and asked them to share some thoughts about serving on the board. Two of the first members I spoke with were Bryant Fisher (left) and Larry Echols.
Bryant runs a dairy farm that includes the six major breeds of dairy cattle and some cross-breeds. He is an active participant in his community and in the dairy industry.
Larry runs a cow-calf and stocker operation near Gap Mills and also raises sheep and hay.
You can listen to my interview with Bryant and Larry here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
New Officer Slate For Beef Board
Posted by Chuck – August 3rd, 2011
In today’s CBB Update Session elections were held to fill the vacant Chairman position. Elected were:
Chair: Wesley Grau, Grady, NM
Vice Chair: Weldon Wynn, Star City, Ark.
Secretary/Treasurer: Roger West, Gainesville, Fla.
I caught up with Roger after the meeting and visited with him since he’s the “new” officer. Both Wesley and Weldon were already in officer positions. Roger is a cow/calf operator and that keeps him busy. He feels honored to have been elected as an officer. He says “we’re ready to move on.”
You can listen to my interview with Roger here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
CBB Update Session
Posted by Chuck – August 3rd, 2011
During the Cattle Industry Summer Conference a CBB Update Session is held at which Board members and other parties make reports and conduct some business prior to tomorrow’s board meeting.
Starting us off was Acting Beef Board Chairman, Wesley Grau. In fact, Wesley manages the meeting which included some votes on various issues. More information on that will be published later.
I recorded a portion of the session for you to listen to so you can get a flavor for the type of reports and work conducted in this session.
You can listen to a portion of the CBB Update Session here:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Looking Back Over 25 Years of the Beef Checkoff
Posted by Chuck – August 3rd, 2011
The Beef Board staff is publishing a weekly six-part series featuring 25 years of beef checkoff successes. This is an excerpt from the first part titled, “Turning your $1-per-head assessments into opportunities.” You can read the full article by clicking on this link.
It was 1986: A gallon of gas cost 89 cents; a pound of ground beef cost about $1.29 at retail; a movie ticket was $3.71; the average price of the average monthly rent was $385; the average price of a home was $89,430; and the national Beef Checkoff Program went into effect at $1-per-head.
Fast forward to 2011: Today, a gallon of gas will set you back an average of $3.26; the average price for a pound of ground beef is $3.87; a movie ticket costs about $8.50; the average monthly rent is $812; the average price of a home is $303,713; and the $1-per-head national beef checkoff is wrapping up its first 25 years of serving as a catalyst to spur strong beef sales worldwide.
Today, beef is the No. 1 selling protein in restaurants, in particular, and in the United States, in general, with consumer spending on beef totaling $73.4 million in 2010. And more than 85 percent of consumers know the industry’s “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” slogan, currently serving as the base of the Beef Checkoff Program.
For certain, walking through the 25-year history of the beef industry will take you down some rocky roads, as well as highlight some clear paths to growth, all en route to a beef industry that you’ll be proud to pass on to the next generation.
One of the people who was involved early in the process was Wayne Watkinson, pictured at the head table during our CBB Update Session at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference. I visited with him about his legal work with the Checkoff and he shared some very interesting anecdotes that include when he helped write the Act and during the years he has served as legal counsel. I think you’ll enjoy hearing him.
You can listen to my interview with Wayne here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Talking With Cattlewomen About Programs
Posted by Chuck – August 2nd, 2011
This afternoon as I was leaving one of the committee meetings at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference I ran in to two people I had hoped to find and interview. How coincidental is that and convenient too! So I spoke with Sarah Bohnenkamp (left) Program Manager, American National Cattlewomen (ANCW) and Tammi Didlot, President-Elect, ANCW.
I spoke first with Tammi. She says that ANCW holds meetings here like the other organizations to do planning for the future and conduct educational sessions for members. They set goals for committees and then look at how those committees are performing. She says they’re looking at new ways to educate youth and get collegiate cattlewomen involved.
You can listen to my interview with Tammi here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Sarah is managing the Beef Ambassador program as well as the Telling the Beef Story program. She says the ambassadors have been out at very large consumer events connecting with people who are curious about things they’ve read and heard about beef, a lot of which is from very uninformed sources. Sarah says that just like other Beef Checkoff funded programs, she has authorization requests in for committee review here at the Summer Conference. We wish her well with her presentation tomorrow.
You can listen to my interview with Sarah here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audit Committee Meeting
Posted by Chuck – August 2nd, 2011
One of the committees meeting today at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference is the Audit Committee. I visited with Katherine Ayers, Chief Financial Officer for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Here’s Katherine giving a report during the meeting.
The Audit Committee works with the independent auditors engaged by the Board to ensure that its books and records, internal accounting controls and management practices assure the proper level of accountability for the Beef Checkoff Program.
You can listen to my interview with Katherine here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Beef Board Executive Committee Meets
Posted by Chuck – August 2nd, 2011
The leadership for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board kicked off their meetings with the Executive Committee this morning. Leading the way is Acting Chairman Wesley Grau (center). I spoke to him before things got started. He says they’ll be working on industry solutions and “settling some of the dust that’s been stirred up the last few years and we’re basically changing our attitude and getting on with the job of promoting beef.” He says the “Checkoff is as good as its ever been.” However, if you adjust the Checkoff dollar for inflation and other factors you’re only using about 23% as much money to promote beef as in 1985!
You can listen to my interview with Wesley here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Preview Of Cattle Industry Summer Conference
Posted by Chuck – August 1st, 2011
The Cattle Industry Summer Conference is just getting underway in Kissimmee, FL. I’ll be your Beef Board Blogger once again and provide you with photos and interviews of the activity taking place here.
To get things started I spoke with Beef Board Interim CEO, Polly Ruhland. Polly says the Beef Board meets with the joint committees and reviews all of the authorization requests for proposed work that the Operating Committee will then review in September. It’s grass roots in action as cattle producers meet here in all these committees. It’s a very important meeting for the Beef Checkoff.
Polly also told me that she has spoken with quite a few board members recently and of course the staff. She says they’re all excited to move forward and have the stuff that has been happening behind them. She calls it a renewed relationship with NCBA and the Federation of State Beef Councils.
Polly also describes the “dashboard” that has been created to monitor the progress being made on the new industry long range plan. This includes a regular check on the objectives which will be done here at this meeting.
You can listen to my interview with Polly here.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
