Monday, April 1

• Joint Industry Evaluation Committee meeting; 1-4 p.m.
• Beef Promotion Operating Committee 2013 Orientation, Part 1 of 2 – 4 to 6 p.m.

Tuesday, April 2

• Industry Scan presentation to Operating Committee and industry Long Range Plan Advisory Group:  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Revised Long Range Plan available HERE.

Wednesday, April 3

• Beef Promotion Operating Committee 2013 Orientation, Part 2 of 2: 8 a.m. to noon
• Long Range Plan Advisory Group session about Long Range Plan direction: 8 a.m. to noon
• Joint working lunch: Long Range Plan Advisory Group presents Long Range Plan recommendation to Operating Committee: noon to 1 p.m.
• Operating Committee meeting/strategy session to develop checkoff priorities for FY2014: 1 to 3 p.m. Operating Committee Meeting Minutes and materials available HERE.
• Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee Orientation Part 1 of 2: 3 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 4

• Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee Orientation Part 2 of 2 and Executive Committee regular meeting: 7:30 a.m. to noon 

 For committee meeting agendas and other materials, visit Evaluation Committee,  Operating Committee and CBB Executive Committee.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be your Beef Board Blogger once again and look forward to seeing you this summer!

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Dean graduated from Iowa State University with his Bachelor of Science degree in Farm Operations. He is the current county president of the Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Corn Growers Association and past state director and Ag Policy Committee chair of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Dean says that at executive committee meetings they always take a look at how collections are doing and they take a look at the budget to see if things are on track there as well as other things. When it comes to the changes in the committee structure he says that after talking with others things seem to be going well. Looking ahead he says it’s going to a battle to deal with reduced dollars to work with.

Dean also spent some time at the end of last year with the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture as a beef representative on a trip to Korea and Japan. He says they met with all the major importers. He says that Koreans prefer American beef for safety and taste. The Japanese asked if we would have enough beef for them.

You can listen to my interview with Dean here: Interview with Dean Black

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

The nationwide survey of 1,200 beef and dairy producers conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late December 2012 and early January 2013 found an overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers continue to say their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways:

• Eight out of 10 producers say the beef checkoff has helped to contribute to a positive trend in beef demand.
• Seven out of 10 producers say the beef checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations, is there for them in a crisis and represents their interests.
• Seven out of 10 beef producers believe the checkoff is well-managed.

Danni says “Interestingly the survey shows that about one-third of producers don’t consider themselves informed about the checkoff. With the fairly significant reduction in the producer communications budget for FY2013, the working group will be exploring fresh, innovative and efficient ways to communicate with producers about their checkoff and the work the program does for them so we can improve those numbers.”

You can listen to my interview with Danni here: Interview with Danni Beer

You can find a copy of the survey here (.doc file).

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

One of them I spoke with during the 2013 Convention was Patty Bikowsky who is a dairy producer from New York. Patty attended the Dairy Producer Communications Forum and says the information provided was wonderful and so was the food. When it comes to the restructuring of the committees that we saw for the first time here at this meeting she was a little skeptical at first. But after attending the Freedom to Operate committee she thinks it will work out well.

You can listen to my interview with Patty here: Interview with Patty Bikowsky

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

The 12-member CBB Executive Committee includes the Board’s three officers and eight members elected at large. The CBB elected the following members to its 2013 Executive committee: CBB Vice Chairman Kim Brackett, who will serve as chairman of the Executive Committee; and members Weldon Wynn (CBB chairman); Jimmy Maxey (CBB secretary/ treasurer); Anne Anderson of Texas; Dean Black of Iowa; Laurie Bryant, an importer; Steve Irsik of Kansas; Hank Maxey of Virginia; Sugie Sartwelle of Texas; Gary Sharp of South Dakota; and Eric Smith of Alabama.

You can listen to Wesley and Weldon as they passed the gavel here: Passing the Gavel

After the gavel was passed, new CBB Chair, Weldon Wynn, presented now past Chair, Wesley Grau, with a commemorative plaque for his service to the board.

Here’s a little bit more information on our new Chairman. He is a cow/calf producer from Star City, Ark. He is an active member of his community and industry, including service on the board of directors of the Pine Bluff National Bank of Star City; former emcee and judge of the National Beef Cook-Off; National Beef Ambassador judge; past president and active member of the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association; member of the University of Arkansas Animal Science 2000 Advisory Council; and past president, treasurer, and fair manager of the Lincoln County Fair, among many others.

On the Beef Board, Weldon served as secretary/treasurer during the first half of 2011 before being elected to fill a partial term as vice chairman during the second half of the year, then was elected vice chairman of the Board for all of 2012. He has also served on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee, the CBB Executive Committee, the Joint Advertising Committee, for which he served as vice chair in 2010, and the Joint Beef Industry Budget Committee.

Before leaving the convention today I visited with Weldon to find out his thoughts on being elected and what he sees ahead in the coming year.

You can listen to my interview with Weldon here: Interview with Weldon Wynn

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

She said, “You succeeded in setting aside differences. You spoke loud and clear on behalf of beef producers and importers nationwide. I’m proud of you.”

You can listen to Polly’s financial report here: Management Report

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Giving that report was Kim Brackett, Secretary/Treasurer, of the Beef Board. I’ve recorded it for you to listen to or download if you would like.

You can listen to Kim’s financial report here: Financial Report

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with John here: Interview with John Ridder

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

The 2013 winners are: Billy and Reed Kempfer of Kempfer Cattle Company of Saint Cloud, Fla. (beef); Louis “Woody” Larson, Family Tree Enterprises of Okeechobee, Fla. (dairy); Larry Schnell, Stockmen’s Livestock Exchange, Dickinson, N.D. (Marketer of the Year); and Dr. John Maas, UC Davis, California. (Educator of the Year).

You can listen to an interview with Woody and his wife Grace here: Interview with Woody & Grace Larson

There are videos with all of the winners on the BQA YouTube page. Here’s one of them.

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

You can listen to my interview with Wesley here: Interview with Wesley Grau

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

One of those successes is the BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) research study that shows that adding lean beef to the most recommended heart-healthy diet can lower heart disease risk by reducing levels of total and LDL “bad” cholesterol.

Looking ahead Kim says that the Beef Checkoff is looking at the lowest revenues in FY 2013 since 1988 (projected at $39.4 million). She says that one of the ways they’re trying to address this issue is through the new committee structure which was introduced here in Tampa. She thinks that by having the Beef Board focus on beef demand drivers it will allow leaders to make decisions that will still increase demand for beef.

You can listen to my interview with Kim here: Interview with Kim Brackett

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Polly’s task was to talk about the transition from the “old” committee structure to the new committee structure and how that is going to make the work of the Checkoff more efficient. Additional points in her presentation are what demand means; what demand drivers are; the Checkoff budget and the role in maintaining demand; how the Checkoff accomplishes increases in demand and the updated committee structure. Polly started by saying that beef demand is not the same as beef consumption.

You can listen to Polly’s presentation to learn more here: Polly Ruhland Presentation

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

One of the presenters in this session was John Lundeen, Director of Market Research for NCBA (pictured on right). His job was to discuss demand drivers.

You can listen to John’s presentation here: John Lundeen Presentation

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Jo Ann is very proud of the job the members of the Beef Board are doing and also to all who have served over the years since the Beef Checkoff started. She encouraged members to “keep an open mind” especially when it comes to understanding what today’s consumer wants and needs.

You can listen to Joann’s remarks here: Joann Smith Remarks

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

He says during this convention the committee continues to work on the vision of the last several years which includes looking at changes to how evaluations are made including making them non threatening to the staff and contractors. One of he actions taken during the committee meeting was to form a sub committee to evaluate the efficiency of contractors. The sub committee will report back to the full committee. Ted says the goal of the evaluation committee is to provide the operating committee with information they can use to make good decisions with the funding of different projects.

You can listen to my interview with Ted here: Interview with Ted Greidanus

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

These busy young people have been on the road educating consumers about beef and beef production, as well as in their own states and local communities. During this week’s event they have freshened up their cow facts by attending the Cattlemen’s College, chatted with different producers from across the country and help spread the importance of beef by telling their story.

Next on their list of trips is the Boston Marathon where they will connect with runners and share their passion for beef, as well as exercise and being healthy.

Meet the team:
Jacquelyn Brown (Oregon)
Emma Jumper (Arkansas)
Chandler Mulvaney (Alabama)
Erin Morrison (Minnesota)
Katie Stroud (California)

Here’s an interview conducted by Jamie Johansen with the Beef Ambassadors I think you’ll enjoy: Interview with Beef Ambassadors

Follow the Beef Ambassadors on their blog.

Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show Photo Album

Weldon says consumers care about what they eat, how it’s raised and how it is prepared. So they want lots of information about what they eat and that includes beef. He also asked those in attendance to go back home and tell other cattle producers what they learned about the work of the Checkoff when they were attending committee meetings here.

You can listen to Weldon’s opening remarks here: Weldon Wynn Remarks

I’ve got a lot of photos for you to enjoy and share from this year’s convention in this online album: 2013 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album

During the session, folks are also learning a little about the history of Florida Crackers. Not the snacks, but the colonial-era English and American pioneer settlers of what is now the state of Florida. The first of the Crackers arrived in the region in 1763, when Spain traded Florida to Great Britain. “Cracker Cowmen” was the term applied to cattlemen in 19th and early 20th century Florida, a reference to them hunting for cattle scattered over the wooded rangelands during roundups. Today, the term “Florida Crackers” is used informally by some residents of Florida to indicate that their families have lived in the state for many generations.

Florida Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam, who also spoke at the opening session this afternoon, is a notable ”Florida Cracker” himself.

And if you’ve ever seen or heard of the movie “The Blind Side,” you’ve heard of the keynote speakers at the session – Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, the parents in the real-life family that was  featured in the 2009 biopic. Theirs is an inspiring and heartwarming story, in which they adopted a homeless teen  and encouraged his love for football. That teen, now 26 years old and an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, is Michael Oher, who just last Sunday played a stellar game in his team’s win at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans.

“It is such an inspiring story,” Grau said. “And it certainly reminds us of the importance of compassion and persistence — something that I believe most cattlemen and women possess.

“In fact,” he continued, “let’s all agree to remember those values as we participate in the convention this week, and treat each other with the utmost respect as we make decisions that affect every one of us.”

You can listen to Wesley’s opening remarks here: Wesley Grau Opening Remarks

Funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, the results provide the science that tells the story of the cattle industry’s long-held belief in raising cattle in a sustainable way. According to the report, the beef industry has made significant improvement toward a more sustainable future over time.

Nonetheless, the beef industry’s path toward continuous progress is a never-ending process of meeting beef demand by balancing environmental responsibility, economic opportunity and social diligence throughout the supply chain.

Get more by reading the checkoff’s news release on MyBeefCheckoff.com at Sustainability Release; check out a great video demonstrating the results on our YouTube page at Sustainability Video; and view the research results directly at Sustainability Research.