Kearney, NE (August 30, 2006) It was the pride that I felt at the age of ten as a young 4-Her when I showed “Twinnie” my bucket calf at the county fair and won Grand Champion. My excitement was repeated the next year after I again won Grand Champion Bucket Calf with my second calf, “Alberta”. The impact when walking from the show ring, leading a calf that weighed twice as much as I did, a trophy that barely fit in my hands, smiling ear-to-ear, dripping in sweat, and being high-fived by my friends and relatives wouldn’t be fully realized until nearly 15 years later. It was those meager beginnings that I now reflect on that were instrumental factors in my developing appreciation for the beef cattle industry.
My desire to promote the beef industry results from the pride I have developed in the trade stemming from many “character-building” experiences while growing up on the farm and a growing curiosity of the industry. As the 2006 summer intern, and part of the Nebraska Beef Council team, I was able to gain an inside glimpse of the organization and to be involved with activities to promote the beef industry within our state. As an intern with the Nebraska Beef Council my role was to implement and assist with projects that involved promotion & marketing; education & nutrition; and communication. Throughout the summer I gained valuable experience and networking opportunities by interacting and communicating with consumers, producers, and others involved in the beef industry.
Although I had a previous understanding of the cattle industry and issues facing the business, from growing up on a cow-calf operation; throughout the summer I continually built on my base knowledge and became more engaged in the overall picture of what the Beef Council accomplishes for Nebraska’s cattle producers. By becoming part of the NBC team, being directly linked to the production of beef on our farm, and by consuming beef on a regular basis; I felt that I was contributing to the overall goals of the NBC in more ways than one. Attending a Beef Quality Assurance seminar expanded my knowledge significantly on the importance of implementing beef quality and consistency measures to maximize consumer confidence and acceptance of beef. At the seminar it was interesting to attend the sessions on various topics facing the cattle industry and I learned several different aspects about quality control points, feed additives & medications, processing/treatment & records, injection site management, and care & husbandry practices. Viewing the carcass of an animal with discrepancies caused by improper vaccination techniques unavoidably made me realize the importance of proper injection site management to avoid muscle injury with an end result of unusable product.
Meetings with representatives from the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) were very educational for me in understanding Nebraska beef’s place and position in international markets, and particularly the issues surrounding reopening the borders of trade with Japan. Throughout the course of my internship, I also learned more about the economics and other measures that producers are facing and actions they are taking at the production level to offset costs of the ongoing drought. Without adequate pasture and grass for the cattle to graze on; producers are weaning calves early, selling off cows, and taking various other measures that in-turn will have a negative affect on the agriculture community and the economy as a whole. Unavoidably, I am continually reminded of how the weather significantly impacts farmers and ranchers; and consequently, how agriculture and particularly the beef industry, significantly affect the economy of Nebraska.
Interning with the Beef Council has increased my confidence in myself of choosing a career in agriculture. Upon completion of school, I aim to be involved with the beef industry whether it is through the production side by investing in my family’s operation, or by seeking a job in a related area, such as in communications or promotions. The Beef Council internship has been a valuable means by which I have made contacts in the industry and discovered further opportunities for employment upon my graduation.
As a 4-H youngster, I would have never guessed at the time of winning back-to-back Bucket Calf championships, that I would eventually pursue a degree in agriculture with particular interest in the beef trade. Dreams, dedication, and dependability that led to championship trophies and a championship internship are paving my way for a career in a championship industry.
Source: Ibby Allan