Practically Ranching

Send us Fan Mail

Kurt Hogan was formerly the lead of Digital Transformation at The Boston Consulting Group and lives in Atherton, CA, where he continues to work with growing software companies as an investor and operator.  Originally from the Spearville, KS, area, he has worked as a business consultant in computer and digital technology for more than 25 years.

Kurt and his wife, Kate, have both spent their careers travelling around the world while assisting large companies improve their technology, data management, labor and other business operations. Now living in the heart of the Silicon Valley, they are on the forefront of business and social trends. As they work and live in this competitive, fast-paced region, they still recognize the importance of rural America, its people and values.

Listen as Kurt highlights some areas where the beef community can best adapt and implement technology to most effectively grow and improve our businesses in the future.

Send us Fan Mail

Glen and his family are great neighbors, customers and friends. They own and operate a diverse ranching operation consisting of custom grazing, a cowherd and even a small direct beef business.

We cover plenty of practical ranching issues this week, ranging from tasks associated with custom grazing of yearlings in the Flint Hills to rangeland fire to cattle handling and even family communication and succession planning. 

Notes:
www.ksfire.org

Send us Fan Mail

Jarrod Gillig is President of Business Operations and Supply Chain - North America Protein at Cargill. In this role, he oversees operations for their beef division, as well as several other protein segments within Cargill’s scope.

Jarrod grew up on a farm near Odessa, MO, and has been with Cargill in a variety of roles over his tenure. In addition to his “day job," Jarrod and his family also have a small herd of cattle and his children are active in 4H and the National Junior Hereford Association.

My conversation with Jarrod is a continuation of several episodes (#3, 8 and 10) over the past month or two that have touched on fed cattle marketing and the challenges that we have seen over the past few years in cattle marketing—especially at the fed cattle level.

Send us Fan Mail

Charly Cummings is an auctioneer, cattleman and entrepreneur from Yates Center, Kansas. An LMA World Champion Auctioneer, Charly continues to be a proponent of the auction method of marketing cattle, land and other agricultural products.

As we continue our discussion of beef cattle marketing, Charly shares his first-hand perspective of how producers can study trends, consult with marketing experts and formulate a plan to best market their cattle. In addition, he shares his belief that producers need to research the issues, consider various viewpoints, communicate and then develop some unity to address marketing challenges and help sustain our farms and ranches into the future.

If you haven't already, listen to Episodes 3 and 8 as we continue this topic of beef cattle marketing.

www.superiorlivestock.com
Vaughn Roth Land Brokers

Send us Fan Mail

Jeanne and David Clawson are farmers and ranchers. They're leaders. They're former 4H'ers and raised their three children in the Kansas 4H program in Meade County.

Join us as we discuss the many values that 4H offers our youth, plus get insight on how to find that balance between "winning at all costs" and "letting the kid sink or swim."

Good luck to all of you involved in 4H during this busy time of year. We wish you all the best.

...now I have to go help the kids clip show steers.

Send us Fan Mail

Shawn Tiffany and his brother, Shane, own and manage Tiffany Cattle Company, Inc, a complete cattle feeding and marketing service in eastern Kansas. Tiffany Cattle Co. has a one-time capacity of 35,000 head in their three feedyards. Shawn’s primary duties are the farming and grain inventory side of their business, as well as assisting in cattle health, feeding management, marketing and financial aspects of Tiffany Cattle Co. 

Shawn currently serves as President-Elect of the Kansas Livestock Association. In addition, Shawn is part of Elevate Ag, a company that offers products, services and knowledge for regenerative agriculture.

Shawn and his wife, Nicky, spend countless hours educating their family, their community and the world about agriculture and the values that rural America holds dear.

Links:
www.tiffanycattle.com
www.elevateag.com
www.Wingit.us
Twitter: @Shawn_Tiffany

Market to Market Podcast: www.iowapbs.org/shows/mtom/mtom-podcast/podcast/7827/taking-hat-congress-talk-cattle-shawn-tiffany

Send us Fan Mail

Troy Marshall is the Director of Commercial Industry Relations at the American Angus Association. Throughout his professional career, he has served in a variety of roles within the beef industry, working for breed associations, CattleFax, publishing The Seedstock Digest and helping develop his family's progressive seedstock herd at Marshall Cattle Company.

Troy has made a habit of studying industry trends, consumer preferences and market drivers to envision the future of seedstock production.  In this episode, Troy and I discuss the issues of Sustainability,  Seedstock Selection and adding value to Angus-influenced commercial cattle through  Angus Link and the Genetic Merit Scorecard.

www.angus.org/AngusLink

Send us Fan Mail

Lydia Yon and her husband, Kevin, are the founding owners of Yon Family Farms, Ridge Spring, South Carolina.
A first-generation ag venture, they have quickly become a leading source of Angus seedstock in their region and across the country. They--alongside their three adult children and their growing families--continue to turn Yon Family Farms into a diversified agribusiness including cattle, farming and retail beef and pecan business, the Nut House.
Their story is a wonderful testament to the American values of faith, hard work and determination. They are loyally dedicated to the land, their family and the legacies of folks who have farmed the land before them.

Learn more about the Yons at...
www.yonfamilyfarms.com
www.nuthouseandcountrymarket.com

Send us Fan Mail

While we've all established that the hit series Yellowstone isn't the most accurate depiction of everyday ranch life, there's no denying its popularity.

Mo Brings Plenty plays "Mo," Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater's driver, enforcer and overall calming influence on the hit series.

Last August, my father-in-law, John Teagarden, introduced my family to Mo during the Linn County Fair & Rodeo in Mound City, KS. On a last-minute request, Mo addressed the crowd during the rodeo and captured everyone's heart as he spoke of the relationship of the cowboy and native cultures from the past.

Whether we like it or not, popular culture has a way of forming the world's opinions and perspectives. While most of us don't solve problems today by "taking someone to the train station," Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, Mo, and the rest of the Yellowstone cast are rejuvenating the world's interest in ranching  and the western way of life. It's now up to us to  find ways to tell our everyday stories of the real trials and tribulations of providing food and fiber for folks across the world.

@MoBringsPlenty

Send us Fan Mail

Father Nic grew up on a sizable family farm and ranch in northeast Oklahoma. He has served as our local Pastor for the past year and has a wonderful way of putting God's word into very relatable terms for our parish.
Faith is very personal for me, so I don't intend to "push" mine on others, but after hearing one of Father's sermons a month or so ago, I felt that his message was valuable for all of us--regardless of our faith and/or journey. 
While there is very little "Ranching" info in this one, I think Fr. Nic's wisdom is still plenty "Practical" as we strive to be the best versions of ourselves.