YOUNG PRODUCER LEARNING, PARTICIPATING AND PURSUING A CAREER WITHIN THE CATTLE INDUSTRY by Katie Stroud for the California Cattlemen’s Association Growing up on my family’s 4th-generation cattle operation in the Northeastern portion of the state, I knew I liked cows. Still, I had limited knowledge of what kinds of careers were available within the industry. Life moves a little slower in Adin, and while you’ll find plenty of bovine, the area consists primarily of cow/calf operations with little diversity. When I headed for college in the fall of 2011, I figured I had three options: return to the family place, hope the high school ag teacher job was open when I graduated, or go to vet school. Little did I know my world was about to get a whole lot bigger in a hurry. During my first semester at California State University, Chico, I was studying Animal Science and found myself asking a lot of questions. Do I even know where our calves go after they leave the ranch on the truck? How does the cattle market actually work? What all goes into getting that animal to the grocery store? It certainly seemed a lot more complex than the life I was exposed to as a kid. I quickly set a goal for myself to learn about every sector of the beef industry. This goal, while nonchalant at the time, ended up being the driving force behind many opportunities in the future. It led me to become involved in extracurricular activities such as the National Beef Ambassador Program, Chico State Young Cattlemen’s Association and the Chico State Livestock Judging Team. Through these experiences, I was able to
50 California Cattleman May/June 2025
take a deeper dive into the pasture-to-plate production cycle, build a solid foundation of livestock evaluation, and start traveling and touring different kinds of operations throughout the country. I took advantage of summers and school breaks to gain hands-on experience through internships, various jobs and even going home with college friends to see what their family operations were like. Every yes helped open my eyes a little more to this incredibly diverse industry. I was fortunate enough to serve two terms on the California Young Cattlemen’s Committee – once as publicity chair and another year as chairman. Not only did I love building relationships with peers from all corners of the state and walks of life, but perhaps my favorite part was getting a front row seat to all of the hard work the CCA staff and officer team puts into ensuring we can continue ranching in the state of California for years to come. It was an honor to be a small part of the association and help with the many events that take place throughout the year. You won’t find a more supportive group when it comes to involving the next generation. I’m forever grateful for the wisdom gained and guidance provided, and I cherish the time spent with the membership. As I was approaching the end of my junior year, I knew it was time to start thinking more seriously about the direction I wanted to go after college. Most of the work I was doing at the time fell under the realm of agriculture communications and public relations, with an interest in policy. Most of my peers were ending up in capital cities like Sacramento, Denver and Washington, D.C., and I started to feel more disconnected heading down that same path. Right before the career fair at the University Farm that spring, a feedlot company came and spoke to our beef production class. I had toured a feedyard before, but still had very little understanding of that sector. That presentation lit a fire in me and I quickly became enthralled with that line of work. When I called my dad seeking advice about my potential change in summer plans, he promptly