Message from Cow-Calf Council Chair

Innovation, best practices and perseverance keep ranch operations thriving

BY BRAYDEN ELIASON Cow-Calf Council Chair

We must adapt with the times to keep overcoming industry challenges and solidify the future

“Comfort is the enemy of progress.”

– P.T. Barnum

As I write this, we have just passed through the joyous Christmas holiday season and the mark of a new year. I can’t help but look back and reflect on what all has happened and has been endured in agriculture and our cattle industry.

We survived a year of severe drought, record high hay prices, lower than desired calf and cattle prices, not to mention a hundred other unnamed challenges, many which we’ll face in the future. If one thing is for sure, it is that the industry has stood the tests of time, and we have proved that we can rebound and that God is on our side.

But even with that said, what are we doing to achieve the goals we have set for our operations, and will they help us through our hardest times? I am a fifth-generation cattleman and the fourth generation on the current ranch operation, with my father, grandfather and brother. Needless to say, we have had our share of diversities and problems that we have had to work through the past 100-plus years.

Through the years we have seen many friends and neighbors have to make the impossible choice to sell out, whether it be because the bills couldn’t be met, the time requirement to operate the ranch was too much or the practices were simply old and outdated.

I’ve heard it best said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over but expecting different results. As hard as it can be, we need to keep improving our operations and keeping up with the new things that are available to us. CHANGE IS OK. WE CAN EMBRACE THE PAST WHILE WELCOMING INNOVATION

The word “change” can instill a sense of fear into some and a bit of uncertainty for all. But by far the worst attitude or phrase that we can ever say in our industry is, “Well, that is how we have always done it,” or, “Grandpa always did it this way.” When we have that state of mind, we are severely limiting ourselves in what we can do!

Thirty years ago, the herd here at Eliason Livestock was an all-red Hereford group of cattle, and now we are a 99% Black Angus herd that is headed to a SimAngus hybrid. Thirty-five years ago, the entire crop was watered through ditches and flood irrigation. Now 98% of the crops are watered by pressurized pivots and wheel lines, watering almost 40% more ground with the same amount of water.

Forty years ago, the cattle were hauled in a 2-ton truck. Now, they are being hauled by semi-truck and bull wagon. Just five years ago, a cow was just a number without any information, and now we are taking accurate records to put to those numbers, hoping soon to run everything through RFIDs (radio-frequency identification).

Someone once said, “You can’t improve on what you don’t measure.” These are just a few examples of practices that we have implemented, and there are other things that we continue to do because of market demand, efficiency, animal health and many other reasons.

Ranching is still a family affair for the Eliasons.

PHOTO BY ALLISON ELIASON

There are, however, some things that we like and will always stick to, and that’s OK, as long as we are not allowing ourselves to get stuck in comfort mode. For instance, calf tables are readily available and work fine, but I am going to hold on to the art of roping to bring calves in for processing in the spring. Many of you use other practices that work well for your place. We just need to remember that as times change, we can embrace the past but also welcome the innovations of the future.

What I hope to get across in this message is that with all of the challenges we see starting the new year, we must continue to fight, never give up and do what we can to improve.

We all love our heritage and way of life. There is a saying around here that we live in the “best next year country ever made,” because we say it will be better next year. We are the most resilient people and industry that God has made.

One of my favorite quotes that I live by and use often is by Hillel the Elder: “If not me then who, if not now then when?” I trust we will be the ones making it a profitable and hopeful future for those who come after us in this fabulous industry. So let us be the ones and let us do it now.

PROGENY SELL!

19TH ANNUAL BULL SALE

FEBRUARY 26, 2022

JR Ranch Sale Barn • Othello, Washington

SELLING: BLACK ANGUS & CHAROLAIS

BULLS & FEMALES

CCC RESURRECTION 840 P

REA Top 8%, Milk Top 20%, CE, MTL Rank Top 25% of Breed

SITZ STELLAR 726D

Top 10% $M; 15% WW, YW, and $W of Breed

HANG’N A CATTLE COMPANY

Alan & Leslie Alexander • Pasco, WA Alan’s Cell: 509-727-9151 • hangna@owt.com www.hangnacattle.com

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO

Zane Garner, Beef Manager • Moscow, ID Zane’s Cell: 541-519-3608 zgarner@uidaho.edu

GARDINER PRIME ANGUS RANCH

Pat & Ada Gardiner • Bonners Ferry, ID Pat’s Cell: 208-290-4522 • pgardiner@aol.com Glenn Ensz, Herdsman: 208-597-0617

SHB ANGUS

Ed Gross, Manager • Reardan, WA Ed’s Cell: 509-979-9233 shbangus@gmail.com