Message from the ICA Summer Intern

Meet the IPLC/ICA Summer Intern!

Focusing on how to support Idaho ranchers by using our resources at hand

My name is Morgan Bayes and I am the Idaho Public Lands & Idaho Cattle Association’s summer intern! I spent my most formative years growing up on Seven Mile Ranches in Emmett, Idaho working cattle, riding horses, and raising 4-H lambs. Through these experiences, I learned about the ins and outs of ranch life and gained a firsthand perspective of what cattlemen battle to keep their operations running. In high school my family moved to Adrian, Oregon where I was an active chapter FFA officer, participated in the Malheur County Heifer Replacement Program, and showed heifer and steer projects at the county fair. While I finish my education, I stay involved with the industry by helping brand, sort, and move cattle for family and friends. I really enjoy putting my stockmanship skills to use and working cattle as efficiently as possible.

Currently, I am earning a degree in Agricultural Sciences with a minor in Global Foods and Business through Eastern Oregon University’s consortium program. I also run track for EOU and recently finished 7th at NAIA National’s in the 400 Hurdles! I am planning to attend law school to focus on Natural Resource or Agricultural law. My love for the western way of life and background in ranching has helped me understand the need to actively advocate for the industry and protect grazing and property rights. I take great joy in shining a light on the positive impacts of cattle have on soil carbon sequestration, upcycling of nutrients, and fuel reductions in the face of many hasty claims made in main-

BY MORGAN BAYES ICA Summer Intern

stream media. It’s a personal mission of mine to continue working to bring the producer-oriented perspective into the public view. One of the main focuses of my internship this summer has been examining claims used against ranchers in litigation filed during grazing permit renewals and federal grazing-related planning documents. Utilizing the work compiled from past interns; I have been able to take the arguments from past lawsuits to determine their credibility. First, I determine if the claims were taken out of context in the opposing counsel’s studies. Then, put these claims into their larger context as I work on a document that houses research that counters these claims. One of the biggest takeaways from the project for me has been how quick it is to further a narrative, and how slow it is to provide the truth. These sources are more difficult to find, and I often sort through sources that don’t consider the many ways cattle interact with their environment. When completed, the document will be used to help Idaho ranchers respond quickly to litigation.

My focus has been on claims regarding fire, annual grass invasion, and grass cover for Sage Grouse habitats. Raising cattle is often a big picture process and bringing forth the ecological context of how cattle interactions with grass, soil, and fire has been crucial. I have utilized my experience as a wildland firefighter, classes in grassland ecology to bring together the big picture. Idaho grazing is far from simple, but this resource will be very beneficial to members of the ICA should they need to respond to litigation.

I’ve enjoyed meeting the producers and members of the Idaho Cattle Association so far and am proud to be able to contribute to further supporting the beef cattle industry in Idaho!

Beef checkoff programs: Embracing change to maximize ROI on checkoff dollars

BY BILL LICKLEY Idaho Beef Council Chairman

As chairman of the Idaho Beef Council, I am tasked with a review of the prior year. Given that the Fiscal year ends June 30th, I am setting to this task in the middle of summer. It’s easy to forget how soon the narrative has changed nationwide from COVID to Ukraine to inflation and potential recession. All of these global events impact businesses from the ranch to consumers at retail and foodservice. The Idaho Beef Council (IBC) is repositioning programs to adapt to the future and yield the best return on investment of checkoff dollars. Not only are we making those changes to programs but improving our abilities to make changes in the future even more quickly and effectively.

To ensure the Idaho beef checkoff programs are meeting the needs of the Idaho beef industry, the IBC embarked on a strategic planning process using the national beef long range plan as a guide. Starting with the national strategic objectives relevant to beef checkoff programming, we surveyed the Idaho industry to gather feedback on what was most important to Idaho ranchers. Several one-on-one interviews were conducted with Idaho beef leadership, seedstock producers, cow/calf producers, backgrounder/stockers, feed yards, processors, value-add proces-

HANDS ON CORRAL DESIGN AND ANIMAL HANDLING ACTIVITY WITH BQA EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR, DR. STEPHEN BOYLES DURING APRIL BQA TRAINING. sors, retailers and foodservice to ensure programming direction is most impactful for our industry. This information was summarized and presented to the Board of Directors to further discuss, debate and determine what is most important to the Idaho beef industry. The core strategies that emerged are: 1 Grow consumer trust in Idaho beef production; 2 Promote and drive demand for Idaho beef; 3 Drive growth in beef exports from the Pacific Northwest to benefit Idaho.

Idaho as we know it has been changing and growing at a rapid rate. In fact, we’re currently one of the most moved to states in the United States. Population growth aside, this influx of new consumers bring with them new ideas, values and preferences. The IBC has been presented with the unique opportunity to expand education about the various sectors of Idaho’s beef industry, how ranchers care for their animals and the land, its importance to our state’s economy and how it helps protect our beautiful landscapes. It’s essential that new Idahoans understand the deep history and connection that beef ranching provides in Idaho to build appreciation, increase understanding, grow consumer trust in Idaho beef production and ultimately, encourage additional beef consumption.

Over the past fiscal year, the IBC has been focused on new activities to build trust in Idaho’s beef industry, and communicate authentically and effectively that Idaho beef is Raised Right, Here. Examples of programs implemented on behalf of Idaho beef ranchers include: • Implementing hyper-targeted social media campaigns that effectively reach target consumers as well as foodservice professionals with Idaho beef educational messaging. • Over 15,603,668 impressions achieved through consumer campaign • Over 516,460 impressions achieved through foodservice campaign • Leveraging Idaho beef ranchers, Jessie Jarvis and Lance

Pekus, who are influencers with large social audiences, to tell their personal Idaho beef stories.