Line Rider July/August

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT

Kim Burton Brackett (Kimberly) 208-308-1952

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Jerry Wroten (Wilder) 208-831-7339

VICE PRESIDENT

Spencer Black (Almo) 208-647-8130

PAST PRESIDENT

Mark Pratt ...........(Blackfoot) 208-681-6597

TREASURER

Cody Hendrix (Rigby) 208-360-9693

FEEDER COUNCIL CHAIR

Shawna Gill (Grandview) 208-850-9076

PUREBRED COUNCIL CHAIR

Val Carter (Pingree) 208-390-4811

COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR

Brayden Eliason (Holbrook) 208-705-2541

CATTLEWOMEN COUNCIL CHAIR

Maggie Malson (Parma) 208-739-2265

DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVES

Eric Wittman (Lapwai) 208-790-5344

Casey Scott...............(Clarkston) 208-431-3024

DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVES

Lori Ireland (Mountain Home) 208-866-0112

Royce Schwenkfelder (Cambridge) 208-550-2200

DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVES

Eugene Matthews (Oakley) 208-431-3260

Jesse Human (Jerome) 208-358-1277

DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVES

Ryan Steele (Idaho Falls) 208-390-5765

Chris Kirby (Salmon) 208-223-2258

DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTATIVES

Roscoe Lake (Blackfoot) 208-604-3650

Arnold Callison (Blackfoot) 208-681-8441

ALLIED INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE

Kody Dee Williams.....(Fruitland) 509-948-6430

DIRECTORS AT LARGE

Robert Oxarango (Emmett) 208-431-0777

Adrian Meyer (Grand View) 208-509-1892

CATTLEWOMEN BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

Tay Brackett (Filer) 208-866-4967

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Cameron Mulrony cameron@idahocattle.org

NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY DIRECTOR

Karen Williams karen@idahocattle.org

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Michelle Johnson michelle@idahocattle.org

DIR. OF MEMBERSHIP & INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT

Morgan Lutgen morgan@idahocattle.org

Contact Idaho Cattle Association:

Mailing address: P.O. Box 15397, Boise, ID 83715

Location: 2120 Airport Way, Boise, ID 83705

Phone: 208-343-1615

For advertising sales, contact: idahocattlepublications@gmail.com

The Line Rider is the official publication of the Idaho Cattle Association. It is published 10 times each year, in January, February, March, April/May, June, July/August, September, October, November and December.

Battles worth fighting

Protecting the livelihood of the ranching industry

Early summer is branding time for our family. This year we dodged rainstorms and an occasional hailstorm as we tried to get calves branded. Everyone loves branding days; there is an excitement in the air as horses are caught and saddled. Irons, vaccine guns and all the necessary branding equipment is double checked. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot and dusty or cool and rainy, branding days are some of the best days of the year. Loops are thrown, catcalls for great shots, jeers for missed shots. Even the ground crew gets in on the fun, as the girls prove they can flank calves, too.

BY KIM BURTON BRACKETT ICA President

After a lifetime in the ranching industry, I am still amazed at the number of attacks we encounter. Thinking over the past few months of meetings and events, I realize just how many battles in which ICA is actively involved on our behalf. Issues ranging from the BLM’s proposed Conservation and Landscape Health Rule to commenting on alternative energy projects, from sage grouse to wolves, from water to recreation pressures, from USDA’s new EID rule to changing Bangs vaccination requirements, from the threat of litigation to mainstream media’s constant attacks.

I have missed a few brandings this year to attend meetings, for example Summer Round Up. My daughter attended with me this year, and as we were driving home, she had several follow up questions based on what she had learned during the meetings. Honestly, I was thrilled that she was interested in learning more about the topics we are currently facing in Idaho’s cattle industry. At the same time, I recognized that several generations of her family have had to contend with issues that are eerily similar to what we discussed in Jackpot at Summer Round Up. What a discouraging thought!

It is disheartening that we continue to face the same battles year after year. Yet, we aren’t in this alone. ICA is on the front lines of the attacks that are headed our way. We also have neighbors, local cattle associations, and our partner organizations such as the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission and the Idaho Beef Council, standing shoulder to shoulder with us as we wade into different battles. And let’s not forget, we do have several successes in the win column that shouldn’t be overlooked: the Supreme Court ruling on WOTUS, the growing value of US beef in our export markets, the Wolf Depredation Control Board’s pilot project to fund rancher’s wolf control actions, plus we have plenty of moisture for much of our state and strong cattle markets this year.

Glancing around the branding pen, I see dusty faces and I hear tall tales being shared; it reminds me that these are the days that make the constant agency battles worthwhile. It’s easy to get discouraged and fret about equipping future generations to keep up the good fight. However, I can’t lose sight of the reason why we are all working so hard to protect our way of life. It is a blessing to live on a ranch and to raise my kids out here in the dust and the sagebrush, riding good horses, chasing good cows, and yelling at good dogs.

It’s easy to get discouraged and fret about equipping future generations to keep up the good fight. However, I can’t lose sight of the reason why we are all working so hard to protect our way of life.

Opportunity through people

Exploring the value of networking in the cattle business

Our association recently completed our summer meeting. If you were able to attend, we thank you for spending time to invest in your operation. I wanted to write today and highlight one of my most valuable takeaways from our meeting.

The network of people creates long lasting value. The hard part about this type of reimbursement for your time is that it is tough to put a dollar figure on the returns. The ICA’s Summer meeting saw over 220 registered attendees. Our annual meeting was

BY CAMERON MULRONY ICA Executive Vice President

but there is plenty of connection after the session; visiting over dinner or drinks with an attendee that may have never interacted with your operation may lead to a future opportunity. Many of the best bonds are formed in the most casual interactions in the aftermath of big happenings.

The networks we build at events can often lead to opportunity. Sometimes, I ponder how new possibilities have come my way. Most of the time, it has been linked to a person that I have met, many of which were in those simple discussions after an event, rather than in a formal work setting. I believe that a larger network builds greater opportunities, that opportunity provides for competition, and that competition breeds greatness.

nearly 450 last year and we hope to approach 500 again this coming November.

The ol’saying,“it’s not about what you know, it’s who you know” has some truth to it. Having someone to call in a situation can be critical. At some point, it will be necessary to reach out to the people in your network, so keeping that network strong is important. Any time you can put a name and face together, it builds into your network. You create a relationship with that individual, and a level of rapport.

The people we deal with in this industry still place a lot of value on old-fashioned interpersonal connections. The cattle are the basis of the operation, but it is the people that we work with. I’ve heard from time to time in sales settings that we are investing in the program, and the face of the program is the producer. Attending events with operators, allied representatives, and agency decision makers will contribute to your “program” and invest in your network.

At our ICA Events, there is a magnitude of growth, beyond the planned meetings. We may have a panel or discussion that spurs on thought and inquisition,

Bigger networks give you more perspective, too. I often remind myself in my own marketing not to get “barn blind” with my livestock. I need to get out and see the world and operations around me. Is my best calf only the best at my place? Or could he be the best at other places too? The network we have can help to lead us forward and prevent us from falling into “barn blindness,” which is easily acquired if you haven’t looked at and appreciated your friend’s livestock in a while. Your network lets you see from the perspective of others and allows you to develop your operation to be the best it can be.

In closing, I encourage each of you to attend an event related to our industry, continue to build your network, ride a big circle, and continue to build and grow.

We look forward to seeing or hearing from you at any event that we attend or host, but one of the best bangs for your buck is the annual meeting in Sun Valley each year. Make a plan to join us. It will be worth the investment of your time and hardearned dollars to build a network that will create opportunity for you and your operation.

The networks we build at events can often lead to opportunity.

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Problem-solving on the trail

Government leaders and Idaho cowboys gather to discuss current issues

What happens when you assemble a governor, the heads of Idaho’s agriculture and natural resource-related agencies, federal agency leadership, and cowboys in a remote location for a three-day campout? For starters, titles, airs, and formalities all fall by the wayside. Relationships are built and seeds of thought are planted that lead to the growth of solutions to complex issues. After several years of Governor’s trail rides, this has proven to be a fail-safe way of breaking down discussion barriers and getting to the meat of the issues that are impacting both Idaho’s cattle producers and natural resource management in the state. This summer’s 21st Annual Governor’s Trail Ride, Discussion and Campout event proved no different.

BY KAREN WILLIAMS ICA Natural Resources Policy Director

rains, offered a perfect backdrop for dialogue on the need for greater management flexibility on federal lands to mirror the good management on the private ranchlands we rode through on the trail ride.

As you would suppose, outfitting government officials who typically have little to no horse-riding experience can be a challenge. Consequently, we intentionally keep the trail ride itself to a manageable size by limiting participation to ICA leadership, the governor, heads of state agencies, and key officials from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior. We expand the opportunity for greater participation on the afternoon of the trail ride by hosting a discussion and dinner gathering at the campsite for additional agency staff, elected officials, and local ICA members. It is often at this discussion that we really get into the “meat” of key issues impacting Idaho ranchers and natural resource use and management in Idaho. With the latest actions coming out of Washington D.C, we certainly had an abundance of issues to work around.

The event, which moves around to different reaches of the state each year, was hosted this year by Aslett Ranches at their Flying Spear Outfitters camp in Three Creek, Idaho at the end of June. The remote, no-cell-coverage location proved to be an ideal spot to foster solid working relationships between ICA, Governor Little, and various key government officials. The landscape, which was particularly showing itself off after an abundance of late spring

Key among those issues discussed was the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Conservation and Landscape Health Rule that was proposed this spring and open for public comment through July 5. Department of Interior (DOI) Assistant Deputy Secretary Sarah Greenberger made the trip west to attend the trail ride event. Her presence offered a sounding board for our many concerns related to this ill-conceived rule which declares conservation to be a use, alongside other multiple uses such as grazing, and opens a process for conservation leasing on BLM land. The discussion provided the opportunity for various state agencies, along with ICA, to share our concerns with the ideas outlined in the proposal to a key figure at DOI. As Idaho

It is often at this discussion that we really get into the “meat” of key issues impacting Idaho ranchers and natural resource management in Idaho.

State Department of Agriculture Director, Chanel Tewalt succinctly put it during our discussion, the rule creates tremendous litigation risk because it creates a fundamental shift that is not defined by existing statute, and the stakeholders (grazing permittees) are the ones that are left to bear that risk.

With the expected updates to the BLM’s sage grouse management plans, sage grouse served as another key discussion item at the event. Idaho has long been a leader in collaborative sage grouse conservation and planning efforts. As DOI moves forward in the process to revise the sage grouse plans, specifically for Idaho, they should allow our proven state process to work and utilize the alternative for Idaho that has been collaboratively prepared by our state agency officials, BLM, and stakeholders. The alternatives that were presented by BLM in skeleton draft form in the sage grouse planning newsletter issued in March are concerning. It is unnecessary and untenable for the BLM to consider an alternative where grazing is prohibited in all sage grouse habitat. Our discussion allowed us to lean into the benefits of grazing and the unnecessity of changing grazing management in the name of sage grouse. At

the discussion, we were informed that the new plans are expected to be released for public review and comment in December of this year.

A recurring discussion item at trail ride events over the years has been wildfires and fuels management. For the benefit of our DOI official in attendance, we relayed the many benefits that Rangeland Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) and their members provide in limiting the spread of catastrophic fire. RFPAs have now been in existence in Idaho for over 10 years and have proven to be invaluable tools in initial attack of wildfires. Currently, there are 10 RFPAs in Idaho covering 8.9 million acres of

rangeland. As proof of their value, in the Jarbidge field office, before RFPAs, 1.8 million acres burned from 2002-2012. With RFPAs in place 618,000 acres burned since 2013. That is a reduction of 1.16 million acres burned. These figures make a compelling case for just one of the many benefits that our industry provides to the landscape. While on the topic of fires, we also discussed the need to be able to manage our lands more nimbly according to the variable annual conditions. In years like this, with a lot of late moisture, the fuels build-up on Idaho’s rangelands is likely to explode and grazing is the most effective and efficient tool available to manage those

AFTER A LONG RIDE THROUGH THE RANGELAND TERRAIN, THE RIDERS HEAD BACK TO CAMP TO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND CONNECTIONS.

EXPERIENCED COWBOYS AND NEW-TO-THE-SADDLE OFFICIALS ALIKE SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES FROM HORSEBACK.

fuel loads, yet federal rules and regulation prevent this tool from being utilized. Coincidentally, the nation’s largest wildfire last year, the Moose Fire, occurred in the very location where we held the 2021 trail ride event where we expressed concern about the mismanagement of such areas and the likelihood of catastrophic fire.

We could not hold an event in the Magic Valley area without touching on the topic of utility-scale renewable energy development on public lands. It is clear that the Magic Valley is ground zero for this controversial issue right now. The BLM has made a strong push for renewable energy development, most recently in the form of a rule released in June designed to promote the development of solar and wind energy on public lands. Not only is there dramatic potential for displaced grazing AUMs on public lands, particularly with solar development, but there is also concern that existing grazed rangeland will be used as a mitigation for the heavy impacts, resulting in further unnecessary restrictions on grazing. The point was made to the federal agencies in attendance that it is contradictory to seek to manage for multiple uses and land conservation while placing such heavy emphasis on and incentivization for solar

and wind energy, which can leave significant impacts on the land.

The focus of the 2022 trail ride was on the increasing impacts on federal, state, and private lands of recreation. Our discussion this year allowed us to follow-up with key agencies and discover the positive steps those agencies had taken in

the ensuing year to better manage for the increase recreation. An increase of funds to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation will enable them to focus efforts on managing recreation and directing it to more appropriate, managed areas. A new law and resulting rules from the Idaho Department of Lands creates penalties for mistreating state land while recreating. Both actions were direct outgrowths of last year’s trail ride discussion and provided proof of the value of the event in creating meaningful results.

This last discussion item perfectly underscored the tremendous value to ICA and its members in partnering with Governor Little to carry out this annual event and continue its tradition. Year after year, the trail ride has more than proven its worth in building relationships between our industry and government decision makers and in turning campfire conversations into meaningful solutions.

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THE TRAILRIDE AFFORDS A UNIQUE VIEW OF THE CONDITION OF THE VERY LAND THAT THE PARTICIPANTS STRIVE TO MANAGE.

The whirlwind trip began with the record number of participants convening in Denver and attending workshops at NCBA Headquarters. The group also traveled to a Five Rivers Yard & toured Greely Hat Works while in Colorado. The next stop took them to Omaha, NE where they toured Tyson’s Dakota City plant and then departed to Cleveland, OH. In Wooster, the YCC class visited the Certified Angus Beef Headquarters and learned about the highly successful branded beef program. A tour of Wendy’s wrapped up the visit to Ohio and then they were off to Washington, D.C.

In addition to spending time visiting some of America’s most treasured monuments, Jesse and other YCC participants were able to deep-dive into how NCBA educates both legislators and lobbyists, as well as advocates for the betterment of the beef industry. Jesse was able to meet with those representing the Idaho delegation and closed out the trip attending the NCBA PAC auction held in conjunction with the conference.

IDAHO'S OWN TANNER BEYMER, WITH HIS YCC AUCTION PURCHASE OF AN IDAHO WOLF PELT, DONATED BY THE IDAHO TRAPPERS ASSOCIATION

ICA BOARD MEMBER JESSE HUMAN ATTENDS NCBA YOUNG CATTLEMEN’S CONFERENCE

Connecting on a level beyond similarity

It was an early morning. Like 4 a.m. early. It wasn’t the first time, and it won’t be the last. But for some reason, that particular morning I stopped to think about it rather than just go through the familiar motions. I thought about all the other “show” moms getting up early to make sandwiches, pack a cooler, load the lawn chairs, make sure the show clothes were pressed, and get kids out the door to the barn to grab their livestock and head to a show. I thought about the other moms who would hold the halters, take the photos, and spend a crazy amount of money at the show supply trailer

BY MAGGIE MALSON CattleWomen Council Chair

development that takes place together while raising an animal and preparing it for exhibition.

That same morning I realized we’re not that different than the baseball and softball moms who are spending their summer days in the bleachers and at the ball fields, cheering on their kids in their sport of choice. Or the rodeo moms. And ranch moms who are up early to prepare the meal for branding, helping saddle kids’ horses and riding along with the crew. Recognizing where we are similar is the first step in reaching those who are outside of agriculture, but still are purchasing and consuming food, especially our product—beef.

I firmly believe there is much more in life that unites us than divides us, and I will continue to find those similarities to help bridge the gap with the differences. We all want to cheer on our kids in whatever activity they choose. We want to raise them to work hard, respect others, learn how to win and lose with dignity, and value life and others.

because junior needed the newest comb or a can of adhesive. There is just something about a livestock show and everything that goes into attending one with our kids. It’s a lot of work, but I don’t know any parent who regrets the time and money spent to share these experiences with their kids. Our kids have been blessed to be growing up as the fourth generation in the cattle business, and as the second generation showing in 4-H, FFA and junior livestock associations. Josh and I can’t think of a better way to be able to raise our kids than in agriculture. We all know the hard work and dedication it takes to make a living in this industry, and we don’t take it lightly the opportunities we have.

I spoke with several moms at a recent show about what they enjoy most about being in the barn with their kids. They all mentioned it was about family and watching all the learning, life lessons and skill

I remember a few years ago we were out of town for a cattle show. We ran into some school friends who were also in town, but they were there to play baseball. We laughed a bit when they stepped onto the elevator at the same hotel and we said, “Hey, what are you doing here?” It gave us the opportunity to visit about the show and what all the kids had to do to get ready for it. These are moments of connection with those less familiar with our industry. Never underestimate the power of small, positive conversations to create understanding and open the dialogue.

In this issue of the Line Rider, we share from different Idaho cattlewomen who have found ways to share their love of ranching, the cattle industry, and beef in unique ways that benefit our industry and others as well. I encourage you to read through it, and get to know them a little better. Being an Idaho

Not so different after all

I firmly believe there is much more in life that unites us than divides us.

cattlewoman isn’t defined solely by membership or owning cows and living on a ranch. It goes much deeper than that. It’s why through all the years of changes our industry has seen, many aspects of it remain the same. Deep down at its core, being an Idaho cattlewoman is having a love of the cattle, the industry, and the people in it. It’s wanting to support those who produce beef, and share with consumers why beef is part of a healthy diet.

I’ve appreciated serving on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors with some great cattlemen and women leaders. It’s been rewarding to be part of policy discussions that help guide our grassroots organization. Being involved in this industry has been a blessing, and I am so thankful for all the leaders who came before me, and I am inspired by the next generation of young women joining the industry to share their own unique contributions. Despite the daily challenges, I will remain forever optimistic that the future of agriculture and the beef industry is bright.

In closing, I appreciate all those who have and continue to support the Idaho CattleWomen Council’s annual Scholarship Saddle Raffle. Since 2008, we have awarded $83,600 in scholarships to students studying agriculture. This program has been successful in creating new leaders for our industry

Proudly Supports • Proudly Supports

BY MAGGIE MALSON

IDAHO CATTLEWOMAN, ALLISON ELIASON, HARD AT WORK ON HER AND HUSBAND BRAYDEN’S SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO RANCH.

Photos provided by Jessie Jarvis, Shawna Gill, Anita Gonzalez, Lauren Mink, Allison Eliason, and Hannah Malson

Women of Influence

IDAHO CATTLEWOMEN

FIND MANY WAYS TO IMPACT THE INDUSTRY

Six of our Idaho cattlewomen have found their own unique ways to advocate for agriculture, make an impact, and share the story of the Idaho beef industry with others.

Living and working in an industry she loves has always been important to Jessie Jarvis, who ranches with her husband, Justin, their two children, Jhett and Jaxyn, and Jessie’s parents, Allen and Kim Thompson, near King Hill. Jarvis is also the owner of a career development platform called Of the West, which connects employers and job seekers from the agriculture, livestock, and western sports industries. She launched the company in January 2021 after realizing the significant need for finding qualified employees who wanted to work in agriculture.

“Justin and I were fielding lots of calls. In fact, we received four calls in one week in the spring of 2020, from people looking for employees or others seeking employment in livestock or ag-related fields,” Jarvis says. “If that many people we knew about were having problems, it must be an issue on a larger scale.”

Having been a student looking for an internship, a college graduate looking for that first job, sitting in on interviews, and hiring employees for their own operation, Jarvis had experience on both sides of the hiring process and felt there was opportunity to find solutions to help both parties.

“We wanted to find a way to more easily connect people who already have knowledge, experience or passion specifically for agriculture, livestock, equine and western sports with employers looking for those qualities,” Jarvis says.

In the two years since launching, Of The West, has worked with more than 300 companies and has around 3,000 users on the site. According to USDA, there are more than 22 million jobs in American agriculture. That doesn’t even include jobs in the western sports industries. Those numbers indicate lots of room to grow.

“We have a long ways to go when it comes to the potential impact we can have on the industry,” she says.

Future plans include growing the platform and launching the Leaders Of The West podcast, which will connect agriculturists, entrepreneurs, executives, and everyone in between to discuss mindsets, lessons and strategies that have been crucial to the success of ag and western industries.

“Whether you’re carrying on the next generation of your family’s operation, starting something from scratch, or determined to climb up the leadership ladder, we’re going to inspire you to continue to dream big—growing not just you, but the future of agriculture and western as a whole,” Jarvis says.

As a rancher, wife and mother, working to make sure the next generation has opportunities in agriculture is important to Jarvis. Not only does she do this by making sustainable ranch decisions, but she also advocates for the industry through social media and making connections with those in and out of ag.

“I want people to know we care,” says Jarvis, who shares about ranch life and more with her Instagram followers. “We care about the land, the animals, the environment. And we care about the people consuming the food we produce,” she says. “We want the types of food products people are getting, whether at the grocery store, local farmer’s market, food bank, school cafeteria or restaurant, to be high quality, and for people to know we’ve done our best to produce it for them.”

Shawna Gill, who is the cattle manager at Simplot Land & Livestock in Grand View, agrees that people who are raising food really care about the land and animals.

“It’s more than a job; it’s our life,” she explains. “Yes, we have to make a living, but we do this work because it’s important. It’s what we do day and night. It’s a lifestyle raising good quality protein for the world.”

Gill, and her husband, Rusty, and five year old son, Rylee, also run cow-calf pairs, so after her day job of managing around 40 employees, she puts in the time with her family building their cowherd.

“We care about the land, the animals, the environment. And we care about the people consuming the food we produce.”

Jessie Jarvis

THE JARVIS FAMILY IN THEIR NATURAL ELEMENT ON THE FAMILY OPERATION.

“I’m so thankful for my family, to be able to live and work where we do in rural Idaho, to raise cattle together and have our health,” Gill says. “I’m also thankful for the people in my life who have given me opportunities. It’s a long list of people who have influenced me. I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them.”

Gill has been involved in the cattle industry all her life as her dad worked on the ZX Ranch in Oregon and her mom was a brand inspector. After high school, she began riding pens at the Simplot feed yard in Caldwell, then three months later moved to Grand View to ship cattle at night. At that time she was 19 years old and weighing and figuring loads. They were shipping around 12,000 cattle a week. She’s also been part of the receiving and processing crew, as well as running the feeding side of things as feed boss.

“Currently, I am responsible for the people who care for the cattle from the time they are received at the feed yard and everything that happens to them to the time they are harvested,” Gill says.

It’s a challenge managing all the different people and personalities, but Gill says this position has been her favorite.

“I also really enjoyed receiving cattle as I could still catch a horse every day at work,” she adds.

Gill has gained a lot of experience in her 24 years of cattle feeding and has seen some changes. She currently serves on the Executive Committee as the Feeder Council Chair for the Idaho Cattle Association.

“We are harvesting animals at a heavier weight,” Gill says. “When I first came here, cattle were shipping out at 1,250 lbs. Now we’re shipping out at least 1,400 to 1,450, maybe 1,600 lbs. There are different challenges of taking care of cattle to heavier weights. Demand is for higher quality beef and in order to get higher percentage of choice and prime, that’s what you have to do. We’re all selling them on a grid now versus live.”

Before moving to the ICA Executive Committee, Gill served as an at large board member for four years.

“It made me step out of my comfort zone,” she says of the experience. “I had never really served on a formal board. I grew up in a very rural area and didn’t have an opportunity to do 4-H or FFA. The structure of the board has been a real learning experience for me.”

Gill has enjoyed working together as a group.

“Everyone brings their own experience, but we have a common goal to better the industry,” she says. “We may have different views that we have to discuss and work through, then vote on, but I’ve enjoyed being a part of the process.”

One thing that surprised Gill was the work the Cattle Action Legal Fund, or CALF Board does on behalf of ranchers.

“It is amazing to me what they can do to help support people who are in litigation against the government or other parties,” she says. “To me that’s a big deal for the small family ranch that can’t afford those fights. That makes a difference in people’s lives.”

Gill has always been surrounded by beef industry people and wanted to be a part of it too. She has many people she looks up to, but credits her mom as her mentor.

WHILE SHAWNA’S DAY JOB PLACES HER AS THE CATTLE MANAGER AT SIMPLOT LIVESTOCK, SHE ALSO WORKS WITH HER HUSBAND TO GROW THEIR FAMILY HERD, AS WELL AS COMMITS TIME TO SERVING ON THE ICA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS THE FEEDER COUNCIL CHAIR.

“My mom taught me how to work alongside a man, and that I could do the same work as a man, but also still be a lady, and not try to act like a man.”

Shawna Gill

“My mom taught me how to work alongside a man, and that I could do the same work as a man, but also still be a lady, and not try to act like a man,” Gill says. “She had a clean mouth and she’d shut down some people for trash talk. Being a mother myself now, raising the next generation is one of the greatest contributions I can make to the industry.”

Making a difference for the next generation has been important to Anita Gonzalez, who has served as the Scholarship and Saddle Committee Chair since 2018. This is the annual fundraising project the Idaho CattleWomen Council leads to raise scholarship funds for students studying agriculture.

At the time she joined the ICWC, she wasn’t directly involved with industry but had strong ties to it having grown up in a farming and ranching family.

“I knew the importance of the group and wanted to support it by paying dues,” she says. “In later years, when Linda Ramsey was retiring as chair of the Scholarship and Saddle Committee, she reached out to see if I would step into that role,” Gonzalez says. “My mom had been the CattleWomen President so I was familiar with the program. I remember how difficult it was to pay for college and these scholarships are helping to ease the financial burden for students who grew up just like I did.”

Gonzalez and committee members find the saddle maker, secure allied industry donations to help pay for the saddle and coordinate the ticket sales.

“Our goal is to have the expenses covered and have all the proceeds from each year’s saddle raffle be awarded to deserving students,” Gonzalez says. “In the past several years alone, we have awarded more than $40,000. We’re very thankful to have so much support from the industry to help students further their education in agriculture.”

In addition to her volunteer work, Gonzalez and her husband, Elias, who were married in December 2022, are focusing on building their cowherd and family. Gonzalez also became a bonus mother to Elias’s children, TJ, Riley and Layna.

“It has been a huge adjustment for me, but I can already see being a wife and mother will be the most rewarding work I will ever do,” she says. “We both grew up in the industry and it is important to us we be part of it to support our family’s future.”

Elias works for the King Ranch in Oreana and the family delivers CowBos for Miller Livestock Solutions as well. Growing up in Bruneau, Gonzalez was involved in 4-H and FFA. “I truly believe the combination of skills learned through those organizations and work ethic I learned from my folks shaped me into the person I am today,” she says. “All those chores and work we had to do ‘built character’ as they would say. My folks farmed and ranched and were involved in the local and state cattle associations. I also worked at the Idaho Beef Council as my first job out of college. My exposure to these organizations are why I am involved with the CattleWomen. I

“Our goal is to have the expenses covered and have all the proceeds from each year’s saddle raffle be awarded to deserving students.”

Anita Gonzalez

ANITA GONZALEZ SERVES AS THE SCHOLARSHIP AND SADDLE COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR THE IDAHO CATTTLEWOMEN. SHE IS FIERCELY FOCUSED ON HER FAMILY AND PARTNERS WITH HER HUSBAND AND PARENTS ON EXPANDING THEIR OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS.

understand the value and importance of both to the future of the industry.”

Gonzalez also credits her mother, Jessie Miller, with helping shape her love of agriculture and providing inspiration.

“She is the hardest working person I have ever known, Gonzalez says. “Her and my dad both worked so hard to provide for our family and still do. She is so talented and so loving. She has more grit than 10 men. She can ride, rope, cook and keep house, not to mention run multiple successful business. She works from sun up to sun down and gets up and does it again day after day. Watching her, I have learned to never be afraid to learn new things and or to work hard. I have never seen her back down from a challenge. I strive to be like her in everything that I do.”

As a past ICWC Scholarship recipient, Lauren Mink appreciates the financial support the scholarship provided.

“Financial freedom and independence are personal core values that allow me to live life more fully,” says Mink, who graduated from the University of Idaho this summer. “The ICWC scholarship supported me financially throughout my college career and allowed me opportunities to network and build relationships with mentors and industry professionals that I greatly admire.

Growing up on the SS Cattle Company in Cambridge, Mink enjoyed watching her dad work with cattle and horses, and at an early age developed a love of agriculture.

“As I got older, I focused more on cattle and the beef industry, which is where my passion truly lies,” she says. “During college I saw the need for beef advocacy and served as an officer for the Student Idaho Cattle Association, as well as founded the Women In Agriculture Club, it was gratifying to see immense growth while serving with other incredible individuals in just a few short years.”

In addition to finishing school, Mink works for the Idaho FFA Foundation raising money for agriculture education programs across the state.

“It is touching to see

the other side of the same programs, grants, and scholarships that have made a great impact on my life,” she says.

Similarly, Allison Eliason remembers loving ranch life ever since she was a little girl. Now, Eliason ranches with her husband, Brayden, and their four kids, in southeastern Idaho.

“From moving cows to haying to collecting the data of our herd—I love it all,” she says. “I knew I wanted this adventure for the rest of my life and to raise my kids in the same way. I love the lessons we have learned about the circle of life, responsibility, relying on each other as a family, and working until the job is done and done well. This life certainly isn’t easy, but because of it I have greater faith, a greater love for fellow farmers and ranchers and the work they do, and a hope for a life filled with adventure and success.”

In addition to being a ranch wife and mother, Eliason writes for the local newspaper.

“Each week I have the privilege of writing an article or story focused on agriculture,” she says. “Some weeks it’s focused on events in the ag world or its teaching about ranch life or sharing stories and lessons from our own ranching experiences. Through it I hope to connect my readers back to ag, whatever walk of life they are from.”

PAST IDAHO CATTLEWOMEN SCHOLARSHIP WINNER, LAUREN MINK.

IN ADDITION TO RAISING 4 KIDS WITH HER HUSBAND, ALLISON CONTRIBUTES AGRICULTURAL ARTICLES TO THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.

Eliason takes inspiration from other ranching women, and has realized she can serve her ranch, the industry and others best by just being herself.

“For a long time I thought to be a “true” ranch wife, I needed to be the top hand at whatever was happening on the ranch and that ALL my interest had to be centered on the ranch,” she explains. “But that just wasn’t me. Finally, I realized I could make an impact by putting my heart into all the things I loved, not just those things that look ranchy. I saw other women, ranch women, doing just that. Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, does her best work supporting her husband from the kitchen and sharing her love of cooking beef. Terryn Drieling, of Faith, Family & Beef, serves in her local church and as an EMT. Brandi Buzzard, who blogs at Buzzard’s Beat, makes it a priority to include her kids in every way she can as a first-generation rancher. I have seen tough ranch women that also love fashion, baking, photography, athletics, and politics. These women that choose to make their own mold inspire me every day.”

Also sharing her passion for the industry in a unique way, Hannah Malson has created a beef and cattle focused boutique called The Grit + Glam.

Malson grew up on a hay farm in Oregon, and works with her mom to market show cattle to youth. In addition, she and her husband, Joe, and their two kids are part of a family seedstock cattle operation outside of Parma raising registered Angus and Hereford cattle.

Malson spent 10 years in the industry working in several roles, first as a carcass merchandiser with Tyson

Fresh Meats in Nebraska, then moving to positions with Agri Beef, including assistant procurement rep, assistant office manager at Boise Valley Feeders, and finally as operations manager at BVF before leaving to focus on her family.

“It still amazes me I got to work in so many different facets of the beef industry in a decade,” she says. All that experience gave her the confidence and skills to use in her boutique and cattle businesses. After having her first child, Malson grew frustrated with the beef themed clothing for kids. “They would maybe have a catchy phrase on there, but then the picture of the cow was not, what I considered, to be an accurate representation of the beef industry,” she says. “I began coming up with some graphic ideas that included cattle that were not only anatomically correct, but also with some eye appeal.”

After some life altering times in 2020, Malson decided dreams were meant to be chased, launching her business in 2021.

Malson hopes the boutique & designs are conversation starters for people. “I hope it gives those unfamiliar with agriculture or cattle a way to start an open minded and factual conversation with someone in the industry,” she says. “More times than not, I feel you find the general population is not so much against us, but rather not educated with our practices.

“I hope people can approach us to become more educated and get their questions answered from someone other than Google,” she says. “I was so fortunate to be born into the agricultural world and my kids are getting to experience that too.”

For those who don’t grow up this way, Malson wants to be able to share this lifestyle with them and help them learn where their food comes from.

“I think I would be unrecognizable if I hadn’t grown up in the agriculture industry,” she says. “As Babe Ruth said, ‘It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.’ The ag industry isn’t for the faint of heart.”

HANNAH MALSON IS PROUD OF HER UNIQUE SHIRT DESIGNS, WHICH SHE HOPES WILL SHED A LIGHT ON THE TRUTH OF THE INDUSTRY.

“For a long time I thought to be a ‘true’ ranch wife, I needed to be the top hand at whatever was happening on the ranch and that ALL my interest had to be centered on the ranch. But that just wasn’t me.”

Allison Eliason

LMA MEMBERS HAVE YOUR BEST INTEREST IN MIND.

In the livestock business, success is based on established relationships and trust. Members of the Livestock Marketing Association have a vested interest in helping livestock producers stay in business, and thrive even in challenging times. Find a trusted market near you today.

We’ve got your back.

How Are Beef Producers Stacking Up In Today’s Competitive Market?

The National Beef Quality Audit results are in!

The Beef Checkoff-funded National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) provides a “scorecard” on beef industry progress toward improving beef quality, safety and animal welfare, all factors that consumers take into consideration when buying beef. This audit shows the industry where improvements have been made, as well as recommendations on areas where improvement is needed in order to continue to build consumer trust and expand beef demand.

The 2022 National Beef Quality Audits (NBQA) for both fed cattle, as well as market cows and bulls are complete and results are available online.1 Idaho producers can compare audit results to their own practices to make sure that their operations shore up any of these challenges and build their competitiveness and profitability.

Since 1991, audits have been conducted on a growing variety of factors. The audits originally focused on the physical attributes of beef products and have expanded to include consumer concerns for safety, sustainability, and animal welfare from ranch to processing facilities.

Through consumer survey research, we know that con-

sumers not only demand quality food products to bring to their families, but they want to know that the beef products available are produced safely, sustainably, and with animal welfare assured. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) “Dashboard” survey results agree with the audits and show that consumers expect product safety and quality but are also concerned about animal welfare.

The beef industry has responded by building a set of guideposts for herd management, animal well-being and handling, injection-site location, and mobility in the national Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) with an additional guidance for the transportation of cattle. These guidelines are based on rigorous evidence that supports practices to assure that consumer demands are transparently met and that consumer demand for beef products is maintained and even increased. The national BQA Certification is implemented at the state level and includes an additional certification for professional and farmer/rancher transporters as of 2018 under BQA-Transportation or BQAT. It is wellknown that cattle raised using BQA practices can fetch higher market prices for the producer. Idaho producers expanding

BUCKSHOT/BIRDSHOT REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN ALL PROCESSING PLANTS, FOLLOWED BY NEEDLES AND WIRE.

• Hear from world renowned stockmanship clinicians and other industry experts.

• Session highlights include chute-side trainings, herd health planning, cattle handling, and a chance to get BQA certified!

• Full registration includes all events and meals, student pricing and one-day registration options available!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH

• Breakout sessions covering biosecurity, nutrition, and industry hot topics, including an update from Certified Angus Beef

• Live cattle handling demonstrations

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH

• BQA Certification and industry updates

• Classroom demonstrations

Full Registration (Includes all events and meals!) - $125 One Day Registration for Friday or Saturday - $75 Student Registration (Includes Friday and Saturday events and meals with proof of Valid Student ID upon check in!) - $50

their use of BQA and BQAT practices are better equipped to respond to consumer concerns and benefit from increased consumer demand.

POSITIVE INDUSTRY CHANGES

Both audits suggested an improvement in USDA Quality and Yield Grades from previous audits. Audit results included a significant increase in the production of prime and choice grade carcasses, coinciding with a dramatic decrease in select grade carcasses. Carcass weight and fat thickness increased from previous audits.

Efforts to implement BQAT Certification in the Fed Cattle Audit were impressive with about 93% of transportation service companies saying they were familiar with BQAT Certification and 91% holding BQAT Certification under the Fed Cattle Audit. The Market Cow and Bull Audit showed an increase in the amount of trailer loads that allotted sufficient area for each animal. Cattle were not transported more than 24 hours. In this audit, more than 63% of transporters surveyed held BQAT Certification.

Mobility scores improved, moving from poorer scores (3 and 4) that define difficulty in movement to better scores (1 and 2) that show normal, easy movement with little impairment in keeping up with normal cattle. This improvement suggests that market cows and bulls may be processed before any detrimental health issues are apparent. Few cattle showed issues of knots or injection site lesions that were visible on the surface, increasing the quality and yield potential of cattle.

The audit suggested an overall improvement in efficiency across the beef supply chain. Traceability was recommended as a part of the national BQA program efforts. An increase in the use of electronic identification (EID) was documented in the audit. Increased use of technology was seen for recordkeeping and data collection that may help to mitigate the threat of disease spread.

The audit documented improvements in problem areas discovered in previous audits. For example, there is an improved perception of market cows and bulls and a great

potential to yield valuable cuts beyond ground beef. And, most important to consumers, animal well-being has improved over the years since previous audits.

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

While many improvements were seen, this most recent Fed Cattle Audit showed an increase in carcass bruising at a frequency of more than 52%. The Market Cattle and Bull Audit showed that these cattle also had excessive bruising, were often disabled before harvest, and were often condemned.

Foreign objects were reported in all plants that participated in the audits. In addition, a majority of plants noted that consumers found foreign objects in their purchased beef, suggesting that foreign objects remain a challenge. All processing plants reported buckshot/birdshot. Nearly 20% noted the presence of bullets, needles, wire, and darts.

The audits suggested that BQA and BQAT training and certification may further improve animal handling and reduce problem areas, such as bruising and carcass damage that impacts yield and profitability. Such improvements could increase the value of market cows and bulls through improving the quality of more valuable cuts beyond ground beef.

And, while the use of technology for traceability has improved, there is a need for a more robust and cohesive system to reduce the risk for and quickly respond to animal diseases in the supply chain.

PATHWAY TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

The audits pointed out opportunities and dollars that are lost due to live animal defects, carcass defects, and the sale of animals unfit for consumption. The audits uniformly cited the continued need for BQA and BQAT certification across the supply chain from producers to consumers.

It is anticipated that with the expansion of education through checkoff funding, future audit results will show con tinued improvement with enhanced consistency and quality of beef products. In addition, an emphasis on BQA/BQAT practices has great potential to improve consumer trust in the beef industry, demand for beef products, and profitabili ty for beef industry stakeholders.

HOW YOU CAN HELP IMPROVE BEEF QUALITY AND CONSUMER TRUST IN BEEF PRODUCTION

Idaho beef producers can join their colleagues and part ners in the Pacific Northwest to meet the challenges, build consumer trust, and claim the prize of an expanded and more profitable market by attending the PNW Stockmanship and Stewardship conference in Ontario, Oregon on September 15th and 16th.

This unique Stockmanship and Stewardship event is focused on live low-stress live cattle handling demonstrations with Curt Pate and Ron Gill, as well as meat cutting demonstrations, BQA training and industry updates you won’t find anywhere else. Gain an edge on learning about consumer concerns regarding beef sustainability and livestock welfare, how those concerns have impacted the industry, and the role that BQA plays in the conversation. Producers who attend not only receive hands-on training in best management practices to help improve their operation, but also the chance to get BQA certified (or recertified)!

Beef ranchers may also apply for a Rancher Resilience Grant sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Cargill Protein to offset attendance costs. Additional information can be found here: https://www.ncba.org/ producers/rancher-resilience-grant

REGISTER TODAY!

Register now for the Stockmanship & Stewardship event:

For additional information, please contact Mandy Legarreta, Idaho Beef Council B2B Marketing Specialist, at MLegarreta@ IDBeef.org or 208-779-2771.

Handle With Care – Preventing Bruises in Beef Cattle

BY J. BENTON GLAZE, JR., PH.D.

Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Animal, Veterinary & Food Science Department University of Idaho

Consumers are keenly aware of and concerned about the quality, consistency, production, and value of the products they purchase. This has led industries to scrutinize and evaluate their production practices and ensure that the consumers’ wants and needs are addressed. Considering the variety and cost of protein sources in the marketplace today and the desire to have consumers choose beef, the beef industry has implemented protocols to assess the incidence of quality and consistency shortfalls and provide avenues to address such issues. These assessments and guidelines are provided through beef quality audits.

In 1991, beef industry leaders initiated the National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA). A goal of this endeavor was to conduct quality audits of fed cattle (steers and heifers) and provide benchmark data that identified areas of non-conformity and quality shortfalls. Also, this effort provided the beef industry with several recommendations aimed at addressing and managing product inconsistencies and non-conformities and gave the industry some direction in improving beef’s position in the marketplace. Subsequent audits were conducted in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2016, and 2022. As a complement to the fed cattle audits, market cow and bull quality audits were conducted in 1994, 1999, 2007, 2016, and 2022. These fed cattle and market cow and bull quality audits identified bruising as a concern for the beef industry.

Bruises can be described as a tissue injury that includes

the rupture of the blood supply and an accumulation of blood and serum in the affected and surrounding tissues. Bruises develop when sufficient force is applied to the tissues to alter the blood vessels. To maintain beef quality and wholesomeness, bruised tissues must be trimmed away in the fabrication process. Added time and labor are necessary to remove the bruised/damaged tissue.

As beef quality audits are conducted, bruises are evaluated based on their severity and scored using a 10-point scale that represents the size of the bruise and the amount of trim required to remove the bruise. Minimal bruising (scores 1-3) requires less than 1 pound of surface trim to remove the bruise, major bruising (scores 4-6) requires 1 to 10 pounds of trim to remove the bruise, critical bruising (scores 7-9) requires more than 10 pounds of trim to remove the bruise, and extreme bruising (score of 10), requires that an entire primal cut be take out of production to address the bruising.

As part of the 2022 NBQA, the severity and incidence of bruises were noted during audit activities and these results were compared to previous audit results. In fed cattle, the highest frequency (52.3%) of carcass bruising was recorded. Following is a look at how the severity of the bruises have changed since the 2016 NBQA. In 2016, 77.0% of the bruises were categorized as minimal, 20.6% as major, 1.7% as critical, and 0.7% as extreme versus 63.0% as minimal, 33.8% as major, 2.9% as critical, and 0.2% as extreme in 2022. The decrease in the minimal bruises and the increases in the major and critical bruises suggest that more trimming will be required to prepare the beef prior to sale.

Similar results were found in the audit results for market cows and bulls. In 2016, 64.1% of market cow carcasses had bruises

The statistics show that bruising is a meat issue that requires our attention

versus 66.7% in 2022. In 2016, 42.9% of market bull carcasses had bruises versus 44% in 2022. The severity of the bruises in the market cows was 67.3% minimal, 45.1% major, 4.8% critical, and 1.4% extreme in 2016 versus 50.5% minimal, 57.2% major, 8.1% critical, and 1.6% extreme in 2022. For market bulls, the severity of the bruises was 42.4% minimal, 21.9% major, 1.5% critical, and 0.3% extreme in 2016 versus 36.9% minimal, 41.4% major, 6.5% critical, and 0.8% extreme in 2022. As mentioned previously, the incidence and severity of the bruises will result in the need for additional trimming during the fabrication of beef carcass. The added time, labor, and trim loss results in financial losses to the entire beef industry.

Since bruising can occur right up to the moment of harvest, each segment (producer, feeder, transporter, packer, etc.) of the beef industry, must take the necessary steps to reduce and eliminate the incidence of bruising. Most bruising occurs during the handling and transportation of cattle. Cattle should be handled gently and humanely with low-stress handling techniques. As cattle are moved through chutes, alleys, and pens, care should be taken when movement aids (e.g., canes, whips, sorting sticks, electric prods) are used. Beating on the back of a stubborn cow or on the rump of a steer that is moving too slow causes bruises which must be trimmed away in the fabrication process.

All chutes, alleys, gates, fences, troughs, and waterers should be checked for sharp edges, protruding nails and bolts, and broken boards and pipes, and all hazards should be repaired. Corners of barns, fences, gates, troughs, waterers, and other static hazards can be padded with old tires or conveyor belts to help prevent bruises. Care should be taken in the transport of animals. Low hanging bars, floors, decks, and endgates on trucks, trailers, and loading docks can cause back bruises when cattle contact them in the loading process. All low hanging elements should be moved up. Protruding gate latches and supports may also present problems. Proper loading densities should be used to prevent animals from being shoved up against the sides of trucks and trailers and to prevent animals having difficulty standing as the transport takes place.

When bruises are noted in a producer’s group of cattle, steps should be taken to try and identify the causes of the bruises. An Ohio State University Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) publication suggests that if loin bruises are noted, producers should check for narrow gates, gates that may impact the sides of animals, and protruding items

such as latches, boards, pipes and sharp edges. When shoulder bruises arise, producers should check for broken flipper gates in alleys and protruding items such as latches, boards, pipes and sharp edges. If back bruises are occurring, producers should check the adjustment/alignment of one-way gates and make sure vertical gates are adequate for the size of cattle. Back bruises might be an indication that animals are hitting their backs as they enter/exit various compartments on trucks and trailers. With any bruises, the way animals are handled, the mixing of unfamiliar and unmatched classes of cattle, and the presence of horns should be considered/scrutinized.

It seems clear that bruising remains an issue for the beef industry and results in lost revenues (e.g., time, labor trim loss) for the entire industry. Many strategies to decrease the incidence and severity of bruising have been derived from NBQA results and have been included in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines. To learn more about BQA and the husbandry techniques required to reduce bruising and/or to become BQA certified as a producer or transporter, contact the Idaho Beef Council (www. idbeef.org) or one of the Idaho BQA coordinators: Meranda Small, Extension Educator, University of Idaho Extension – Idaho County and Sarah Baker, Extension Educator, University of Idaho Extension – Custer County.

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Meet the IPLC/ICA Summer Intern

Ihope this publication finds you with tall grass, cool water, and happy cows. My name is Montana MacConnell, and I am the 2023 Idaho Public Lands Council & Idaho Cattle Association’s summer intern! I grew up outside of the town of Arco in the Pioneer Mountains, just on the edge of the Snake River Plain where the lava desert meets the mountains. My family has a cow-calf operation... consequently, ranching isn’t a passion of mine. Instead, it’s my life.

From a young age, I was as involved in the ranch as I could possibly be. Before I could even walk, I was riding bottle calves and being as good a ranch hand as a baby can be. One of my earliest memories dates to when I was about 5-years-old and I was told I couldn’t help move cows with my dad because of some rough terrain. I cried and pleaded until I was finally allowed to go, and I’ve helped on the ranch every chance that I get since then.

BY MONTANA MACCONNELL IPLC/ICA Summer Intern

interactions with people who don’t understand agriculture. Nothing inspires me more to be involved in the industry than hearing things like a sorority sister of mine interpreting why she thinks beef is “unhealthy,” or a classmate claiming that the beef industry is “inhumane.” I’m the kind of person who gets a little offended when someone bashes the very life that raised me. A personal mission of mine is to be a beacon of truth for beef in a world where most people don’t understand where their food comes from. There are not enough people to tell our story... but it must be told. It really shapes a person’s perspective when you have billions of mouths to feed each day and the responsibility falls on you and your family and the ranching community. It brings you tighter together, helps you learn, teaches value beyond dollars, and creates the deepest integrity.

Though I was fully immersed in the industry throughout my life, college has been an incredible learning experience for me. I am about to start my senior year at the University of Idaho, studying Animal and Veterinary Science. I am also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, a part of several clubs including the Student Idaho Cattle Association (of which I am the president), and last semester I was on the livestock judging team. I’ve tried to be as busy as possible!

Unsurprisingly, being thrown into society after growing up in small-town southern Idaho is a bit of a change of scene. However, one of my biggest takeaways from my time at U of I hasn’t been from my classes, homework, or even professors. It’s from my

This internship with the ICA has been the perfect opportunity for me to grow and network as a member of the beef industry. I have been able to help with membership, the Line Rider publication, executive updates, and research. The BLM proposed rule consumed the first few weeks of the summer, as I researched the economic and ecological impacts of removing grazing from public lands. The magnitude of misinformation is disheartening. In my research, I spent hours trying to find the truth about how cattle grazing affects the land. What seems like a simple fact of life to me and this community is unknown, ignored, and rejected by the rest of the world; you take care of the land, and it takes care of you.

So far, I have loved my time as the ICA Intern. Getting to work for the better of the beef industry is something I will always strive to do. Looking forward to my graduation next May, I have no idea where my path will take me. However, one thing is for sure: it will be in the cattle industry. I am so thankful for the ICA and IPLC and the growth this opportunity has brought me!

Giving back to the industry that made me

From a young age, I was as involved in the ranch as I could possibly be.

Summer Round-Up 2023

BY MORGAN LUTGEN AND MONTANA MACCONNELL

The 2023 ICA Summer Round Up was a success! 220 attendees gathered in Jackpot, NV, for two days of meetings, industry updates, and fun events. People from across the state of Idaho and from every segment of the industry came together for the Round Up, bringing many diverse perspectives to the Idaho cattle “table”.

For the first session of the Round Up, Tom Brink, CEO of the Red Angus Association, provided information on the “Genetics Task Force.” This task force, launching in November, will address the lack of promoting genetic quality in livestock. Though genetics directly influence animal performance, they are not evaluated in today’s feeder cattle market, which is instead based on animal appearance. This results in producers who strive for higher quality genetics to get no bonus for the value of their cattle. Brink says that the hypothetical outcomes of the task force are to engage researchers, geneticists, and producers to assess the economic potential of embracing genetic advantages in the feeder cattle market.

Monday afternoon, attendees heard from Scott Reynolds, the Assistant Vice President of the US Meat Export

Federation, who shared how the council is driving value for Idaho beef producers by capitalizing on the largest growth opportunities and putting beef checkoff dollars to beneficial use. Some of the current projects include educating packers on utilizing higher value cuts, bringing Idaho finger steaks to a broader audience, and reaching out to Idaho immigrants to encourage them to learn about and eat local beef. The Beef Council is doing work overseas as well, tapping into foreign markets, such as Japan, to up-value finger steaks and other beef products. With US beef exports having increased by 40% in the last 9 years, the Beef Council’s efforts in the international market are crucial for bolstering the value of our Idaho beef.

COW-CALF

The cow-calf session consisted of a discussion on brand inspection fees, led by Idaho state brand inspector Cody Burlile and Jay Smith, brand board representative for the ICA. The discussion focused on the need to increase the per head inspection fee and whether Idaho should take a short- or long-term approach. There are only six cents of wiggle room before the fee cap is reached, so the cap must be increased also to be fully effective. The key to the issue is

ICA MEMBERS CAME FROM NEAR AND FAR TO GATHER AT CACTUS PETE’S, THE PERFECT VENUE FOR A ROUND UP.

going to be to begin the process now, and the board has already voted to go to negotiated rulemaking to start to implement the necessary changes for future sustainability.

FEEDER

The feeder session covered all things feeding industry, from CAFO funding to the effects of WOTUS. The session began with a review of historical changes in the cattle industry and the current conditions of today. The feeder council was then joined by ICA representatives on the CAFO Improvement Fund Committee to discuss the application process. These funds will provide opportunities for improvements to feeding operations, their environmental impact, and efficiencies in maintaining a standard of clean water. The program is the ideal avenue for producers who have environmental stewardship goals in mind for their operation’s future. The council, like cow-calf, was also visited by the state brand department representation and heard possible changes that may be needed to keep the department functional and effective. The final feeder discussion centered around WOTUS and the recent Sackett Case ruling. Though the ruling was positive for feeders, there is still an issue

with the significant nexus definition and its effect on the rule that was released by the Biden administration just a few short months ago.

Ben Johnson, the Idaho State Statistician (National Agricultural Statistics Service), shared statistical updates at both the feeder and cow-calf sessions to give ICA members a glimpse of Idaho’s agricultural landscape for 2023. He reminded producers that though the agriculture census may be inconvenient, it provides heavily used data that is important to research, analyses, and decision-making.

Capping off Monday’s speakers, attendees were presented with an Idaho State Department of Agriculture round table which featured Thadd Strom, ISDA Range Program Director, Dr. Scott Leibsle, Idaho State Veterinarian, and Chanel Tewalt, Director of the ISDA. Between discussing current issues and taking questions from the audience, the speakers were able to cover a wide range of topics. Dr. Leibsle addressed the shortage of large animal veterinarians in rural areas of Idaho, saying that there is a task force at hand that is working to recruit more of these much-needed vets to practice in our state. He also gave a brucellosis update. Every brucellosis case in Idaho in the last cou -

ple of years has been a vaccinated animal; the vaccine doesn’t prevent them contracting brucellosis, but it does prevent them getting a subsequent abortion. The state brucellosis surveillance program won’t be changing, due to its ability to monitor the Designated Surveillance Area (DSA)

TOM BRINK DISCUSSES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DNA TO PREDICT THE SUCCESS OF CATTLE.

near Yellowstone. Tewalt spoke on wolf management, its effects on the cattle industry, and the state Wolf Depredation Control Board, which just approved $50,000 to pilot a rancher reimbursement program. The funds would reimburse ranchers for actions (such as trapping, hunting, and aerial removal) taken to control wolf numbers on private property where livestock are at risk of predation. Any rancher or group of ranchers can submit a proposal to the program. Thadd Strom, who became the Range Program Director a few years ago, discussed how they recently moved the ISDA Range Program to the plants division. This shift will allow for more efficient training opportunities within the department. Strom also outlined some of the program’s current goals. They are back to full staffing, and hope to assist producers in monitoring, as well as other aspects of rangeland grazing and cattle management. The dialogue between the panel and ICA members provided educational insight across a variety of subjects, though the major theme remained that communication and cooperation are key for having the agricultural voices be heard and listened to in Idaho.

After the first day of sessions, everyone enjoyed a social hour of networking and catching up with old friends, before settling down for the Cattle Baron’s Bash. Monday’s events were concluded with the golf Calcutta auction, full stomachs, and excitement for the events to come in the morning.

Tuesday morning kicked off with an NCBA (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association) update by Tanner Beymer, the NCBA’s Senior Director of Government Affairs. One topic that Beymer shared on was the new Farm Bill. The new bill is still several months from being voted on, but there are many proposals still com -

ing to the table, creating a possible need for an extension. He also talked about the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act. Though the name of this bill frames it as very positive, it

would be detrimental to the beef industry by eliminating checkoff programs’ ability to carry out activities with parties that influence policy, such as the ICA. The relationship between the ICA and the beef checkoff program is invaluable, and not something that we want to lose. Beymer reminded that ICA members can help by contacting congressmen and signing up for NCBA action alerts.

Kaitlynn Glover, the Executive Director of the Public Lands Council and NCBA Natural Resources, spoke on some of the other happenings in Washington D.C., including the concerning BLM proposed rule, which would elevate conservation to be a use of public lands on par with other uses like grazing, recreation, and wildlife habitat, whereas right now it is a result of current uses and management tools. Glover expressed concern with how the BLM tried to evade the public input period for the rule without addressing any stakeholders, when they should include those stakeholders in trying to evaluate and implement such an impactful change. The rule would ultimately take away the balance provided by multiple use management on public lands and has the potential to seriously reduce public lands grazing, but, as Glover said, grazing is conservation, and the agency can’t function without it. She also touched on the Sackett vs. EPA Case, a win for land users. The Supreme Court ruling essentially put bounds on what can be considered waters of the US (WOTUS) and told the EPA that they could not push the limits already set by the court.

The late morning consisted of breakout sessions, allowing everyone to choose their own adventure between “Sage Grouse and Virtual Fence” and “Ear Tag Technology.” The “Sage Grouse and Virtual Fence” session provided information on the use of innovative technology for containing cows. Codie Martin shared

FROM US MEAT EXPORTS AND STATISTICAL FACTS, TO AN OPEN FORUM .WITH ISDA, INTERSPERSED WITH JOKES & INSIGHT SHARED BETWEEN FRIENDS...SUMMER ROUND UP HAS IT ALL!

the Davis Mountain Electric Collar Project, a pilot study at the BLM Shoshone Field Office that involves collars that prevent cows from leaving a pre-defined area. Some things that surprised Martin about the study were how quickly the cows learned and adapted, the effectiveness of keeping cattle from going through gates accidentally left open, and the success in moving pastures and changing the collars’ defined barriers. Jay Smith, past ICA President, also gave a personal testament to virtual fencing on his home ranch, which has given him a lot of flexibility with managing his cows around the area recovering from the Moose Fire.

In the “Ear Tag Technology” session, Dr. Jason Nickell of Merck Animal Health joined to share information about new technologies in animal health monitoring. The technology includes a sensor in an ear tag that can collect and send data remotely and help identify possible disorders of animals in a feed pen. These tags could allow you to identify suspect ani-

mals earlier than with visual signs alone. The tags track biometric signs, including the animal’s movements and temperature. The tags detect inconsistencies in behavior and physical condition, tipping you off to illness before it is presented in visible symptoms. The opportunity for this technology will continue to grow and initial results have shown an efficiency in labor as well as a decrease in morbidity and mortality.

For the closing session, Patxi Larrocea-Philips, ICA’s Government Affairs specialist, moderated a panel of Paul Arrington, Executive Director of Idaho Water Users Association, Senator Mark Harris, and Representative Doug Pickett. Arrington explained the outlook of Idaho’s current water situation and how it pertains to agriculture. There may be an over appropriation of water resources, but it needs to be dealt with without restricting agriculture. Harris and Pickett spoke about activities at the recent legislative session, as well as Idaho’s herd district laws.

THE ATTENDEES ENJOYED MANY INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS ABOUT THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE IDAHO BEEF INDUSTRY.

After a quick lunch, everyone either went on the Range Tour, or competed in the Annual Golf Tournament at the Jackpot golf course. Those who went on the Range Tour boarded a bus and crossed back into Idaho to see a University of Idaho research site in Three Creek. The 10-year study, which ultimately looks at the relationship between cattle and sage grouse, is in its tenth year and the results are looking good for cattle producers. The data so far points to a positive coexistence with sage grouse and cattle grazing. Areas that were grazed had more forbs, more variety of insects, and higher brood success than areas that were rested. The group then visited one of Mike Guerry’s allotments and learned about his projects with the NRCS to develop new water sources for his livestock.

The annual J.R. Simplot golf tournament was yet again a smashing success! Play for some teams was briefly interrupted by a heavy rainstorm, but many persevered and were rewarded with sunny skies and a pleasant end to the day. Finishing in first place was the team of Mitch

Anderson, Tim Bachman, Marshall Jensen & Dillon Laan, followed by the Idaho Ag Credit Team of Ken Black, Dan Gammon, Larry Henson & Eric Bedke. The third place team of J.W. Wood, Guthrie Newell, Timothy Brady and Dan Genho rounded out the placings. Summer Round Up attendees who joined the range tour then reconvened at the golf course to enjoy one last opportunity to mingle while feasting on a sirloin sandwich dinner, cooked and provided by Agri Beef to wrap up the ICA Summer Round Up 2023. To all our members who were able to come, thank you for your time and participation! To those who could not make it this year, we will have informational overviews of all the sessions on our website. We hope to see everyone next year!

KAREN LAUNCHBAUGH AND THE RESEARCH TEAM SHARE SOME PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF THE TEN-YEAR U OF I STUDY.

DESPITE SOME RAIN, THE GOLF PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED SHOWING THEIR SKILLS ON THE JACKPOT GREEN.

Equipping the Young Producer

The Idaho Young Cattle Producers conference (YCC) completed its seventh year, taking place in conjunction with Idaho Cattle Association’s (ICA) Summer Mid-Year meeting held in Jackpot, Nevada. Eighteen cattle producers, representing regions from across the state and various segments of the industry came together for this three-day conference with the intention of expanding their knowledge of the Idaho cattle industry as a whole while networking with seasoned producers. To start the conference off, participants heard from speakers representing each segment of the Idaho cattle industry, beginning with Dawn Anderson of JBB/AL Hereford, a purebred operation out of Gooding. Anderson spoke to the importance of maintaining quality records for their operation type and the appreciation of the next generation continuing their family operation. Mike Guerry of Guerry Inc. from Castleford shared the history of his family getting started and the value of establishing good working relationships. Simplot Land & Livestock was represented by Bronc May, Custom Feeding Manager based out of Grand View who provided an overview of the company and its approach to the several segments of the industry it operates in. To wrap up the Overview of the Cattle Industry in Idaho session, Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, Bedke Ranches of Oakley explained the need to be willing to adapt and diversify an operation sometimes, whether that be adjusting grazing management or getting into a niche market.

The morning continued with a Marketing Panel to provide insight to the participants on the multiple marketing channels to consider when selling various types of cattle. On the panel was Gregg Hall, Reverse EH Livestock, sale barn buyer and cattle broker; Art Butler, Spring Cove Angus Ranch and Western Video Market Rep; Logan Peters, Agri Beef Co. procurement; and Rex Hoagland, CS Beef Packers Director of Cattle Procurement. Following each panelist further explaining their role within the procurement segment of the industry, participants had the opportunity to ask and discuss further marketing focused questions. A consistent theme across each representative’s response was the importance of implementing a solid vaccination protocol supported by quality mineral status at the ranch level. This was followed with the necessity to provide management documentation to ensure a better relationship between the operation and the buyer. Another valuable marketing tool mentioned was Beef Quality Assurance Certification, a program provided through Beef Check-off Dollars and Idaho Beef Council. IBC Chief Executive Officer T.K. Kuwahara expressed gratitude to what producers do to create high quality beef and how important it is to continue ensuring consumers that beef is what should be for dinner. This was an appropriate point for participants to hear before moving into the final session of the morning, a meat science 101 presentation by Sarah D. Baker, University of Idaho Custer County Educator. Baker

BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: BRIAN LAWRENCE, JOHN CAUHORN, RILEY KENDALL, SAMUEL CHRISTIANSEN, NELSON MANNING, B.J. HENNINGFELD, ZANE PALMER, JAMES BOGGAN, TYLER JOHNSON. FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: SARAH PARK, EMMA DUYN, VALENE CAUHORN, CAROLYN ANDERSON-MERRITT, SIERRA PALMER, KAMRYN SHAUGHNESSY, MATTIE JOHNSON. NOT PICTURED: HUGO LOPEZ, SAMANTHA SHORT

gave a quick explanation of carcass grading and performed a cutting demonstration on a primal piece. Monday finished out with participants attending ICA’s Opening General Session and dinner, providing them the opportunity to network with other industry members.

On day two, participants heard presentations on risk management and how to finance an operation. This was given by Brett Wilder, University of Idaho Ag Economist and Bailey Storms from AgWest Farm Credit. Darcy Helmick, representing the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission, shared the need for members of the agriculture industry to take advantage of opportunities to educate the next generation of consumers, such as volunteering at a school event where the IROAM trailer will be used. To finish out the morning session of day two, Hayden Atkinson Idaho State Department of Agriculture informed participants of resources available to support operations on the

path to succession planning, another talking point that came up multiple times throughout the conference. Participants were then taken on an industry tour of the South-Central Idaho region, touring the Twin Falls Livestock Commission, InterMountain Beef, Scarrow Meats and Lanting Enterprises LLC. The Magic Valley Cattle Association and Idaho AgCredit then served the participants dinner while they participated in a round table discussion on the challenges they face as young producers and how they can best manage those challenges moving ahead.

The final day began with ICA’s Executive Vice President Cameron Mulrony and President Kim Brackett who encouraged participants to not only become members, but to seek out leadership opportunities. Karen Williams, ICA Natural Resources Policy Director followed with information on ICA’s role in addressing public lands issues in Idaho. Dr. Benton Glaze, University of Idaho

Extension Beef Specialist took participants through a hands-on practice of the management tool of bull selection and using EPDs before the presentation of completion certificates.

The success of this program is in great part to the support of the many industry sponsors which includes Simplot Land & Livestock/Western Stocmen’s, Agri Beef Co. MultiMin, Merck Animal Health, Magic Valley Cattle Association, AgWest Farm Credit, Idaho AgCredit, Endovac-Beef, Zoetis, Idaho Angus Association, B & B Cattle Co. and ICA. Additionally, the work on an annual basis of planning and executing this conference is accomplished through the dedication of industry YCC Planning Committee members Elena Montemagni, Logan Peters, Sara Somsen-Fowler, Tianna Fife, Morgan Lutgen, Seth Pratt, and UI Extension faculty Carmen Willmore, Sarah D. Baker, Benton Glaze and Meranda Small.

New and renewed ICA members

Melvin E. Seebeck, Jr.

AgRisk Advisors

Monte & Anne MacConnell

Roscoe Lake

Kenworth Sales

Elanco

HUB International

Ben & Amy Robertson

Elias & Anita Gonzales

Guy & Sherry Colyer

John Conner

Merck Animal Health

DL Evans Bank

Eric Drees

Ron & Judy Sale

Sam & Janel Shaw

Greg & Cleo Shaw

Tucker & Angie Shaw

Tom Peavey

Rod & Jamie Runyan

Mark Guerry

Gary & Jackie Ingram

Roberta Thompson

Les Nunn

Allison Kinzer

Gretel Kleint

Sydney & Karen Dowton

Stanley & Trish Dowton

Bruce & Sherry Evans

Idaho Trappers Association

Tom Houret

Chet Adams

Brent Russell

North Valley Veterinary Clinic, Inc.

George Bennett

Greg & Lori Idsinga

Kent Thibault

Eric & Jason Scheline

Paul Snyder

Gary & Gerrie Dickard

John Noh

Doug & Lottie Mathers

Darling Ingredients

Ron & Rick Zabel

Dennis & John Dau

Angela Forsman

Ben & Angela Forsman

Max Firth

Scott & Gwen Whitworth

Larry Whittier

Kellsie Peterson

George Gersema

McKenna Knott

Jerry Wroten

Tom Hamilton

DL Evans Bank

LaChelle Bohner

Charlotte Armacost

Dan Hearn

Shane & Katrina Smith

Ed & Jeff Johnson

Josh & Maggie Malson

Janie Nirk

Susan Goodrich & Gordon Sylte

AgWest Farm Credit

AgWest Farm Credit

William & Emily White

Carl & Robin Lufkin

Steve & Janna Herbst

David Marienau

Edward Hawkins Jr.

Kelly McGhee

M. Lee & Cindy, Rick S. & Zak L. Miller

Troy Cunnington

Joe E. & Mandi Caywood

Phillip Bass

Wayne & Carol Olesen

Gerald Martens

Robert Olmstead

Librado Estrada

Kevin Thibault

Scoular

Benton Glaze

Robert Shirts

Marianne Lindsey

Roy Farmer

Bob, Jerry & Hanna Wroten

Jason & Diana Tindall

Petan Co. of Nevada, Inc

Jack Horton

Bob Harrell

David & Lisa MacKenzie

Wyatt Stanford

Dennis Stanford

Joe Shaw

Matt McElligott

Arimo Corporation - Arimo Ensign Ranches

Powder River, Inc.

Karl & Cody Freeman

Key-Lix Balanced Supplements & Minerals

Tanner Beymer

Sloan-Leavitt Insurance Agency Inc.

Alan & Leslie Alexander

KODY DEE WILLIAMS

Northwest Regional Manager

Cell: 509.948.6430

Office: 800.989.8247

Email: kodydeewilliams@allflexusa.com

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