Young Cattlemen's Conference

Burns, Oregon rancher Steven Doverspike participated in this year's National Cattlemen's Beef Association Young Cattlemen Conference. The tour began in Denver with an overview of the beef industry as well as touring several JBS feeding and packing and processing facilities. Then on to Chicago to visit the Chicago Board of Trade and a beef patty manufacturer. The trip concludes in Washington D.C to visit with their elected officials and visits with several regulatory agencies. Doverspike shares

Doverspike: "For me it was once in a lifetime opportunity and will be forever grateful for being able to go on it. I personally look forward to helping the beef industry more. I haven't been that involved but I want to be more involved and I think that it was set in a lot of people of minds that, 'Hey there is a lot of things that young producers can do.' and the older producers are wanting young producers to do. There is a place for young producers out there and the associations are wanting them to be there. I think it was just a great opportunity for us to be more of a leader in the beef industry."

He encourages other young beef producers to consider participating in the program next year.

Doverspike: "I've met friends that I will keep in touch with for life even though they are 5,000 miles away. Would highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about doing it."

Interested beef producers must be nominated by their state's NCBA affiliated association to participate in this program and be a NCBA member. The nomination process will open in January for next June's trip.