08/02/06 Young Cattlemen`s Conference Tour

Young Cattlemen's Conference Tour Today's program is for young cattle producers or someone who knows one and would like to do something nice for them. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll tell you more right after this. The 27th Young Cattlemen's Conference tour was just completed with 47 young cattle producers attending. After reading about the eight-day tour and all the events participants attended and people they met, I sure wish I had known about it 27 years ago. I think I would have still qualified as a young cattleman, maybe. The tour started at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association headquarters in Denver and ended in Washington D.C. with stops in Ulysses, Kansas, Sioux City, Nebraska, and Chicago, Illinois the group toured cattle feeding facilities, processing plants, retail stores, met with USDA officials, Congressional delegates, and picnicked with Capital hill staffers. That sure seems like a comprehensive view of the beef industry after the cattle leave the ranch and a small look at how the political process can affect the cattle industry. The tour is sponsored by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, NCBA state and breed affiliates, Tyson Fresh Meats, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding and John Deere. You know, you need to take care of the ranch first, but an old friend always told me you need to see what other people are doing too. To nominate a young man or woman for next year's tour contact your state cattlemen's association or Marvin Kokes at 303-850-3339. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter July 5, 2006