When I look back over my many years in the cattle industry, many of my favorites memories are of the yearly Cattle Industry Conventions. Usually held in places warmer that where I live, it always offers an opportunity to get to know the new leadership and get a feel of the pulse of the industry going forward. It gives CALF News a chance to report on what companies are doing and show off pictures of your friends and neighbors. We try to take you with us as we go.
Probably my favorite part is a chance to visit with lots of old friends. You will see a lot of those in this issue.
Speaking of old friends, one of my favorites is Bill Foxley, who posed for a photo with me at the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame (CFHOF) Banquet. Bill was there to introduce his friend Dan May who was inducted this year. It was a return visit since May introduced Foxley when he was honored several years ago.
Speaking of the Cattle Feeder’s Hall of Fame, what a success. Almost 600 steaks were served to a sellout crowd at the yearly event. Sixteen years ago, I was the master of ceremonies for the inaugural CFHOF Banquet when only a couple of hundred attended. The list of honorees since encompasses a roster of exceptionally talented, smart, brave men who have established a billion-dollar business and developed technologies that are used worldwide.
This year’s honorees continued that tradition, inducting Dan May who, with his family, runs feeding organizations in Colorado, Nebraska and Nevada, and Joe Morgan, CEO of Poky Feeders in Kansas and a founding member and current vice chairman of U.S. Premium Beef. Other honorees were George Littrell Jr., from Midwest Feeders, Inc. at Ingalls, Kan., with the Arturo Armendariz Distinguished Service Award, and Tom Jensen from Omaha, Neb., with the Industry Leadership Award. The event has become a must-attend part of the yearly convention. Plan on being with us next year for CattleCon in downtown Nashville.
New this year was the American National CattleWomen (ANCW) Cowgirl Cotillion. A fundraiser for the association, they kicked their debut off in high style with headliner Red Steagall. Honors announced included the ANCW Educator and Promoter of the Year, as well as the CattleWoman of the Year.
Along with those stories, we cover National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) policy and business side of the convention along with predictions from the CattleFax Outlook presentation. The NCBA Trade Show offered a full array of industry technology and innovations galore. Reports on some of them are highlighted in this issue and in the next CALF News.
I was amused at the uproar when federal employees were asked to note five things they had accomplished the week before. That kind of evaluation is a part of every day in the cattle industry or, in many cases, done on an hourly basis. Quantifying production metrics and successes in order to survive is part of our DNA. Come on guys.
As to the resolution of the tariff issue as well as the work on deregulation, WOTUS, death taxes and a myriad of other considerations right now, time will tell while we do our job – feeding the world.
