CALF_News_August_September_2019

45 CALF News • August | September 2019 • www.calfnews.net eating foods with ingredients I can pronounce. I know that I feel best when I drink 100-plus ounces of water a day. I know that I perform in my life at a higher degree when I’m moving my body throughout the day with a set workout or the workout my hus- band is more than willing to dole out through manual farm labor. We sell our products on their own merits. Whether your market is your neighbor down the road or the packing plant eight hours away, I hope you’re proud of the product you are producing. I hope you’re thinking about integrating your life goals with the way you’re living your life. I hope you’re selling your products on their own merits. I hope when you lay your head down on your pillow at night you feel good. I truly believe our American agricultural products are the best in the world and are grown by the best group people in the world. I’m proud to be a part of an industry that works countless hours simply because they know they need to in order to make it work. However you market your product, do it on the merits of the product, not by running down the way somebody else does it because I guarantee, the world needs all the production methods. We’re hurting ourselves more than we’re hurting consumers by feigning superiority over the rest of the products.  SELLINGWITH BUZZ WORDS Continued from page 39 Auction Markets Raise $230,000 for Nebraska Flood Relief T hirteen auction market mem- bers of the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) hosted the sale of a roll-over auction animal earlier this spring to support Nebraska flood relief efforts. The livestock sales, which took place across Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming raised more than $230,000 worth of proceeds. One LMA member who hosted a roll- over benefit auction was directly affected by the floods. Lu Rieken, owner of Ful- lerton Livestock Market, says there was less than an hour warning before flood waters hit their business. With 4.5 feet of standing water inside the market, damage from water and debris to the market was extensive. Despite facing damage themselves, Fullerton Livestock Market chose to participate in a roll-over auction to assist relief efforts across the state. “Our philosophy is that it’s not how far or how hard you fall, it’s how fast you get back up,” Lu Rieken says.“We weren’t the only ones suffering. Everyone was and we wanted them to know we put them first.” A majority of the funds raised by participating member markets were contributed to the Nebraska Cattle- men Disaster Relief Fund or directly to feed, fencing and hauling needs of individuals. Some markets chose to serve as pick-up sites for producers to access feed, hay and other supplies. Pete McClymont, Nebraska Cattle- men executive vice president says the contributions were overwhelming. “When I see Dennis Henrichs with Beatrice 77 Livestock Sales enter our office with an envelope full of donations, it just about makes you cry,” McClymont says.“It makes you feel good about man- kind to know people are sitting in the seats of these markets bidding, saying ‘Yes, I want to help.’” According to McClymont, all proceeds received by the Nebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund will be distributed back to those who completed an application for need. The LMA also contributed $3,000 to each participating member market’s total donations raised. 