CALF_News_December_2018_January_2019

6 CALF News • December 2018 | January 2019 • www.calfnews.net Two to five years. Jesse Larios figures that’s how long it may take to train a cowboy. No, not the “real” cowboy who grew up riding horses, working cattle and doing other farm or ranch chores. He’s referring to a pen rider, one who can sort feedyard cattle and eyeball a sick calf before it’s too late. He needs cowboys who don’t mind crazy hours, getting wet, cold, hot and dirty. Larios is manager of Foster Feed Yard at Brawley, Calif., in the heart of the desert Imperial Valley. He is one the beef industry’s true ambassadors. No one promotes beef production more or loves it more. He’ll argue that cattle feeders and producers are the leading advocates of good animal welfare and concern for the environment. If there’s an issue that involves California or national cattle feeding or ranching, he’s right in the middle of it. Larios virtually grew up at Foster Feed Yard, one of the nation’s first custom feeding operations. He learned from his father, himself a foreman at the yard for some 40 years, as well as the late Gary Foster, his brother, Rod, and their legendary cattle feeding father, Howard Foster. “At Foster, we have two feedyards that provide us with a 36,000-head feeding capacity,” Larios says.“We also rent some space from other yards and currently are feeding about 41,000. Most are Hol- steins that are on feed about 365 days.” He sees an overall changing of the guard in California cattle feeding.“The next generation of cattle feeding is emerging, and that’s very exciting,” Larios says.“Younger family members are highly involved in management as their fathers or other relatives approach retire- ment or pass away. “But at the same time, our experienced labor force is aging. People who have been here 20 to 30 years at all facets of feedyard employment are retiring. These loyal members of the area feedyard workforce are hard to replace. “We’re finding that the next genera- tion workforce is more urban. They tend to not want to work as many hours or work weekends or holidays. For those reasons, employees are hard to find. And when we do find good employees of this generation, we have to coach them along.” Larios’ cowboy example highlights the situation facing feedyards in more places than just California. There are many jobs that pay as well or more and offer a LABOR SHORTAGE OUT WEST By Larry Stalcup, Contributing Editor California’s Foster Feed Yard Sees Need for More Employee Training Breakfast at sunrise for these cattle. But will there be enough employees to keep California feedyards running efficiently? LEFT: Jesse Larios wonders where his next pen riders will come from in a short labor supply out West. RIGHT: About 42,000 cattle are on feed at Foster Feed Yard in Brawley, Calif. The majority are Holsteins. C E L E B R A T I N G PEOPLE