CALF_News_June_July_2021

21 CALF News • June | July 2021 • www.calfnews.net lifetime.” He wanted to be part of a suc- cessful business and have a meaningful impact. It was easy for him to identify the Waltons as practical, down-to-earth people who lead by example. He has been with the company as a consultant for six years. The Evolution of Walmart’s Beef Case Walmart sells meat and believes that superior beef products drive customers to the store. Testing the pulse of con- sumers, management is continuously looking for ways to improve quality and selection of meats. Six years ago, Walmart USA hired a new CEO. A New Zealander with an international resumé, he complained that the U.S. beef supply chain was the worst he had to deal with, regarding consistency of product. Steiger explained to him that so many environmental differences across our country leads to many different breeds of cattle, feedstuffs and management methods – therefore, the inconsistency in eating experience. The exchange in ideas led to Steiger’s role in listening and opening dialogues with the Walmart grocery team and suppliers across the country. He now accompanies contingents of grocers, employed by Walmart, across the United States. They visit cow-calf and stocker operations, feedyards and packing plants in an effort to exchange ideas with the people who handle meats on their last stop before hitting a grocery cart. We all know that feedyards and stocker operations deal with mud, and some don’t look like parks when you get on the yard. I asked how it’s handled when rains accompany a tour of feed- yard, or someone’s yard contains a 1962 Ford pickup, parked dead, under a tree. Steiger explains that tour stops are prepared for whatever weather comes up. They cannot hide mud or look like the city park, but Walmart people need to see reality. Discussions involve possible solutions and negatives are turned into positives. The lesson is, when we have challenges, they need to be addressed. In addition, Walmart’s CEO has learned that, in a crisis, people buy beef and toilet paper. Ranchers and breed associations have opportunities to put together supply chains during tough times, remembering that people want to know where their food comes from. 44 Farms In an effort to increase consistency and quality of beef, Bob McClaren of 44 Farms, Cameron, Texas, joined Walmart in producing Prime Pursuits® beef. It is non-hormone, verified humane and closely follows specs as stringent as other name-brand beef. Cattle are preferably sired by 44 Farms bulls and fed in par- ticipating feedyards in five states. They are harvested in an Arkansas City, Kan., Creekstone plant. After being broken into subprimal cuts, it is sent to Thom- asville, Georgia. There it’s processed further into a case-ready product and makes its way to one of 500 Walmart stores in the southeastern U.S. Steiger explains that these cattle are harvested at a lighter weight than the national average market animal; Walmart’s experience has shown that consumers want a somewhat smaller ribeye, cut thick and easier to cook or grill than a 1,600-pound steer will pro- vide. Eating experience means everything when dealing with beef, and Walmart is zeroing in on what works. 808 Ranch Steiger’s personal life is as busy as his professional pursuits. He and wife, Shari, have three married children – Emily, Eli and Olivia. Eli has joined theWalmart team in the technology division, helping develop and implement blockchain usage, primarily in fruits and vegetables. The family is rounded out by granddaughter Sophie Jendak, a delightful 3-year-old. Steiger and his wife own 808 Ranch, 35 miles north of Bentonville in Mis- souri. There they run 150 commercial, fall-calving cows and use them exten- sively for embryo transfer, in the devel- opment of a purebred Angus herd. He says he feels like he has a “gradu- ate degree” in meat grocery. He wishes to continue being involved with cattle- men’s groups and works internationally as a supply chain consultant. More than anything, he will spend more time with his granddaughter. Final Thoughts Lamar Steiger is a proponent of self- awareness; what are you good at or not so good at? We need to work on those we are not. “Knowledge and skills can be taught , character and passion are caught, ” he says. In other words, we need to hang around with the right kind of people. Lamar Steiger is a good example.  Lamar and Shari Steiger with granddaughter Sophie Jendak and Patrick the Pony. Photo by Danielle Vargo Photography .