Despite this weather...

Despite this nasty weather that is setting up in Oklahoma this winter, I am relatively upbeat. I just finished a game of intramural basketball. Stinking mercy rule, we were just figuring out what we were doing. haha, but you can't expect too much from a group that has yet to practice together. I was having fun anyway. Well I have a lot of things on my mind, so here we go!

Tuesday there was a college of Ag career fair on campus. I talked with the recruiters from JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeders and got an information interview that afternoon. I have worked in the feedyards before; a life time in the stocker industry and retaining ownership of cattle through the feedyard and a summer spent working with Cactus Feeders in their many yards throughout the Panhandle. The feedyard trade is something of a routine that includes daily circles to keep the cattle fed and healthy. Not exactly an overwhelming first choice on my job search list, but Fiver River's professional development programs are what caught my eye.

Five Rivers has a Management Trainee program that focuses a lot on professional and personal development. It says a lot about a company that takes great stock in their employees and works on building the company up from the inside. Leadership and Management training workshops are just the start of what seems to be a focus on building their employees.

The interview went well. Not my best, but well enough. It got around to the management decision questions and that is where I felt like I started slipping a little. But we will have to see if I get a call back. One question that caught me off guard was "What is one of your biggest failures?" I honestly said I couldn't think of one off the top of my head, but to be honest I can't really count anything as a total failure because there is ALWAYS a lesson to learn from each situation. Not an ideal answer, but I thought it was a good honest one.

I am starting the first round of tests for my last semester! I really didn't study hard for my Stocker/Feedlot test, but it isn't really new information to me either. I am learning things, but none of it is foreign to me. I think I did well on it, but we shall see. I have 3 more exams next week, Reproduction, Forage/Grazingland, and Farm/Ag business. I will start working on those tomorrow.

It looks as if we are stuck in a very wet and cold pattern for the winter here in Oklahoma. I believe we are only 4 inches away from a seasonal record for snowfall. Granted that is only 24.5 inches. It is so wet and muddy that I can't even work. Too muddy for fence work and when I think about it, I would prolly just get all the vehicles stuck. I guess I will just have to ride it out on what little money I have saved.

My dad finally closed the deal and purchased his own livestock auction. It's a dirty industry where it's and claws trying to get a hold of cattle and scratch the surface to make a profit. No one really looks on cattle auctions with a high level of respect, but there is a lot of work that goes into recruiting buyers and gathering sufficient cattle to meet their desires. All this following one of the most difficult years in the cattle industry. Everyone has to find a niche in their area, and dad believes it's his spot to make a difference. I am wishing him the best and hoping that things can work out great for him. It's a big investment!

At the career fair on Tuesday I talked with the recruiter from Texas Christian University's Ranch Management program. I have looked into the program before and have heard only great things about the program. This is a one-year certificate program focusing entirely on ranch management. The group travels many miles throughout the year visiting the region's operations. My main apprehension is money. I have no savings left, but would love to continue my education to make my opportunities greater in the area of ranch management. I guess all I can do is apply and see what the response might be. What is your opinion of TCU's Ranch Management program?

Whew! That is a lot, but like I said I have a lot on my mind. It's getting busy here in Stillwater, and so am I while looking for opportunities to launch my career in the cattle industry. Wish my luck!

Animal Care Questions via @agchat

The following note was posted via @agchat for the discussion on 2/2/10. This week's topic is Animal Care in response to the recent events in national media and efforts to eliminate animal agriculture by animal rights groups People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS, *Note: this organization is NOT your local dog/cat shelter. Do not confuse the two). This is a topic that is pressing on the livestock industries and is something that we should all educate ourselves about.

("#AgChat is a fast-paced, thought-provoking chat on Twitter each Tues., 8-10 p.m. Eastern. 800+ people in the business of producing food, feed, fuel & fiber in 6 countries have participated. See http://michelepaynknoper.com/agchat.html for more info.")I encourage each of you to tune into agchat each Tuesday evening, if for nothing else to watch the conversations. It is a very informative source of industry thought and a great place for sharing ideas.

Following are the questions posed for the Feb. 2. Please note these may change and are subject to moderator's discretion.

via @cowartandmore What advances have we made in the last 20 years in terms of animal care?

via @cowartandmore What role does a veterinarian play in helping you with your farm animal care?

via @TruffleMedia: What are core issues consumers believe re: animal care & how is ag addressing those?

via @kmrivard How can we educate consumers on the fact that a farmer's livelihood depends on understanding their animals' needs better than anyone else?

via @TruffleMedia: The language used by HSUS/PETA tends to be "animal welfare" or "animal rights"... how does animal care differ from those terms?

via @CariRincker: Should other states follow in Ohio's footsteps and develop their own livestock board for animal care regulations? Pro's/Con's

via @cowartandmore What pieces of technology help you to take better care of your animals?

via @CariRincker: What should livestock producers do if they find a YouTube video of their farm taken undercover putting their operation in false light?

via @TruffleMedia: When it comes to food animal care, who are the players in shaping opinion? (ag players and non-ag players)

via @TruffleMedia: What market research is available that captures the consumer sentiment on food animal care? Sources, metrics, etc sought.

via @LauriStruve How can state animal welfare laws be updated to meet modern ag standards, and appease animal rights groups?

via @RinckerLaw: What are some changes in farm animal care laws that should take place on the state and/or federal level?

via @MGClausen: What are keys to a successful education practice for introducing urban school children to livestock/food production?

via @NYAgriWomen How should ag groups in states with large urban populations (e.g., NYC) connect with metropolitan consumers on farm animal care?

via @TruffleMedia: What is the one information resource consumers/producers should understand/review/know of, re: animal care?

Any additional questions or suggestions should be DMd to @agchat. Looking forward to a productive and positive discussion. Please make an effort to not respond to antagonists and remember that you are in a fishbowl.

Remember, the animal rights groups may be focused on eliminating animal agriculture, but animal and crop agriculture go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other and without either we would have no food supply.