Young Cattlemen's Conference 2024

Young Cattlemen's Conference 2024 - A Trip of A Lifetime

August 7, 2024 Valene Cauhorn, PE, AGPROfessionals Regional Manager

The Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) 2024 with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) was a trip of a lifetime, and I am truly blessed to have been selected to represent the Idaho Cattle Association (ICA) this year. The conference consisted of a national tour of industry offices and producer facilities, with the last stop in Washington, D.C. The Washington D.C. portion of the trip provided participants with the opportunity to visit their elected leaders to discuss issues critical to America’s cattle and beef producers and advocate for their industry during a day on Capitol Hill.

YCC, established in 1980, has become an instrumental organization in identifying and developing potential leaders for the beef industry. With over 1,000 graduates, many YCC alumni continue to participate in industry committees, councils, and boards, with some even becoming national officers. YCC is a cornerstone of leadership training for the beef industry, providing young leaders with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the industry, from cattle and beef production to the consumer, including exposure to the national grassroots process.

Denver, Colorado

This year’s journey began with a reception in Denver, where the fun truly started. Meeting 66 other cattle representatives from multiple states, I quickly learned that not everyone deals with public grazing, drought, or irrigating problems. We spent two and a half days in Colorado, starting at the NCBA’s office in Denver, learning about the Beef Checkoff and NCBA programs, attending leadership and media training, and, of course, eating great beef.

A special guest was the CEO of Cattle Australia, Dr. Chris Parker revealing that the world of beef share more similarities than differences, facing issues like animal activism, climate agendas, and resource management. A surprising fact was that many cattle in Australia are finished on grass due to lower costs, unlike Idaho, where grass is limited by the growing season. Other notable speakers included Colin Woodall (NCBA CEO), Randy Black (CEO CattleFax), and Barb Wilkinson (NCBA) and more.

Valene Cauhorn, PE, AGPROfessionals Regional Manager,

Industry Tours in Greeley, Colorado

After a full day in the Denver office, we traveled north to Greeley, Colorado, where we toured Five Rivers – Kuner Yard and made a pit stop at Greeley Hatworks. The Kuner Yard is a state-of-the-art feedyard with a seven-way automatic sort gate out of the processing chute and a grain elevator that could touch the stars. It was impressive to see such advanced technology in action.

Sioux City, Iowa and Dakota City, Nebraska

Next, we boarded a charter flight to Sioux City, Iowa, grateful for the convenience of not having to wait in security lines. Sioux City was not used to large crowds, especially in the middle of the week! But we made the most of it with drinking wine out of champagne glasses and draining the coffee pots the next morning. Our short stint in Sioux City took us to Dakota City, Nebraska, where we toured Tyson Foods and Empirical Foods. The Tyson plant is the largest in the country processing approximately 7,000 head a day, with each minute of downtime on the kill floor costing approximately $1,000. The volume of beef processed daily in the U.S. is truly remarkable. Empirical Foods further processes beef, including finely textured lean beef and value-added products like injecting beef tallow into low-quality steaks and roasts to increase consistency.

Ohio

Our next destination was Akron, Ohio. We grabbed Jimmy John sandwiches after our tours and headed toward the airport. In Ohio, our tour focused on the retail side of the industry and the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Program. We toured Giant Eagle Market District in Uniontown and Meijer in Wooster, witnessing our product on the front lines. It was rewarding to see meat managers as passionate about beef as we are. The message was clear: consumers love beef! At the CAB headquarters, we analyzed value-added products, toured the newly built warehouse, and enjoyed another amazing meal before flying to Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C.

Despite a late arrival in Washington D.C., we couldn’t resist grabbing a drink and exploring. Our cowboy boots and hats drew much attention, reminding us of the work needed to reach our consumers, many of whom had never seen a real cowboy before. The first full day in D.C. was dedicated to a political overview, preparing us for congressional visits. NCBAs Ethan Lane and his team provided an excellent overview of priorities for the session, answering our questions and prepping us for meetings with our congressional members. The current issues we addressed were the drafts of the Farm Bill, the Beef Check Off, and Disease traceability. We also participated in discussions about electronic identification systems.

The next day, we met with our state delegations. Despite the hectic schedule, I managed to meet Senator Risch and several staff members from the offices of Senator Crapo, Senator Risch, Congressman Simpson, and Congressman Fulcher who were knowledgeable and engaged. Each staff member I spoke with asked how things are going in Idaho. They had questions about our operations and our concerns. I was able to have genuine dialogue on important issues affecting our state including renewable energy projects such as Lava Ridge, CAFO regulations, public lands grazing, wildfires, and more This experience reminded me of the importance of talking to elected officials, as they help shape policies that affect us.

Valuable Connections

Discussing topics related to Idaho and our operation was fruitful, and since my visit, I’ve continued conversations with the staff members I met. Those connections turned into a request from Senator Crapo’s office t to tour our operation.

YCC 2024 was an exhausting but unforgettable journey. The connections made and lessons learned will last a lifetime. The 2024 class stays in touch through texts and snapchats, meeting up at various events across the country. In these challenging times, it’s reassuring to be part of an industry that cares deeply about its work and its people.