May is Beef Month!

         May is beef month, not only in Nebraska but it is National Beef Month. Have you ever thought about what we do with the cattle we produce? Maybe you thought all we could do is just put meat on our tables? Well that is wrong. I am here to tell you that off one beef carcass (the average beef weighs 1350 lbs.) yielding 68% produces enough leather to make 12 basketballs, 144 baseballs, 20 footballs, 18 volleyballs, 18 soccer balls or 12 baseball gloves. Beef is also used to make ointments, gelatin, soaps, lipsticks and much more! My friend Abby provided me with this information after she gave me her 4-H speech.

            There are many uses of the beef carcass other than meat. There are also so many inspirational people in the beef industry. One that comes to my mind is Ann Marie Bosshamer. Ann Marie is the Executive Director for the Nebraska Beef Council. Ann Marie works to  manage all the check off programs and activities fro the Nebraska Beef Council. Ann Marie also serves as a spokesperson for the beef industry and the check off programs.  Nebraska really appreciates all Ann Marie does not only for the beef industry but, also our state. 

            For the State of Nebraska alone 12.1 billion dollars from beef impact the economy. Nebraska is home to 1.88 million head of beef cows with 20,000 operations. There are 4,570 cattle feeding operations with 5.1 million cattle fed and marketed per year. Nebraska ranks first in all cattle on feed with 2,550,000 and second in all cattle and calves with 6,300,000.  In the United States there are 757,300 beef cow operations with 32.6 head of beef cows. 87,160 cattle feeding operations in the United States that market 26.2 million cattle. I found all this information on the Nebraska Cattlemen website. After I began to think about those numbers I began to feel pride. I love cattle, I always have and always will. These numbers don't just say to me the beef industry is a good thing it says to me the beef industry is a very good thing that will be around for generations to come. 

            The beef industry plays a big role in my life, it plays a big role in Nebraska’s economy and the world’s economy. I am proud to say that I own cows and am able to show cattle. Beef is what is for dinner!  Celebrate Beef Month! I challenge you all to go out and enjoy some beef with me!

Quote of the Week: Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because, it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness. –Thomas Jefferson

You are the friends you keep

My mom always told me when I was young "You are the friends you keep". I never really knew the truth of this until I became actively involved in FFA and showing my livestock. I mentioned before that I have shown cattle in many states and at many levels. With that being said I have had to give up sports to have more time to work on my cattle and be in  FFA. I have also missed a lot of school because of showing cattle and being highly involved in FFA. But, I have had the opportunity to be pushed out of my own comfort zone in my little town to make friends and gain new experiences that I wouldn't of done if I wouldn't of happened without FFA and showing cattle. There is also a very famous quote that I like to say to my showing friends after a steer show whether one of us won or we didn't. "The buckles will tarnish, the ribbons will fade but, the memories and friendships will last forever." I am a very competitive person I hate to lose. I hate the word loosing. I hate hearing that word. I love to win. That is what drives me to wake up every morning and run that steer one extra lap, work that extra hour on the hair in the barn or make sure my sets are perfect. Or I even come in on a Sunday to make Ag Sales Binders for my Ag Sales Team. Yes, I am a perfectionist. Yes, I hate to lose but that is one thing I learned from a young age "Winning isn't everything, you have to lose to win." But, through everything I have made many friends. I always know my friends are there for me no matter what. Whether it is about a steer not walking correctly, or about anything FFA related I know they are always there for me. So today I would like to give a shout out to four of my friends who have really been there for me this last month. Now I know I have many more friends that deserve to receive recognition but, I didn't want to make my blog a book this week! Each week I am also going to post a quote that I find inspiring this weeks quote of the week is:

"It is nice to be important but, it's more important to be nice" - John Templeton 

Katie Nolles:

I met Katie through showing cattle and her tremendous passion for agriculture and FFA. Katie has been a great mentor for myself. Whether I'm seeing Katie rain as the National Hereford queen at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY or watching Katie win Senior Public Speaking at State FFA Convention, Katie always has a warm friendly smile on her face! I greatly appreciate your words of encouragement and your similar stories where we can both relate with similar experiences, you have been a wonderful inspiration to myself. 

Isabelle Schultz:

I becamce connected with Isabelle at a wedding, and we quickly became friends from our numerous steer shows we attended. Isabelle has always been a text message away. It's great having friends that have the same passion you do and being able to relate. 

Mekenzie Beatie: 

I met Mekenzie at the Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic where I was serving as a Beef Ambassador. I was able to make connections with a girl who is growing up on a pig farm learning a lot about the steer show world! Whether its random snap chats about our new favorite Netflix series - Gossip Girl or just words of encouragement, Kenzie you are a Blaire Waldorf! 

Jessica Hartman:

Jessica and I met at a district FFA contest my freshman year of highschool. I knew instantly she was a great friend. Whether we are competiting tough at districts or we need to talk about the events happening in our own chapters or to share ideas, Jessica is someone I can always count on. I know she is going to do big things in the Medical World!