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