Countdown to DC

In 13 days, I'll be headed south and eastbound to Washington, D.C for the opportunity of a lifetime.

I'm going to speak to the members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Young Cattlemen's Conference about the Canadian beef industry and trade. The group will be composed of cattlemen and women aged 25-50, with a cross-nation tour of America's beef industry starting in Denver and ending in DC.

My first trip to DC in 2010 for a 4-H conference

So what's a ranch girl from Alberta, Canada doing there? Reaping the rewards of being involved in a great youth organization, that's what! I've told you before about the Cattlemen's Young Leaders program which I graduated from this April. At the wrap-up banquet, I gave a speech on my experiences that was noticed by an NCBA member. She requested that me and Fawn, the current Policy Analyst for the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, travel to meet the NCBA YCC group to talk about issues concerning Canadian cattlemen.

And here we are- 2 weeks away. I'll be spending as much time as possible between now and then gearing up for the trip and preparing our presentation. I'll be brushing up on my knowledge of Canada-US trade, traceability, and policies like Country of Origin Labeling. And of course, working on my Masters of Beef Advocacy.

This is where I'll need your help, readers! I'm going to be posting about those issues a lot in the next two weeks, and your feedback is essential. Whether you boast an agricultural education, farm or ranch background, or want to know about these issues as a consumer, you can help me fine-tune my presentation and prepare for any questions that may be asked my the group. So I'm inviting your questions and comments(which I always love) even more than usual!

If you are a Canadian involved in agriculture, what key issues do you think need to be voiced with a group of young to middle-aged American cattlemen?

If you are an American in agriculture, what Canadian beef industry issues would you like to know more about?

YCC Class of 2010

Thanks for the help, friends- stay tuned for my first research post.

Masters of Beef Advocacy

I've been approved to get my Master's!

Okay..so not the kind you're thinking of. But one that will probably be as useful as any formal education as far as my future career goals go. I'm taking my Masters of Beef Advocacy, a National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) program funded by the Beef Checkoff. It's an online program consisting of 6 modules that should take me a few weeks to complete.

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I first heard about the MBA Program in Denver, CO in Januray at the International Livestock Congress. I've wanted to find a way to get involved since then, and in April, I did. Cattlemen's Beef Board member Ann Anderson travelled to Edmonton, Alberta to speak to various media and cattle groups, including the Cattlemen's Young Leaders. I attended a presentation by her as a CYL Graduate where she went into detail about the MBA program and how we could get involved. It is an American program, but she opened the applications to the CYL Graduates and current leaders. Last week I sent my application in, and this week I'm beginning my modules!

So what exactly does an MBA Graduate leave the program with? Here's a basic overview of the six online modules:



• Modern Beef Production – Sharing the many benefits of modern, efficient U.S. beef production
• Animal Care – Explaining our commitment to  raising healthy animals
• Beef Safety – Communicating why producing safe food for consumers is a top priority
• Beef Nutrition – Explaining how great-tasting beef strengthens and sustains our bodies
• Environmental Stewardship – Sharing how we’re protecting the environment for future generations
• The Beef Checkoff – Communicating the value of your investment in growing demand for beef



Source: beef.org

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This is me doing my part to make sure that I'm as knowledgeable as possible about the industry I'm advocating for. I want to learn the most useful tools and methods to communicate with consumers. I'll make sure to keep you all updated with interesting things I learn and do during my program. If you've completed it, I'd love to hear from you!