Chewing The Cud

With my days in D.C.dwindling, I thought I would interview my roommate Meredith Aach. She hails for the suburbs from New Jersey, and learned ALOT about agrigulture living with me at George Washington University.

They sit on a street corner, shaking the loose change in their battered cups. In tattered clothes, they sit beside their grocery bags filled with their prized possessions. Their soulful eyes reach out, begging for a little extra money to help them out.

Living in D.C. for 10 weeks, I still haven't been able to block out the homeless people that live throughout the city streets. I've been told time and time again not to speak with them, not to help them, not to give them any money.

I see a man everyday on my way to the grocery store. He uses a blue Frisbee as a money cup. I say hello every time I pass, sometimes tossing my spare change into his Frisbee. There are others like him. Everywhere. They lie on benches or nap under umbrellas. They sit in the same place, day after day. Their importance and value cannot be ignored as creatures of God.

The Michael Vick dog fighting case has me wondering something that each and every one of us should be considering: why have we humanized animals?

I do not condone dog fighting in anyway, but when are people going to start fighting the right fight? I can't open a newspaper or visit a website today without seeing groups dedicated to saving the mammals, ending production agriculture, and liberating the animals to a free way of life. The emphasis we place on these animals should be utilized to help our fellow man.

We have homeless people scattering the streets of cities all across America. There are hungry children without parents to feed them across the globe. Genocide and war, disease and poverty...humanity is begging for our attention. When will they get it?

My blog has been experiencing technical difficulties, and I apologize for the absence of blogs lately.

I am merely hours away from leaving the city, and I'm realizing how much there is still to do and see here! I'm trying to squeeze in as much as I can, but it's a great feeling to know I'm only a day away from my family and my farm! Hold me back! I'm bursting with joy! I hope you will all stay tuned while my blog gets fixed.

Look forward to reading my latest adventures...

You'll hear my recount of my fine dining experience at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Hint: The steaks melted in my mouth and the dessert was sinfully free!
You'll read about my return to South Dakota. Aww I can smell the fresh air already!
You'll have to endure me gushing about seeing cattle again! I can't wait to get a pair of boots on and get dirty again!
You'll get to see what happens when a 10 year old takes over my radio show! Total chaos!

I love it when life gets exciting! Thanks for your patience while my blog returns to normal!

I literally have hours left in the most powerful city in the world. Tomorrow I will pack up my belongings, flag a taxi, catch a plane and be in the arms of my wonderful and loving family. That's tomorrow...tonight I reflect. This final week can only be described as an invasion of textures, a heightened awareness of the greatness that surrounds me. Let me recount my last few days in Washington D.C.

The four-wheeler rumbles down the grassy path in the pasture as father and daughter reunite for the best ritual ever: pasture tours. The chatter of their excited voices discussing the upcoming great ones adds to the music of a South Dakota summer evening. The crickets chirp, the birds sing, and an occasional mama cow bellers for her baby. The duo stops to fix a twist in the barbwire fence, Dad observes how the corn stalks weathered the last rainstorm, and the daughter is in heavenly bliss.

As the plane sputtered to a stop on the Sioux Falls runway last Saturday, I anticipated a wonderful evening in the company of my family and my cattle. This South Dakota girl has been away from home for 10 weeks. She has widened her horizons and reached to new heights. She has learned to appreciate her family roots in agriculture, and she has rededicated her life to preserving rural America for many generations to come.

A cattle ranch isn't just a pretty picture with relaxing pasture tours. The chores never end, the show calves need washing, the lawn needs mowing, and there is always a thistle or two to tend to. Although the adventures of a glittering city life have come to an end for the young girl, her heart sings with the joy of returning to the family farm that she loves. She smiles wide and heads out to do the nightly chores, ready to get some dirt under her fingernails...

It looks like I will be able to enjoy beef well into my golden years according to a recent study conducted by National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the University of Texas Medical Branch.

The report, prinited in the Houston Business Journal, states that elderly people aren't getting USDA recommended daily servings of protein. Muscle deteriation is a serious health problem for the elderly, but adding beef to their diets could be just the ticket!

The report states, the investigation compared changes in muscle protein synthesis in 10 young and 10 elderly volunteers after eating a four-ounce serving of lean beef. During the five hours after eating the beef, both groups' muscle protein synthesis increased by 50 percent. To read the full report, click here.

Good news for me: I can eat the prime steaks well into my prime years!

Sister Takeover

Judging Jackpot podcast information...

The Fab Floor glistened as the processing line moved intricately up and down the rows as the Hispanic workers sharpened their knifes, removed bones, and cut steaks to be sent for customers across the globe to enjoy a Tyson Fresh Foods Beef Product. Decked out in a frock, hair net and hard hat, I manuevered over them, high on the catwalk, watching another aspect of the beef chain take place right before my eyes.

It's hard not to think how we are all connected. Its starts with people like me, a cow-calf operator, to raise and breed genetics conducive to marbling and cutability. The calves move through backgrounders, stockers and feeders as they grow to meet the demands of the consumer. The finished cattle make their way to the packing plant, who processes the meat and delivers them to grocers, retailers, restauranters, and fastfood chains. Beef finally makes its way to the table of consumers across the globe. As consumers, we use 99% of the cow, from steaks and burgers to by-products we use each and everyday. It amazes me as I look through my cattle herd, that my family is the beginning of the American love affair with beef.

Linking the chain together, its easy to see: we are all a part of this great industry of agriculture. From the consumer to the producer, and everywhere in between, we all play a role in food production in this country. As I left the packing plant that day, I couldn't be more proud to be a link in the beef industry chain.

As my parents and I unloaded square bales into the barn last night, we listened to the local country music station while we worked. Radio personality Leah hosted the evening's show and she rounded off the hour with a trivia question.

She asked the tenth caller, FMD recently broke out in the U.K. This disease infects the meat and can spread to humans. What animal is victim to FMD?

Although the caller guessed correct in that Hoof and Mouth Disease occurs most prominently in cattle, Leah was misinformed in her question. FMD is a viral disease in cattle, hogs, and sometimes sheep, goats, deer and elephants. It is rapidly contagious amongst animals, but doesn't taint the quality of meat and milk for human consumption. FMD is strictly an animal health issue not a food safety issue. We can rest assured that meat and dairy products are as safe as ever.

The World Organization for Animal Health maintains that the United States and Canada are FMD-free without vaccination.

There was no better place to be this week than Mitchell, South Dakota. The annual Corn Palace Festival, Bull Bash, and Dakota Fest had people from every walk of life thronging to my quaint and friendly home town. During this week in Mitchell, one can find carnival rides, corn dogs, bucking bulls and rodeo clowns, farming technology and machinery, livestock exhibits, and educational forums about the latest issues in agriculture.

I had the privilege of spending time at Dakota Fest with SDSU and South Dakota Cattlemen's Association. The forums held covered topics including: natural beef, animal identification, 2007 Farm Bill, and animal rights activism. Scott Jones, President of the SD Cattlemen's Association, and I teamed up to address how animal rights groups influence ag policy.

The Humane Society of the United States is, by far, the most dangerous lobbying group threatening food production. With a $200 million budget, this group doesn't run a single animal shelter, yet raises money for their hidden agendas with the confusion that comes with their name. In fact, HSUS has enough money to run every single animal shelter in the country with money to spare; and yet, they primarily use their money to sway legislation in their favor. Their goal: complete animal liberation and economically crippling farmers and ranchers.

It's time we start paying attention. Check out this website to find out where other animal rights organizations spend their money to hurt the farmer and make the consumer pay.

South Dakota Cattlemen's Association President Scott Jones joins me to discuss the beef forums at Dakota Fest held in Mitchell, South Dakota.

It's August and that can only mean one thing: State Fair Season! With the South Dakota State Fair only a few days away, I've been pondering on some of my great fair memories...

-Camping with all of the relatives
-Indian Tacos on Junk Food Alley
-Showing my Limousin cattle
-Water fights
-Carnival Rides
-Meeting boys at 4-H Dances!
-Collecting all of my school supplies from display booths
-Purple Ribbons and Belt Buckles
-Early morning chores
-Late nights catching up with friends
-The smell of woodchips and Kleen Sheen
-Livestock Judging Contests
-Entering crafts and cookies
-Taking naps on the show box

Ohhh, the memories! So readers out there, what's your favorite State Fair memory?

Make sure to listen to this week's radio show found on the right hand side of this webpage. I'm joined by livestock judge Travis Hoffman who shares his enjoyment in working with the 4-H youth and why he believes this program benefits young people in the long run.

Travis Hoffman shares why he enjoys judging livestock shows: working with youth and educating them about the livestock industry.