Beef’s a trip day 10: Working together to make ’em better
Just stating those names brings up a deep sense of admiration among our team. They’re only a handful of the dozens of CAB-licensed feedlots we work closely with. They’re some of the most focused guys we know. They join Terry Beller on that list of some of the hardest working people we know, too.
Some of them were born into the cattle business. Others say they accidentally fell into the career. It doesn’t matter to us how they got there, we’re just glad they did.
These are the guys (and gals) who manage all those daily decisions we talked about yesterday.
David Trowbridge started working at Gregory Feedlots near Tabor, Iowa, right out of college. He’s seen the business do a 180 since he got into it. His team has gone from providing service for almost entirely outside investors to now spending the majority of their time working directly with ranchers.
“They want to know how their cattle have done, how their genetic program is working. We’re trying to learn what they’re producing so we can work together to make it better,” David says.
That’s a common philosophy we hear from these fantastic feeders.
“My customers get a range of data back and I like to tell them that we can provide you with anything that you can provide us with,” Dale says. “No matter who they buy their bulls from they need to figure out what kind of a bull they need and based on our carcass data they get to evaluate that and see what they need.”
Feedlots often get run though the mud, by activists and media groups for certain, but also by cow-calf producers who think they’re only interested in cheating them out of a fair profit. Maybe there are a few who still take what they can get at the expense of everybody else, but I’ve never met them.
When these souls carve time out their busy days to “drive the yard” with me, they’re not talking about how they can cheat a rancher by a few pennies per hunderedweight. They’re talking about building demand so everybody can cash in. They’re talking about keeping cattle healthy, reducing stress and making every single animal a success.
They’re also talking about, “How can we make more of them quality for Certified Angus Beef?”
Why? Well, why don’t I let one of them tell you in his own words:
May your bottom line be filled with black ink,
Miranda
PS—Do you know why we’re on this gate-to-plate journey? Check out “30 days on a Prairie Farm” for the whole scoop.
Beef’s a Trip Archives:
Day 1: Starting at day one
Day 2: Who are these people?
Day 3: Stockholders
Day 4: The cowherd’s purpose
Day 5: Deciding to care
Day 6: Quality focus doesn’t have to skip the middleman
Day 7: Stocking for quality
Day 8: SOLD!
Day 9: What have you done today?
Day 10: Working together to make ‘em better
Day 11: Keep on truckin’
Day 12: Packers want quality
Day 13: The target
Day 14: Packers up close & personal
Day 15: It’s not all about the beef
Day 16: Further processors
Day 17: From here to there–and a lot more
Day 18: He’s on your team
Day 19: Beyond prices, grocery stores uncovered
Day 20: Getting quality in the carts
You may also like
From Modest Beginnings to Excellence
Gilchrist Farm recently received the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Canadian Commitment to Excellence award. This prestigious honor recognizes their exceptional achievements in high-quality Angus genetics and management. Over the years, they have transformed their operation by embracing superior Angus genetics. Their commitment to high standards and innovative practices has distinguished them as a model of excellence in the industry.
From White House to Farmhouse
At Pleasant Valley Farm in Brookville, MD, four generations of the Stabler family have blended tradition and innovation to create a thriving, diversified Angus operation. Honored with the Ambassador Award at the 2024 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Annual Conference, the Stablers exemplify a commitment to sustainable farming, community engagement and educational outreach. Their significant contributions to the hosting on behalf of the CAB brand highlight their commitment and play a key role in receiving this award.
What’s Good for the Cattle, Is Good for the Wetlands
JY Ferry & Son, Inc., named the 2024 Certified Angus Beef Sustainability Award winner, exemplifies how sustainability in agriculture can bridge quality beef production, land stewardship, and wildlife management. At JY Ferry & Son, what’s good for the cattle is good for the wetlands—and good for the next generation of this multi-generational family business.