Wrapping Things Up in Nashville

Chuck Zimmerman

Online Photo AlbumThings are wrapping up here at the Cattle Industry Convention. It’s on to the National Biodiesel Conference tomorrow where we will kick things off at their Super Bowl Party.

I wanted to remind you that there is an online photo album of all the pictures I’ve taken here which you may feel free to visit. You can find it using this link: 2007 Cattle Industry Convention Photo Album. I think I’ve got almost 250 photos in there.

It’s been my pleasure to be the Beef Board Blogger again this year. Besides my pictures and interviews one of the key functions of Beef Board Meeting.com is a section where each committee has a page on which agendas, reports and minutes are posted. Those reports will trickle in over the next several days but a number of them have already been posted. This makes finding information about what the Beef Checkoff is doing very easy.

Cattle Industry Conference

Meet The New Beef Board Chairman

Chuck Zimmerman

Ken StielowThe new chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board is Ken Stielow. Ken is a cattleman from Kansas.

Ken took over at this morning’s business meeting. I interviewed him afterward.

Ken says that making sure the money invested in the Checkoff is goal number one and he’s going to make sure that’s done successfully again this year. Ken says increasing demand is also going to be high on the priority list.

Listen to my interview with Ken here: Ken Stielow Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-22-stielow.mp3
Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Beef Backer Award Winners

Chuck Zimmerman

BuckhornsOne of the annual Beef Backer Award winners is Buckhorn Steak and Roadhouse and attending the convention are John and Melanie Pickeral, proprietors. They won their award for the independent category.

I interviewed them about what this award means to them and their restaurant.

Listen to my interview with Melanie and John here: Buckhorn Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-19-buckhorn.mp3

John Pickerel, owner of Buckhorn Steak and Roadhouse, couldn’t be happier with his restaurant’s achievement. In 2003, the restaurant collaborated with its servers to create a beef training program, where they learned about the cooking, aging and cutting processes, marbling characteristics and beef tenderness, to help educate customers and promote beef, which accounts for 80 percent of the menu. “Cow School” has since evolved into a mandatory training program for all restaurant employees. According to John Pickerel, “When the server is explaining the tenderness of our 2 ½-inch Baseball Cut, the flavor in our Bob Taylor Cut or the juiciness of our Bone-In 20-oz Rib Eye, they know the why’s and how’s. The customers truly believe we are steak experts, and leave spreading the word. Our best advertising tool is our knowledge and expertise with beef.”

Full Release

Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Honoring Monte Reese

Chuck Zimmerman

Monte Plaque PresentationAt the joint business meetings this morning, retiring Beef Board COO, Monte Reese was presented with a plaque in appreciation for his service to the organization.

Presenting the award are Ken Stielow, new chairman of the Beef Board and Vice chairman, David Bateman and immediate past chairman, Jay O’Brien.

I’m sure Monte will be receiving some more awards. In fact, later in the meeting NCBA presented him with a recognition plaque as well.

I have known Monte since he started in this position and will offer my personal thought that he’s been one of the most enjoyable people I’ve ever worked with in the industry. I don’t know of anyone who has been more passionate about the industry and who can more clearly discuss the Checkoff and its activities. I’ll miss him and I’m sure I’m not alone saying that. Good luck Monte and I hope to see you many more times in the future.

Ag Groups, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

NCBA Media Room Mania

Chuck Zimmerman

Cattle Industry Convention - Grace & JoeIt’s near the end of the Cattle Industry Convention here in Nashville.

Grace (Yard-O-Beef Spokesmodel) and Joe Schuele are starting to pack things up.

To see how much progress they’ve made you’ll need to watch the video.

We may not have been able to sample Grace’s Yard-O-Beef but it’s not like we haven’t been well fed here in the media room. Breakfast this morning was a kind of tamale/burrito/omelet sort of thing. Very good. Please note that media are in a better mood if you provide them with something to eat. We often don’t have time to do it otherwise.

Thanks a lot Grace and Joe for running one of the best commodity organization media rooms I’ve ever worked out of.

Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, Video

Showing the Blog to the Secretary

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike Johanns & MeBefore he got started with the speech and press conference, Secretary Johanns toured through the media room.

I figured that since he’s the head of USDA and it oversees the Beef Checkoff that he should know about the Beef Board Meeting.com blog.

So when he got over to my work area we took a little tour of the website and he liked what he saw.

It’s helping with producer communications and being transparent with the activities of the organization and I think he’s all for that. By the way, traffic on the Beef Board blog is 5 times higher so far than it was last year when we started it!

Ag Groups, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, USDA

Mike Johanns Press Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike JohannsAfter Secretary Johanns gave his speech during this morning’s general session here at the Cattle Industry Convention he held a press conference.

My recording starts while he’s talking about the issue of ethanol and high feed prices. He describes how the administration is working to promote and develop alternative sources of biomass to create ethanol.

He also answers questions on a number of other issues.

Download and listen to Sec. Johanns here: Mike Johanns Press Conference (20 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-16-press-conference.mp3
Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, USDA

Speech by Secretary Johanns

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike JohannsU. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns was on hand here in Nashville today.

He’s been on the road since announcing the administration farm bill proposal. I was able to obtain a copy of his speech this morning if you would like to listen.

I was in the media room posting onto Beef Board Meeting.com so I’m afraid I can’t summarize what he had to say.

Download and listen to Sec. Johanns here: Mike Johanns Speech (32 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-12-johanns-speech.mp3
Audio, Cattle Industry Conference, USDA

The John John Show

Chuck Zimmerman

Mike John & John QueenMike John is on the left and John Queen is on the right. Mike’s the outgoing president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and John is the incoming. The changeover takes place tomorrow.

I interviewed them together this morning and asked them about the challenges they faced and will face in the cattle business.

I think Mike has a future in podcasting with his voice. Mike says that the policy process that comes from the grass roots of cattle producers who are members of the NCBA has worked very well during his tenure and John says that he will make sure that continues.

Download and listen to my interview with them here: John-John Interview (4 min. MP3 File)

Or listen here now:

cic-07-18-john-john.mp3
Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference

Steak at the Stock-Yard

Chuck Zimmerman

Alltech DinnerI want to thank Billy Frey, Alltech, for taking us out to dinner last night.

I was told that the best place to get a steak in Nashville is the Stock-Yard Restaurant, one of the top ten steak restaurants in the U. S. That’s where we went and it was all I had heard.

Pictured are left to right, Jorge Arias, Alltech, Me, Laura Hadley, Alltech, Billy Frey, Sarah Muirhead, Feedstuffs and Kevin McBride, Alltech.

Agribusiness, Cattle Industry Conference