Where does the time go? I feel like it was just a couple of days ago when I was writing last month’s message. My how fast things move; especially this time of year when everyone in our industry is running like crazy to get calves shipped. It always amazes me that we work hard all year long just for these few weeks. However, it is also a blessing to be able to see the fruits of our labor. A good friend of mine once told me, “That when you cannot get everything done in a day, you just need to get up earlier and go longer.” As Cattlemen and Cattlewomen, this is exactly what we do; we do not quit until we get the job done.
There are so many volunteers of our association that we should all take the time to thank for all the work they do to keep our association great and our members happy. There is a very long list I would like to personally say THANK YOU to each of you. Our youth is the next generation of our industry and I think there are a couple of people that go above and beyond for them. Mrs. Stephanie Conrad, Mrs. Christine Damron, and all the other volunteers that help organize and run the JFCA Point Series Shows. Exhibitors that show in the series are awarded points at each show based on how well they did; the JFCA collects these points and organizes the series. In July, they held the first show of the 2021 Points Series at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. This show had 230 exhibitors that showed over 400 head of cattle. In this point series, there are seven other shows that are organized by different groups throughout the state. In August, the second show was held in Okeechobee with 180 exhibitors showing 380 head of cattle. I believe these shows are training our future leaders and advocates for our way of life and our great industry.
During August, we were very busy and traveling quite a bit. A large group of our membership spent a few days in Nashville, Tennessee for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention. Then we had a day of orientation with the new FCA Executive Board to bring them up to date on current FCA business. The very next day we toured Longino Ranch and Blackbeard Ranch with the Deputy Secretary and the Chief Science Officer of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Giving tours is a great way to build relationships and showing them that we are cleaning Florida’s water and air, as well as, protecting our wildlife. Please help us spread this message by doing the same with organizing tours on Ranches in your area of the State with your local community leaders. I would be happy to help.
The next few months will be filled with bull sales from lots producers; many of them donate bulls to the FCA PAC Bull Sale that is held every year at our annual convention. The funds from this sale go directly to our PAC so please take the time to support these producers that support us.
Do you know what the Beef Checkoff Program does for you? Do you know that by growing the Global Beef demand that this increases the amount of exports that adds value $$$ to each calf that’s fed in the US by almost $400? A lot of the product that is exported are products that the American people do not like to eat, such as, livers, tongues, tails, and more. These products are sold at a premium price in other countries. Your Beef Checkoff Dollars are working for you. To learn more about the moving parts of your Checkoff $$$ sign up for
