April 2017 - Vol. 5  Issue 4 
The official newsletter of the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, Kentucky Beef Council and the Kentucky Beef Network.
Features
KY Cattlemen Step Up to Help Wildfire Victims 
Click here to watch the full video

On Saturday, April 1, a convoy of semis and gooseneck trailers left Hardinsburg, KY, on an over 840-mile journey to send vital supplies to wildfire-stricken ranches in Protection, KS. The effort was spearheaded by the  Breckinridge County Cattlemen's Association  and 12 local counties. With supplies, donated trucks & drivers, and cash donations, nearly $70,000 was donated to the farming families of Protection and surrounding areas. 

More donations are being organized and another haul is planning to leave on April 21If you would
like to help, visit 
bit.ly/KYCattleFireResponse

Click the graphic above to watch the video of the truck send-off or watch it here. The donation efforts were also featured stories on WDRB News and LEX 18

Applications Open for 2018 KCA Hall of Fame    

Do you know a cattleman or cattlewoman whose time, dedication, and service to the Cattlemen's Association and the industry has made a far-reaching impact? Consider nominating them for the 2018 KCA Hall of Fame. This program is designed to give appropriate recognition to those who have made highly significant achievements in agriculture or agribusiness.  Five people will be inducted into the KCA Hall of Fame, with one inductee being from each of the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association Membership Regions. You can download the application below. Nominations must be postmarked no later than August 31, 2017.



KCA Goes to Washington 

KCA attended the NCBA Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. in the last week of March. While there, KCA staff and Vice President, Tim White, were able to make visits to the Kentucky members of Congress. In addition, KCA was able to hear from and ask questions to officials from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the FDA. KCA also heard from Scott Pruitt - Administrator of the EPA and Ray Starling - Special Assistant to the President for Agriculture, Trade, and Food Assistance.


Tim White testified before the House Small Business 
Committee's Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade regarding the future of  America's small  fam ily farms. In his testimony, White called on Congress to address the overly burdensome  regulatory environment that is hampering rural America, repeal the federal estate tax, and to ensure the 2018 Farm Bill works for America's cattle producers. You can watch White's testimony at the link above. 

Complete the MBA Program 
and  Enter to Win

Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program, reached 10,000 graduates! This group of beef and dairy producers - along with chefs, teachers, doctors, dietitians and others in the beef community - are leading the way in advocating for the industry and all of agriculture. After completing the program, MBA grads are equipped to have engaging conversations with consumers, both online and in person, and are encouraged to participate in advocacy campaigns. The MBA program is currently accepting applications for the Top of the Class program, which is a next level training program for advocates wanting to strengthen their advocacy skills. Applications for Top of the Class are available by contacting Brandi Buzzard Frobose at  bfrobose@beef.org.
 
In honor of May Beef Month, Kentucky will be giving away an original "In Kentucky, Beef Is Still What's Dinner" billboard banner to someone who earns their MBA between now and May 31.
 
For more information, contact Niki Ellis  nellis@kycattle.org.

Kentucky Grazing Schools 

The Kentucky Grazing School will be held on April 25-26, 2017 at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY. An additional grazing school will be held September 27-28, 2017 at the Woodford County Extension office. These two-day programs include hands-on exercises, illustrating building temporary paddocks, watering systems, and how to access pasture production. Classroom discussions will cover topics including forages, animal management, and grazing systems. Emphasis will be on grazing management for ruminant species.  To register, contact the Master Grazer Coordinator, at (859) 257-7512 or  jacob.brandenburg@uky.edu


Checkin' On the Checkoff
May is Beef Month in Kentucky! 

KCA & KBC staff and leadership will be joining Governor Matt Bevin and Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles April 25th to declare May as Kentucky's Beef Month once again! To celebrate, the Kentucky Beef Council will be traveling across the state throughout the month of May kicking off grilling season on their annual media tour. This year's media tour themed "Beef. The Life of the Party." will feature beef recipes and grilling tips on radio and TV interviews as well as select consumer stops. Tune in to catch us along the way! 
 
**Don't forget to enter our beef month sweepstakes contest on the Kentucky Beef Council Facebook page during the month of May for your chance to win an Ultimate Grilling Prize Pack! Along with our partner at the Holland Grill Company, we will be giving away a traveler grill, YETI cooler, $250 of Kroger beef, and a grilling essentials pack to two lucky winners


Happening at Eden Shale Farm & KBN
Click here to watch the full video
Eden Shale Feeding System Field Day

The rain and cold didn't stop the 90 attendees who came to the Fenceline Feeding System Field Day on April 6 at Eden Shale Farm. Great presentations were heard from UK's Dr. Steve Higgins on the system itself and UK's Dr. Matt Springer on black buzzard control.

If you missed the festivities, we'll be having a Follow-Up Field Day on May 9th. RSVP at 859-278-0899 or email kbn@kycattle.org! Visit www.edenshalefarm.com for more!



Young Producer Activities
Young Producer Council Campout

The Young Producer Council will be having a campout at Eden Shale Farm on Saturday, April 22. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone. You can plan to arrive at the farm around 3 PM ET on that Saturday. Please bring your own tent, chairs, bug spray and other camping supplies. Food will be provided. You can RSVP by contacting Dan Miller at dmiller@kycattle.org or 859-278-0899. 

Eden Shale Farm Address: 
245 Eden Shale Rd
Owenton, KY 40359

In the News




Farm to Dedicate Grandin-Designed Facility
"The entire system allows students to safely access all parts of the animal as they learn routine management skills and conduct research projects. Along with our students, we expect the facilities will be used for Extension and other educational programs, benefiting Kentucky cattlemen."
Read the full article here. 
 



Read the past three Issue's of The Kentucky Cattlemen here:

Reducing summer pneumonia risks
"A vaccination program is like sending the calf's immune system to school... It's important for producers to vaccinate calves before putting them out for summer so calves can develop the proper immune capabilities."
 
Cattlemen's Webinar Series 
Catch up on all the past webinars from the NCBA, including
-Succession Planning - For Next Gens Only!
-End of Year Policy Issues Update
-Understanding Advancements in Beef Cattle Selection Tools
Watch the webinars here.


 

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