Cattlemen's College® Turns 20
NCBA's Cattlemen's College celebrates 20th year anniversary at Cattle Industry Convention.
Adapted from release by National Cattlemen's Beef Association
TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2013) — Now in its 20th year, Cattlemen’s College has established a reputation as one of the most thorough cattle-producer education programs in the nation. Sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health (formerly Pfizer Animal Health) and coordinated by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), the 2013 program began Tuesday night, Feb. 5, with participants being treated to great Florida hospitality and an exciting ranch horse competition at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Wednesday, Cattlemen’s College students heard from an outstanding lineup of industry experts.
Cattlemen’s College offers a wide range of informative, one-of-a-kind hands-on workshops designed for cattle operations of every size and sector. Class began bright and early Wednesday with a keynote address by internationally respected futurist Lowell Catlett, who spoke about the resiliency of the beef industry and the people who work in it. Catlett also provided his predictions for the long-range outlook for the agricultural industry, along with factors that influence profitability and sustainability of beef cattle production.
“No matter what is thrown at us, we just get up in the morning and go to work,” said Catlett. “The resiliency of the human spirit is amazing. People matter, and the beef industry needs to be ready for tremendous changes to come.”
Wednesday’s sessions included a cattle market update presented by CattleFax, along with sessions on preserving family relations on the ranch, weather predictions for 2013 and beyond, consumer attitudes toward beef and beef production, how to cope with drought and high feed prices, animal welfare issues and how to identify risk factors that affect cattle producers’ bottom line.
Allen Moczygemba, director of the beef segment of the U.S. Cattle and Equine Team with Zoetis Animal Health, said that the company saw a need for more educational programs for cattle producers.
“Twenty years ago, cattle producers needed access to information they didn’t have,” said Moczygemba. “Years later there is still a hunger and desire for more information. U.S. beef producers want to become better at what they do, and they are constantly striving to improve. Cattlemen’s College provides them with the tools to achieve that.”
Visit www.beefusa.org for more information about the convention, and follow NCBA on Facebook and Twitter.
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Editor's Note: This article
is adapted from a news release provided by the National Cattlemen's Beef
Association (NCBA). The organization has represented America's cattle
producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the
industry through education and public policy. NCBA works to create new
markets and increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possible through
membership contributions.