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Youth Development a Focus of ANCW

Several ANCW programs invest in youth as future of industry.

by Kasey Brown, associate editor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 3, 2014) — The importance of investing in youth was a main focus of the American National CattleWomen Inc. (ANCW) Youth Development focus session Feb. 3 at the 2014 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn.

With the proposed bylaw changes, new working groups within the youth development umbrella include the National Beef Ambassador Program (NBAP), consumer youth education, collegiate CattleWomen and junior CattleWomen programs. These working groups are open to anyone interested within the ANCW organization.

The NBAP final contest will be Sept. 26-27, 2014, in Denver, Colo. This year, a Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) will be required for all contestants, said Sarah Bohnenkamp, executive director of ANCW. New states are encouraged to enter the national contest, open to youth aged 17-20 by Sept. 1. She also noted that the junior ambassador contest, geared for ages 12-16, is thriving, with many repeat contestants.

Bohnenkamp said the ambassadors will be attending fewer state fairs this year and making more campus visits, because peer-to-peer engagement is more effective. Success from this engagement is measured in a quick survey done on an iPad.

“Seek first to understand,” is the goal of a K-12 education research project being done in partnership with Hanover Research, Bohnenkamp explained. The objectives of the study, which will be done this summer, are to determine how beef education fits in today’s standards. What age group is best to reach out to? Should the focus be on math, science, home economics, reading, etc.? On what aspect of the beef industry should efforts be focused? Some of these questions should be answered this summer.

Videos and YouTube have the potential to reach millions, including youth. Derek Klingenberg of Klingenberg Farms, Kansas, created several farm parody videos that have reached more than 5 million viewers. His parodies include “What Does the Farmer Say?” and “Ranching Awesome.”

He makes videos because he can, he said. “This is the first time a Kansas farm kid can get a professional camera and software, create a video and post it for the world without ever leaving the farm.”

He said he enjoys using his gifts of music and creativity in addition to farm work. He started by making a music video for his blue-grass band, the Possum Boys. Then he started making local commercials, and eventually decided to try YouTube.

“The job of the 21st century farmer is to feed the world with food and knowledge,” he said, adding that YouTube gives a wide audience.

He explained that “What Does the Farmer Say?” took 18 days to film, cut and post. He has a friend with a recording studio, where he records the song. He also has a green screen in his shop on the farm, which lets him film at any time of the day. He said he usually films at 4:30 a.m. until he sends his girls to school at 6:30 a.m.

“I believe farmers can feed the world, but will consumers let us? Smartphones and social media give us more access to reach those consumers with farm information,” he added.

He said he will continue to make farm parodies because they are a great deal of fun. You can view his videos on his YouTube channel, Farmer Derek Klingenberg. His Twitter handle is @KlingenbergFarms and his Facebook page is called Klingenberg Farms Studio.