2011 was a year that flew by. It seems like yesterday we were in Rapid City, SD, at the 2011 NBAP Contest competing for our chance to be a National Beef Ambassador. I can’t believe the places we as a team have traveled. Having the chance to travel around the country for a year and talk about beef, who wouldn’t want that experience. I am so sad to be done, but extremely excited for the 2012 team to experience the duties of a National Beef Ambassador.

To my team; Kristin, Austin, Jess and Maddy- Thank you for always being there to offer your individual skills and talents. You are all stunning agricultural advocates and are going to blaze an amazing path in this world. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to share the American beef story to consumers with then any of you! Kristin- You witty personality is always entertaining, especially your eastern accent. Your knowledge for this industry is second-to-none and I have learned so much from you, thank you. I would also like to thank you for your superb driving skills; and not killing Ruby, Maddy and I in PA! Austin- Thanks for being the man of the team and dealing with four women during all of our travels. Your uncanny ability to strike up a conversation with consumers is captivating. Thanks for all your political updates it was always fun to hear and debate with. Jess- Your bubbly personality is so much fun and captivating to everyone around you. You ability to reach out to all consumers and lour them in was always fun to take part of. Thank you for always sharing your California knowledge to all of us. Maddy- Being able to travel with each other was always a great time. Your passion for life and experiencing new things was always exciting. You certainly were the team member that was great with children, they always loved being able to interact with you and learn about your cows.

To the American National Cattlewomen; Thank you ladies. Your passion for this program and the youth of the beef industry is something that is truly admired. You are all great role models for us.

To the Cattlemen’s Beef Board; Thank you for believing in this program. The experience this past year gave me is something I will never be able to truly explain, and has shaped me as a young adult and future leader within this industry.

To all the State Beef Councils; Thank you for all that you did for us as a team, you are all great role models and we learned so much from you.

To all the American Beef Farmers and Ranchers; Thank you for being a part of this industry, it’s your job to feed and clothe the world today.

To the 2012 Team; Enjoy every minute of this experience and make sure to never overlook an opportunity to share your beef story, you are the future of this industry! “You are the change you wish to see in the world”

Thank you everyone for this year and offering me a chance to serve an industry,

I love so very much!

Bless the beautiful bovines,

Kelli

 

This week I am on site at the 2011 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE).  I always loved the time I spent at national shows, it was just like a family reunion.  Thus far this week has been no different, other than the small fact that I am now of the other side of the fence, literally.

I am serving as a press room writer this week, covering the news pouring from the show ring. The press room is conveniently located at the south west corner of Freedom Hall overlooking the show ring.

This weekend the 2011 National Beef Ambassador team traveled to Wooster, OH to reign over the 2012 National Beef Ambassador Program (NBAP) Contest.  This year’s competition consisted of 29 talented students vying for the chance to earn the title of 2012 National Beef Ambassador.  Of these students 11 were junior contestants ranging from 12-16 years of age, and the remanding 18 were senior contestants from the age of 17-20.  All students that competed this weekend were afforded the opportunity to have a very special person within their presence to not only help cheer them on but, also to offer them an abundant amount of knowledge and wisdom, Mr. Bill Donald National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), 2011-2012 President.  During Bill’s time with the contestants in Wooster, OH he conveyed something that is vital for today’s youth.

The first was that students have a vast amount of knowledge to represent this industry.  It’s crucial that we as advocates know what exactly it is that we are talking about.  My mother said it best, “Due unto others, as you wish to have done unto you.”  I know that I personally don’t care to have someone that doesn’t know what it is that they are talking about try to tell me about that certain subject.  I want them to be knowledgeable, just as others should want us as ambassadors to be knowledgeable.  Personally this knowledge is derived from a passion, the second point that Mr. Donald conveyed.

Passion is not something that can be taught, earned, or even bought, it is something that has to come from somewhere much deeper within one’s self.  The beef cattle industry is my life, it’s what I was raised around, taught about, and it’s where I want to dedicate my life to.  Naturally it’s my passion.  When we are passionate about something it’s not a task but rather a pleasure for us to express.  The knowledge then flows natural from ourselves and people start to inquire about the enthusiasm for this passion.

Youthful enthusiasm is something that adults unfortunately do not possess.  Now I am not saying that an adult can not be enthusiastic about certain things within their lives, however their enthusiasm is nothing compared to that of a younger youth member.  In my mind youth have a way of showing their passion and knowledge to others, that is like no other form of expression.  This is mostly conducted through their enthusiasm for whatever it is that they are speaking about.  All members of the 2012 NBAP have this enthusiasm and it is truly inspiring.

Mr. Donald’s words will never be forgotten by myself I hope to always possess these three key qualities as I grow as a future leader for the American Beef Industry.  I challenge all contestants, parents, state chairs, and everyone that loves the beef industry to live their daily lives with knowledge, passion and a youthful enthusiasm.

 

Bless the Bovines,

Kelli

If you feel a coolness in the air, sound of drum keeping tempo for a march, and a fight song being rehearsed chances are you are on the cusp of a football season!  I am a girl that thoroughly enjoys sports and college football is my absolute favorite!  Even though I attend South Dakota State University, being a Michigan State University Alumni, I am a true Spartan through and through.  I even paid extra on my cable bill this fall just to be able to view the Spartan games from South Dakota.

A football game would not be complete without hundreds of screaming fans, at least two people that paint their bodies in school colors, and tailgating. Tailgating to my friends is not something to be messed with.  It’s a very serious operation and the main mission is to have a menu full of the mighty powerful protein BEEF!  Now me being one of the only girls in the group that likes to grocery shop and cook is usually the designated chef.  I refuse to disappoint my friends so I make sure there are some delicious beef entrees for them to enjoy.  Over the course of the past three years I have complied “Kelli’s Top 3 Tailgating Recipes.”  The top 2 recipes need a grill at the tailgating site.

 

#1 Grilled Steaks Rubbed with the Cowboy Steak Rub- Now this is number 1 because we typically grill T-Bone steaks.  Now the T-Bone is my favorite cut of steak this is because the T-Bone offers me two steaks in one.  On one side of the T-Bone there is the NY Strip and on the other side is the Filet Minion.  That’s two amazing cuts of steak for the price of one!  Here is the recipe and some great tips on how to utilize rubs:

 

Rubs A rub is a mixture of seasonings rubbed onto the surface of meat before cooking. They are commonly used on roasts, steaks and ground beef. Rubs not only add flavor, but they can also help seal in juices and form a delicious crust. One thing you can’t expect them to do, however, is tenderize. Make your own dry rubs by combining your favorite fresh or dry herbs, spices and other dry seasonings. Add additional zing and spice to your favorite cut with a paste rub. To make a paste, you combine dry seasonings with oil. You can use your favorite oil that’s infused with garlic, red pepper or lemon, or any other oil of your choice. You can also add small amounts of finely chopped garlic or onion, or seasonings such as mustard, soy sauce or horseradish that will help bind the mixture. The goal is to maintain a consistency that can be spread thickly on your beef. Rubs can be applied just before cooking. For more pronounced flavor, apply rub to beef, then refrigerate for several hours.

 

 

#2 Hamburgers- There is not one recipie that I used over the other for hamburgers.  I always pre-prepare all of my toppings and pack them away in the cooler so that all we have to do is bring them out and let each person create there own masterpiece!

3 Easy Steps to Burgers

Step 1: Lightly shape 1 ½ pounds ground beef into four ¾-inch patties.  Use a gentle touch; over mixing will result in a firm, compact texture.  This is an easy step to do at home before the game and place them inside a cake pan in the cooler.

Step 2: Place patties on grid over medium ash-covered coals.  Grill, uncovered, 13 to 15 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 13 to 14 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F, turning occasionally with a spatula. Do not press; pressing causes the loss of juices and results in a dry burger. *Another thing to remember is not to mash down on the burgers with the flipper while they are on the grill it then allows all the flavorful juices to run from the inside of the burgers.

Step 3: About 2 minutes before burgers are done, place four hamburger buns, cut sides down, on grid. Grill until lightly toasted. Serve burgers in buns.  Top as desired.

Build Your Own Burger

Begin with a basic cooked burger as your foundation, then use your imagination to create a masterpiece. Here are some suggestions that will get you started.

Bruchetta Burgers: Toss chopped red and yellow tomatoes with fresh basil and minced garlic. Place burgers on toasted French bread slices and top with tomato mixture.

California Burgers: Garnish burgers with grilled onions, sliced avocados and alfalfa sprouts. Serve between slices of sourdough bread.

Chipotle Burgers: Mash 2 tablespoons canned chipotle peppers with a fork. Stir in ½ cup mayonnaise and spread on toasted buns. Add burgers, tomato slices and pepper jack cheese.

Pepperoni Pizza Burgers: Place burgers on toasted French rolls. Add pizza sauce, pepperoni slices and mozzarella cheese.

Reuben Burgers: For each slice of marble rye bread, spread butter on outside surface and Thousand Island dressing on inside surface. Place burgers, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese between two bread slices and cook in preheated nonstick skillet until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.

Tex-Mex Burgers: Spread refried beans on toasted buns and add a sprinkling of crushed corn chips. Top with burgers, cheese slices and salsa.

Worcestershire Burgers: Sauté sliced mushrooms and sweet onions in Worcestershire sauce. Serve burgers open face on toasted English muffins with the mushroom and onion mixture piled high.

#3 Shredded Beef Filling Two Ways-  This is an awesome recipe that I can prepare days in advance to the game!  My life is hectic and sometimes we don’t feel like bringing the grill to the parking lot, this is a wonderful alternative not to mention it is  2 meals in 1.

This summer has been the true definition of, “blessings”.  As a college student there are many different phases that you go through on a regular basis, its natural, or at least that is what we are all told.  This summer for me those phases have continued, and made me ask the 5 “W’s” (who, what, when, where and the infamous why) on a regular basis. 

I knew that this was going to be my first summer in 12 years not showing livestock, I also knew that I was going to be stuck in a city, of a state that wasn’t home all summer, this meant I was going to need my cattle fix on a regular basis.  One of the first things I did when I found out I was moving to Lexington, KY was contact their state’s Beef Council (KBC).  From that initial phone call with Whitney Carmen it has been a true blessing for my life.  I have had the opportunity to meet so many new people within the industry, and experience things that I never would have had it not been for the KBC and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA).  I have actively helped with the Kentucky Beef Network (KBN), BQA trainings, Team BEEF events, local promotion activities, write for the KCA monthly publication, “Cow Country” and create friendships that will last a lifetime.  This summer has truly fueled the passion that I have for this industry. 

 

The 5 “W’s” are more applicable to me now than they ever have been, I have two years of my undergraduate degree and then it’s time to get a big kid job.  There are too many thoughts that I have about my future to put onto paper, but the main thought for me is the, “where.”  Where is my place within this industry, and how am I going to get there?  Such a complex question for me to answer, however, the answer lies right in front of me.  After, all that I have seen and experienced in my 12 years within this industry, it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as your there.  It doesn’t matter what happens 10 years from now, a year from now, or even 2 days from now, what matters is that you are always there to support the American beef industry in any way that you can.  This could be through 4-H, FFA, school, social groups, social media, friends family, whatever it is just being part of this industry.  In my mind, there is NO other agricultural industry that has the passion and love for what they do as what we, American beef farmers and ranchers do.  For all you teenagers, college students, parents, elders, whatever you label yourself as just know that as long as you are there that is what matters most! 

The industry will always be changing and evolving, as long here as we are here to support it every step of the way.             

Bless the Precious Bovines,

Kelli

Due to the fact that I am in Lexington, KY this summer interning I will not be going to the home front for fathers day.  However, I will be cooking one of my father’s favorite in his honor.  Yes, I promise I will actually make this for him when I return home  at the end of the summer to make up for my absence on June 19th.  This past Christmas I was begging for the, “Healthy Beef Cookbook,” published by the National Cattlemen’s Association and the American Dietetic Association.  Luckily for my roommates I was blessed with the cookbook and began cooking from it as soon as possible.  One of my favorites from the book and my dad’s as well was the “Mojo Beef Kabob’s.”  This is a great dish for summer grilling and I hope that you enjoy it as much as our family does.

Today was the start of my summer internship with the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) in Lexington, KY.  The first day of work is typically always an overload!  There is so much new information to retain, and faces to remember!  My first day included this typical overload however, I was blessed with the opportunity to judge the Kentucky FFA Middle School Career Development Events (CDE’s) at the 2011 Kentucky FFA State Convention for my afternoon’s activity.  This was something that was not an overload for me, but more like a long lost friend.  I love being involved in FFA land, (a.k.a any state’s convention is referred to as “FFA Land.”)

While I assumed my role in the judge’s chair I was accompanied by two wonderful ladies from the Kentucky Convention Bureau.  These ladies and I began to talk about what our background and relation to the  National FFA Organization was.  Neither of these ladies came from an agricultural background, but both were in full support of what it is that farmers and rancher do on an everyday basis.  I took full advantage of this opportunity to tell these women about my role as a National Beef Ambassador, and a brief overview of, “my story.”  We covered the basics about organic, grass and conventional fed cattle.  They had the typical question, “Which is the healthiest for me and my family?”  I explain the right of a personal choice and offered my opinion.  Great conversation, I was thrilled that it was so casual and so graciously accepted.  Then I was thrown for a loop.  One of the women asked me a question I had never heard before, “Why is it that farm kids know so much about reproduction?”

I thought to myself, Seriously this woman is asking me how farm kids, know so much about the birds and the bees?”  She then followed up with the question, “How do farm kids have so much common sense?”  I had a quick and simple reply, ” I don’t honestly know?”  I have never thought about the fact that people that did not have the opportunity to grow up on a farm, never saw the bull breeding the cow in the field.  They also have never had the chance to race around the cow pen sticking Estrotect pads on cows backs as a game you and your cousins play every spring.  I never thought about this, to farm kids its just a way of life and its part of nature.  What does that look like to generations that are removed from the farm?

 

We as farm kids are lucky!  We have the chance to gain common sense everyday from our natural way of living.  We need to take the things that we learn and share them with others.  There are people out there that admire what it is that we have and it’s something that we sometime take advantage of.  I know that I want to be able to share what it is that I learned from my lifestyle with others and offer them an opportunity to understand where their food and fiber comes from.  I want to share my “common sense.”  Shouldn’t you?

 

Bless the Bovines,

Kelli

HOLA!!!  Buenos Dias!!

This blog is being written from the capital of International trade, Panama City, Panama!  I was allowed the opportunity to be here because of the International Collegiate Leadership (I-CAL) Program. This is a program that is offered with the National FFA Organization and the United States Seed and Grain Foundation and Council.  Each year they come together as a committee to select a team of twelve college students to travel overseas, and experience International Agriculture at its finest.  This year I have been selected to be part of this amazing opportunity.

So far this marks the 5^th day in the country and we have seen such a vast amount of diverse agriculture already.  Spanish is a language that is difficult for me to understand, I simply can’t conjugate the words into a sequence that makes sense to me.  I give my fellow ambassador Ms. Maddy Ruble a large amount of respect, for having a passion for the language.  However, anytime the word cattle is even mentioned, I beam a smile of pure excitement and there is no word confusion.   All the students were provided with a schedule of what our time here would look like, and what commodities we would see each day.  Sadly, cattle were not supposed to be on the schedule until sometime later next week!  Now, l was not very happy about this but I knew that I would survive, maybe a little less than enthused, but I have a passion for all sectors of Agriculture, so I knew there was not the slightest issue.  I never imagined that yesterday I would get my desire to see cattle sooner than planned.

We were on our way to visit with two Coffee producers in the small providence of Penonome.  Panama is a country that’s terrain is filled with mountains.  This of course meant the coffee produces lived on the tallest point of the tallest mountain, well not literally, but that is what it felt like.  The tour van we were riding in twisted up, down, round and round the hills of the Panamanian mountains.  Oh yea, I forgot to mention one fine detail, it is 95 degrees, with a 98% humidity outside!!!  Talk about hot, hot, hot!  Back to the story, as we are twisting around in an ice box of a tour van, I am enjoying my hour of time from the exhausting heat, and beginning to take a small fiesta, in the United States this is referred to as qu

ick power nap.  All of a sudden I look out the front of the tour van to see a stampede of Brahman cattle charging at the van!  My heart began to race, my adrenalin was pumping, CATTLE!!!!  I was so excited to finally be seeing cattle within this amazing country.  I was beginning to feel as if the entire country was a jungle, and there was no livestock here.  Granted, these were Brahman cattle, and I am not used to seeing the large Bos Taurus cattle standing in our pasture, but none the less I was still excited to see those beautiful bovines.  My peers began to see the commotion and we all were snapping pictures and swapping stories.  This stampede continued for a solid ten minutes and there were about 160 head that passed by the van with the guidance of only two gauchos on horseback.

After the conclusion of the stampede the reality of what just happened began to set in.  We seriously just passed an entire herd of cattle walking/running down the center of a twisting road.  If that was to happen in my area of Michigan, I would be using a calculator to figure out my mortality and morbidly percent’s.  Oh wait!!  It has happened in my area of Michigan before and of course those were my cattle stampeding down the middle of the road.  However, my cattle were not supposed to be in the middle of the road and this was a complete fluke of an accident.   This however was no accident for those two Panamanian gauchos, it was the form of transportation they had to use in order to rotate there pastures.  This was just so unreal; in order to rotate our pastures, the cattle are loaded into the stock trailer

and taken where they need to be, not run down the center of the road. I am looking forward to the time that we will spend with a cattle producer in this next week.  Stay tuned to find out the rest of the story about cattle production in South America.

 

 

 

 

 

Bendice a los bovinos, (Bless the Bovines)

Kelli

 

My parents always knew there was no reason to worry about me at livestock shows.  If I even had the thought of  stepping a hair out of line, there was someone that was there to crack me on the backside with that show stick.  Life is busy and parents cannot always be there all the time to help, there are other cows to feed and work to be finished.  I was a girl that was always on the go, but I seemed to know that where ever I went there was a family waiting there for me.  No, I am not just talking about the string of show calves but your friends, and their families that came along side of them.  It didn’t matter if it was a local, state or national show you always knew someone and if you didn’t know them, they had heard of you!  It was amazing, if you were ever in need of help all you had to do was yell, “Hey Mom!”  You were sure to turn about ten random women’s heads, if not more.  There was always something cooking in a crock pot, and cool drinks flowing from the coolers.  Cattle shows certainly were the highlight of my teen and young adult life.

Now, that I live 900 miles from home I still realize that I am part of that family.  This past month I was asked by a friend to help work “momma cows,” me without a blink of an eye, agreed.  As, we arrived to the ranch I was greeted by an older gentlemen, and immediately was instructed to call him, “Gramps.”  I graciously accepted the instructions and our day of work began.  First job was to move bulls and first year heifers into different holding pens to eventually be ran through the chute, for vaccines and drench.  Then came the momma’s, after completing about half of the herd, the clock struck noon and it was time for dinner.  As, I entered the house it was as if I was 900 miles back home in Michigan the aroma from the kitchen made my heart sink and I was sure as I walked around that corner I was going to see my mother or grandmother greeting me.  Now, I did not see my personal grandmother, but the women I did see was a spitting image of her!  I did just as I would have at home came in, washed my hands, and began to ask where my help was needed   After, the completion of lunch we finished with our momma cows and our job was done for the day.

After leaving the ranch and arriving back to Brookings I realized that no matter how far you go from home the BEEF family will always follow!  No matter what you choose to be involved in be assured that there will be people there to help you through and cheer you on.  Put your whole heart into things and let your true passions show.

Bless the Bovines,

Kelli 

Read the rest of this post…

Today is the kick off to National Ag Week!  National Ag Week is a week focused on recognizing and celebrating the contributions of agriculture, in this great Nation.  Each year during National Ag Week there is a National Ag Day, this year that day is tomorrow March, 15, 2011.  National Ag Day is a campaign hosted through the Agriculture Council of America, however local communities are the true promoters of awareness during this day.  I am honored to have the opportunity to be part of this campaign here at South Dakota State University.  A group of students here on campus thought that we needed to do our part in making sure that the students of this university understand the importance of how and why food and fiber products are produced within the United States.  They contacted all student organization groups that are related to agriculture and asked them to be part of a campus wide agricultural display.  Tomorrow March 15, 2011 South Dakota State University students will be lined throughout the campus sharing their stories with students about the “whats” and “whys” of what we, as American Farmers and Ranchers do on a daily basis.  In addition to all the groups and organizations from the university being involved, all students that are part of the College of Ag and Bio will be wearing matching blue T-shirts that say, “Does each U.S. Farmer/Rancher produce enough food and fiber for 144 people?”  As picture below.  As, a young farmer myself this is an amazing opportunity to become involved and share our passion with fellow students.  There are many more activities that will be hosted on National Ag Day be sure to look for things within your own communities!  For more information about National Ag Day and how you can become involved visit there website: http://www.agday.org/media/faqs.php I encourage you as fellow farmers and ranchers to take some time to share your stories with the people of your communities. “You are the change that you wish to see in the world” -Gandhi

Bless the Bovines,

Kelli