Cattle U 2024 promises to provide practical information to producers

Cattle U 2024 attendees can expect a jam-packed line-up of educational sessions, along with a few new additions to the event, planned for June 25. For the second year, Cattle U will be a free, one-day program held in Manhattan, Kansas, at the Hilton Garden Inn.

This year, High Plains Journal is also partnering with Certified Angus Beef and Kansas State University to provide quality education sessions, a delicious complimentary premium lunch provided by CAB and Sysco and free Beef Quality Assurance training for all attendees.

“It is important for all of us to be continuous, life-long learners,” said Jason Warner, Cattle U speaker and Extension cow-calf specialist at K-State. “Regardless of the level of experience that you have, there are always new ideas and perspectives that can be gained by attending educational programs. Cattle U is focused on providing practical, research-based information and resources for beef cattle producers, and it is a great way to socialize and network with folks in the industry. This year we have an excellent program with a variety of topics attendees should find interesting and applicable.” 

BQA training and keynote speaker

The first of two BQA sessions will be led by A.J. Tarpoff, DVM, beef Extension veterinarian at K-State. His session is titled “Answering the Call From Our Consumer.”

“BQA certification is more than just staying up to date on best management practices put forward by the industry for the industry,” Tarpoff said. “Obtaining the certification also proves to our beef consumers that the folks who raise their food are always striving for and investing in continuous improvement of the industry.”

The second BQA session will be presented by Kirsten Nickles, sustainability and animal care scientist at CAB. Her session will focus on consumer trends and how CAB is using the BQA program to grow consumer demand for beef beyond the traditional quality and consistency attributes.

One highlight of Cattle U 2024 will be a keynote address from Terrel Platt, market analyst at CattleFax. During his keynote, Platt will break down the current cattle market supply and demand and its implications on prices and profitability. Platt said he hopes Cattle U attendees will walk away from his presentation with a new perspective on the current cattle cycle and what it means to the market outlook and their operations in the years ahead.

“The cattle cycle is at a stage that’s favorable to producers from a price and profitability standpoint,” Platt said. “However, that certainly doesn’t guarantee profitability, and it’s important to have a marketing strategy that takes advantage of current prices and opportunities and protects the equity of an operation as this cattle cycle unfolds.

“Although prices have reached record levels, market volatility remains a significant factor that can impact producers. Building our perspective on the fundamental outlook of the market can help us all make more informed decisions for our operations in the short and long run.”

Platt said he’s not only excited to attend the Cattle U event and speak on cattle market trends, but also to network with attendees and learn from the other speakers who will speak on other topics.

 “I think one of the things the beef industry is built upon is the necessity and desire for continuous improvement,” Platt said. “Networking with others provides the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss cattle production and has the potential to make us all better at what we do.”

Breakout sessions and producer panel

The ever-popular producer panel will be conducted during the general session following lunch and is made up of a group of ranch managers from across the High Plains. The discussion will be focused on making sound managerial decisions for cattle operations. Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch in Ashland, Kansas, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include: Mark Diederich of Mark Diedrich Family Farms in Greenleaf, Kansas; Bill Rishel of Rishel Livestock Services, Inc. in North Platte, Nebraska; and Tyler Burkey of Milford, Nebraska.

To provide additional education options during Cattle U, attendees will have a choice as to which breakout sessions they want to attend. The breakout sessions will include: an outlook on the future of cattle pharmaceuticals from Mike Apley, DVM, professor at K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine; a fly management presentation from Cassandra Olds, veterinary entomologist at K-State; an update on livestock risk protection insurance from Clay Burtrum of Farm Data Services in Stillwater, Oklahoma; proper silage management from Monty Montgomery, an independent beef cattle nutritionist; a presentation on estate planning from Ashlee Westerhold, director of the K-State office of farm and ranch transitions; and a cowherd management considerations breakout from Warner.

Warner’s presentation should be of interest to all cow-calf producers, especially with the current low cow numbers and high input costs plaguing producers.

“Cow-calf producers are continually working to navigate high calf and female prices coupled with challenges from Mother Nature,” Warner said. “Getting back to the basics on cowherd management will continue to be important for all operations as we work through 2024.”  

Warner, Tarpoff and Platt all agreed the topics covered at Cattle U 2024 provide a wide-ranging curriculum that directly relates to the issues of the cow-calf industry today.

“This year’s schedule is really the complete package,” Tarpoff said. “I believe this is one of the most well-rounded and impactful lineups of the year. If operators want to stay current and on top of the goings on in the industry, this is a must attend event.”

Platt encouraged attendees to make time in their busy schedules for the Cattle U event.

“It can be tough to find time to spend away from our businesses, but Cattle U offers a comprehensive program on a range of topics that make the time away a great opportunity to learn,” Platt said.

In addition to the CAB meal, BQA training and speaking sessions, the annual Cattle U awards will also be presented during lunch. The Cattle U awards include the cattlewoman and cattleman of the year, which are nominated by their peers and will be recognized on the stage. To ensure a complimentary lunch ticket, pre-registration is encouraged by June 10. To learn more about the event and speakers and to register, visit www.cattleu.net.

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].