AJCA Update

Front Row (L to R): Josh Nelson, Valparaiso, Neb.; Senee Foster, Lockney, Texas; Ashley Quiggins, Horse Cave, Ky.; Katie Lehnert, Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; Caleb Elrod, Cullman, Ala. Back Row (L to R): Shane McGlothlin, Anadarko, Okla.; Andy Higgins, Watertown, Tenn.; Blair Bryant, Arkansas City, Kan.; Jared Givens, Lebanon, Tenn.; Haley Hettmansperger, Science Hill, Tenn.; Segayle Foster, Lockney, Texas.

Change? Change!

Do you look forward to change, or do you prefer to keep things as they are? With little question asked, most individuals in the cattle industry are not apt to immediate change. In today’s economy, beef producers are constantly faced with changes that can have a dramatic effect on their business. One of the biggest changes facing the industry, as everyone is starting to experience, is the steady increase in feed prices. Both marketing and production practices need to be studied to grasp their relevance to the profitability of the operation. Are you ready to change your feeding practices as a result of higher priced grain feedstuffs?

The currently expanding ethanol industry is creating a large strain on the grain industry in respect to those consumers of grain feedstuffs. If a producer’s current feeding system does not alter over the next few years, it will become extremely challenging for those producers to be cost-competitive in the future. These are some of the challenging questions that will be facing us in the future.

A book that I recently read, entitled “Who Moved My Cheese,” discusses how mice are very willing to adapt to change and it also addresses examples of how humans can learn to change from the examples of mice adaptation. The book provides some excellent take home points that I believe everyone can benefit from understanding: Change Happens (They Keep Moving the Cheese), Anticipate Change (Get Ready for the Cheese to Move), Monitor Change (Smell the Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old), Adapt to Change Quickly (The Quicker You Let Go of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese), Change (Move with the Cheese), Enjoy Change! (Savor the Adventure and the Taste of New Cheese!), and Be Ready to Quickly Change Again and Again (They Keep Moving the Cheese).

A very unique change is approaching our association this summer, joint Junior Nationals. What an experience for you to take part in! As entry deadlines near, are you planning on attending this amazing learning and growing experience or are you ok with staying the same?

Hope to see you all in Kansas City this June and enjoy the changes in your life!

Sincerely,
Blair Bryant, At Large Director

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