National Beef Contest!

I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Sacramento, California and represent Montana in the National Beef Ambassador competition.  When people say “a chance of a lifetime,” they mean events like this.

Going to this competition changed my life and it gave me many great connections of future leaders in the beef industry. Even though I didn’t make the team, I met some of the movers and shakers of the agriculture world.

While in California my passion for agriculture, especially the beef industry, only improved. “Once a beef ambassador, always a beef ambassador,” Malorie Bankhead main topic when she spoke to us at dinner one night.  She made the team a few years ago and said not only did that year change her life but it changed her future.  Instead of sitting back and allowing PETA and HSUS to harass the industry its time we take a stand!  We need to share our stories and our lifestyle.  Farmers and ranchers in agriculture are passionate and we are real.

Rancher by day, father by life, little league coach by Saturday, we are just like everyone else except for the fact that our income is our lifestyle and we love to provide food for you and your family.

Malorie Bankhead, past National Beef Ambassador

Even though I didn’t make the team I have faith in the 5 kids that made the team. Not only are they passionate and bright they are eager to change the world and the future.  All of the kids who didn’t make the team impress me more than I thought.  These are the kids who will be influence in the beef industry without a title.  Let’s just say that as long as the future of Ag is in the hands off the 22 senior contestants who where in California then we as a beef industry have no need to worry or be concerned.

 The National Beef Ambassador Contest was a once in a lifetime and if I have anything to do with it, Montana will have a rep for many years to come. The Montana Cattlewomen and Beef Council along with Montana Stockgrowers and Lauren Chase and Rachel Endecott are the people I owe a thank you.  I am not sure where I would be without all of you, your fabulous people who push me to be the best me possible and thank you for having faith in me.  Your unconditional support and hard work is something that I will never forget.  I owe this experience to you; you have changed my life forever.

Pink Slime

Dear Editor:

It has come to my attention that"Pink Slime" is still making consumers uncomfortable. I agree why in the world would you feel comfortable eating something called "pink slime" so for the reminder of this letter I am going to call it Lean Finely Textured Beef or LFTB.  Just one year ago, the news came out that LFTB was being put in your products and as a consumer you reacted, quickly.

LFTB is not an additive, it's not a substitute, it's not synthetic, its BEEF.  When steaks and roasts are cut from a carcass, there is left over meat that doesn't fit into steaks, roasts and other retail cuts.  The point of LFTB was to use that meat and not waste it.  In the Beef industry, we are doing our best to provide SAFE, HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, and NUTRITIOUS food for YOU!

I realize we are not perfect but we are constantly trying to do our best and as a consumer you need your input.  Without LFTB beef is going to be more expensive and not as lean.  So it is up to you.  Would you like us to label products with LFTB and/or would you like a better explanation of it?

Karoline Rose

A weekend at Home

I was lucky enough to spend a weekend at home with my brother and dad!  It was exactly what I needed to get refreshed and ready to face this week and my week in Texas.  My mother cows are due to start calving soon so it was nice to walk through them with dad and discuss the future of my herd.

Bozeman to Toston is about 60 miles and I often use that time to think and reflect on my week and set goals for the upcoming week.  As I turned off the highway my view was spectacular and I knew it was going to be a great weekend.

Jacob is in charge of the yearlings so the moment I arrived he put me to work!  I was instructed to pick up twine and ear tags.. not my favorite thing to do but it needed done,  Jacob nicely made me a purse out of a feed sack to carry around with me ALL day!

Jake and Dad saddled up the horses and started to sort through the calves and get a few out that were going to be shipped this week.  They also gathered my herd of Angus cows.   Let's just say my dad and brother might be the handiest guys around.  Two guys, one dog, 400 calves and they sorted out about 30 without any issues!

I found this calf in the herd!  Isn't he cute!! His name is chewy :) 

Jake is riding a new gray horse and here are a picture I took of him that I really like!  "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man"   That quote fits my brother perfect.   He is at home with horses and is pretty talented in that area also! 

On my drive home, the Lord painted this amazing picture right as I was driving into Bozeman.  It made me stop and think how lucky I am.  Not only do I live in a beautiful place, I have the best family ever.  Jacob, Jackson and John are the best men every, they are great people and wonderful role models.  I am blessed to be able to get in the car and drive home whenever I feel like it!  Ranching is really a family business and Rose Cattle Company is my future. 

Horse Slaughter

Dear Editor,

It has come to my attention that horse slaughter is being portrayed as a negative event.  I see exactly where you are coming, from but let me give you a few facts that might change your mind.

I grew up riding horse and my childhood horses name was Muffin.  I loved him and looked forward to every adventure we had together.  He developed eye cancer when I was in 6th grade and reluctantly we had to sell him.  I knew where he was headed but it was reassuring to me.  He wouldn't be in pain anymore and he would be put to good use.

Yes, anytime the word slaughter is mention, people cringe. But as of now with hay prices on the rise and the cost of keeping a horse becoming too much for some families, they are just letting the horses loose in towns and in the wild.  So now tax payers, like yourself, are paying to feed these horses and take care of them when they could be put to a much better use.

We need horse slaughter to be legal and practiced here in the US, just like other working animals.  There are currently too many horses here and we need to control the population.  Starving horses along side the road is not something anyone would like to see in the future.

Thank you!!