Market-Ready Cow & Northern California Grass Agriculture Tour
March 14, 15, 16, 2011
Cabin Fever Reliever California Grass Tour
Fifty Nevada livestock producers loaded a bus and traveled three days and 1,100 miles round-trip on a Cabin Fever Reliever educational and industry supportive event. The event’s goals were to examine marketing alternatives for Nevada cattle, learn about the power of California winter grass, make a cowboy hat presence at Nevada’s capitol city, learn about the political process, and serve as a fundraising event for the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association. In addition to the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, sponsors included many allied industries as well as the Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada Curlew Chapter of the International Dutch Oven Society (IDOS), and the Churchill County Cattlewomen.
Protein rich forage found in Northern California
Talking cows: Jim Bowman, Allen Sharp, Gary Nolan - Western Video Market and Tour Coordinator Day One, Jerry Robinson
The entire trip was laced with educational opportunities relative to agriculture resources in northern California with visits to Western Video Market’s Shasta Livestock Auction, Herb Holzaphel’s Cedar Springs Ranch in Willows, and the Five Star Ranch in Wilton. Rogue River Ranch, Ellington Peek Ranching and Duane Martin Sr. were all on hand and discussed their expansive operations. Collectively, ranches visited on this tour annually purchase well over 15,000 stocker cattle, many from northern Nevada ranches. Many tour participants were able to establish or reaffirm marketing relationships with these California cattle buyers, expanding their knowledge about marketing alliance programs, finding out firsthand what cattle buyers prefer and pay for when purchasing Nevada calves, and getting a grasp for the power of California green grass. Each evening participants were treated to a hosted social room where allied industry supporters held open discussions about marketing of cattle, animal health products, advantages /capabilities of DNA testing, and risk management opportunities available to the cow-calf sector.
Doug Busselman and the group receive instructions prior to the tour of the Legislature.
At the Nevada Legislature
Relative to the political side, tour participants listened to and interacted with the California Cattlemen’s Association who discussed common political, environmental and social issues facing agriculture in both California and Nevada. The tour made a stop in Carson City to make a cowboy hat presence during the 2011 legislative session. Legislators and agriculturists were treated to a Dutch oven luncheon hosted collectively by the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association, Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada Curlew Chapter of IDOS and the Churchill County Cowbells.
California Buyers, Tour Participants, and Western Video Market Representatives at the Western Video Market Sale Barn.
Lunch in Carson City at the Fuji Park Recreation Building in Carson City on Wednesday of the tour, hosted collectively by NCA, Nevada Farm Bureau, Nevada Curlew Chapter of the IDOS, and the Churchill County Cattle Women.
Thanks to the strong support shown by several allied industry companies the cost of transportation and meals were covered allowing 100% of the proceeds from each participant’s $250 donation to benefit and support NCA’s mission, which is to promote a dynamic and profitable Nevada beef industry which represents the interest of its producers and consistently meets consumer needs while increasing Nevada’s market share. All fifty Nevada participants agreed that the educational goals of the trip were accomplished.
Chaining up the bus Wednesday morning to proceed over Donner Summit to make it to the Legislature.
A big thank you to our sponsors of this first NCA Cabin Fever Reliever fund raising event include American AgCredit, American Angus Association, Animal Profiling International, Boehringer Ingelheim, Destron Fearing, Intermountain Beef Producers, Intermountain Farmers Association, Intervet Schering Plough Animal Health, Nevada Beef Council, Novartis Animal Health, Pinenut Livestock, Simplot Land & Livestock, Sterling Solutions, Superior Livestock Auction, and Western Video Market. Without the kind support and donations this trip would not have been the success it was. We appreciate all who participated and we look forward to seeing down the road.