In early March 2008, ASA Field Representative Wes Tiemann, left, and Mark Guge, center, Grid Manager for the ASA's new 70:70 Grid Program and representative for TwoRiver Cattle, LLC, Estherville, IA, met with Harry and Lisa at the Moser Ranch to view cattle and discuss the ASA's new grid marketing program 70:70 Beef. Base Pricing, base premiums for Source and Age Verification and PVP (Process Verified Program) and Non-PVP Certification, Par Prices and YG & QG Premiums & Discounts, Carcass Weight Discounts and Participation Costs were discussed at length, so that we could explain the program better to our customers. We currently have several customers that are Source and Age Verifying their calf crops and have PVP's in place. The Moser Ranch has placed nearly 500 SimChoice tags in customer cattle since October 2007, thus making them available to the 70:70 program. Please contact us if you would like to learn more about the 70:70 Beef Program.

The Moser Ranch is involved with customers marketing their product at all levels, offering a LMA-VACC Preconditioned Calf Sale each fall, an Open and Bred Female marketing opportunity each year, private contact marketing and retaining total or partial ownership through harvest in order to capture marketplace premiums and obtain valuable feedlot and carcass information.

Twenty-nine members from 24 counties attended the KLA Leadership Conference in Topeka, January 21-23. The group visited KLA headquarters and became acquainted with President Tracy Brunner, and took part in an interactive session on becoming a beef industry spokesperson. Participants attended a Senate Agriculture Committee meeting, toured the Capitol and discussed industry issues with legislators.

2008 Leadership Conference Attendees

(Standing, L to R) are Norm Pilger, Wallace; Eric Fletcher, Lakin; Scott Bollin, Spring Hill; Tom Hopp, Highland; Darren McGhee, Westphalia; Jim Wilson, Effingham; Steve Peterson, Lebanon; Eric Bohl, Ellsworth; Arlyn Wilke, Leoti; Todd Gorman, Meade; Grady Martin, Dexter; Bryan Coons, Salina; Scott Miller, Manhattan; Jim DeGeer, Erie; Steve Jacob, Sedgwick; Lonnie Ruff, Hanston; Rae Luginsland, Hutchinson; Chris Petty, Hill City; Kent Woolfolk, Protection; Daniel Miller, Topeka; Harry Moser, Wheaton; Alan Woodard, Wichita; Keith Martin, Altamont; (Seated, L to R) Donna Martin, Dexter; Jodi Termine, Manhattan; Abby Dechant, Alma; Kim Cerny, Kingman; Trisha Janssen, Geneseo; and Lisa Moser, Wheaton.

The members saw various ways beef is marketed on a tour of U.S. Foodservice, during an interactive meal preparation course with Chef Alli Winter and in a discussion with the kitchen manager at the Topeka Texas Roadhouse restaurant, which sells about 5,000 steaks per week.

Kansas Beef Council (KBC) staff provided information on how checkoff dollars are used to develop and market new products that have helped increase beef demand and explained efforts to educate consumers about the benefits of eating beef.

This year’s class brings the total number of participants in the leadership training program to 570 since it was initiated in 1981. Graduates of the program include past KLA Presidents Dana Hauck, Delphos; Steve Mangan, Tribune; Larry Oltjen, Robinson; Mike Collinge, Hamilton; Terry Handke, Muscotah; Tom Toll, Lindsborg; Ron Estes, Atchison; and current KLA President Tracy Brunner.

Sponsors of the annual event included Fort Dodge Animal Health; Frontier Farm Credit; Farm Credit of Central Kansas; IMI Global; Jostens; Kennedy and Coe, LLC; and the Kansas Livestock Foundation.