July 6, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Stockgrowers Attend Ranch Leadership Workshop at MidYear

Lacey EhlkeBy Lacey Ehlke, Townsend, Young Stockgrowers Vice-Chair

MSGA’s 2015 MidYear Meeting was a very well planned and executed event. We are all extremely lucky to have such a wonderful staff that is committed to organizing informational, interesting and fun events all year round. If you were not able to attend this year, I highly recommend attending next summer in Great Falls!

At this year’s MidYear, our opening workshop was put on by leadership coach, Sarah Bohnenkamp. I really enjoyed her workshop, as it was applicable to people of all ages. She had a different approach than I have seen in past leadership trainings I have attended. She really focused on self-confidence.

Sarah had us do activities in the group that involved talking about ourselves and our accomplishments, which is not always easy for some people, but is completely necessary to become a good leader. If you do not have confidence in yourself, how can you expect others to have confidence in you?

She also focused on listening skills, which is also a very important in leadership. With more hands-on activities, Sarah taught us the best way to listen to someone so that you understand them, and they know they have been understood. This sounds very simple, but is a crucial part of communication.

Sarah was a great resource and I learned a lot from her. Learning valuable leadership skills is critical today, especially when working with family. I am on the family ranch and work with my parents and sister on a daily basis and communication is key to everything. Realizing the things that you are good at, and working on the things you are not helps everyone to be more efficient, productive and happy to be at home.

We have some exciting plans in the works for the young leaders in our ranching communities. So stay tuned later this summer as we roll out new programs to help build our Association and ranching industry here in Montana.

MidYear Meeting 2015
June 10, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Stockgrowers Meet in Bozeman for MidYear

The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Association’s (MSGA) Mid-Year Meeting, held in Bozeman on June 4-6, drew over 150 ranchers and members of the cattle industry from across the state for policy meetings, a leadership-training workshop, the annual Ranch Tour and a concert with Ringling 5. Special guests in attendance included Dr. Gary Brester and Senator Steve Daines.

“Stockgrowers is very thankful to the Bozeman community and Montana State University for welcoming our MidYear event into town,” said MSGA President, Gene Curry from Valier. “Our ranchers enjoyed the opportunity to visit and learn more about the economy and businesses in the Gallatin Valley during this year’s meetings and tour.”

IMG_1668 Ranchers in attendance kicked off the event by taking part in a workshop with leadership coach, Sarah Bohnenkamp. Ranchers of all ages participated in the engaging workshop, learning how to develop individual strengths to be better leaders on family operations and in ranching communities across the state.

A Welcome Reception was held on Thursday evening to benefit the Stockgrowers’ Research and Education Endowment Foundation. The reception included a live auction and recognition of Foundation programs, including scholarship recipients, Young Cattlemen’s Conference Attendees, Environmental Stewardship Award Program honorees and introduction of the Foundation’s new specialty license plates.

Senator Steve Daines joined ranchers in discussions during interim-policy meetings on Friday morning. Daines expressed support for the state’s ranchers and provided an update on important legislation debated this year on Capitol Hill. Contentious topics of discussion included passage of the Trade Promotion Authority, limiting of EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. rule and keeping sage grouse off the Endangered Species list.

Other topics discussed during interim-policy meetings included repeal of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, proposed EIS for bison management in the Greater Yellowstone Area, changes in the Department of Livestock and the state’s Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory along with updates on programs from MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Opening General Session featured MSU agriculture economics professor, Dr. Gary Brester with insight on current cattle market trends. Brester was optimistic on the cattle market outlook, confident that high quality will continue to support strong international demand for U.S. cattle genetics and beef.

IMG_1647MidYear attendees had the opportunity to learn about businesses and the rural economy of the Gallatin Valley during the annual Ranch Tour and Dinner. Tour stops included Simms Fishing Products at Four Corners where ranchers learned about the company’s international business in fishing gear and clothing products. The tour then visited Copper Spring Ranch to learn more about the performance quarter horse operation and the ranch’s investments in holding benefit events to help those in the ranching communities across the state.

Ranchers wrapped up the event with a dinner at Broken Hart Ranch near Gallatin Gateway and live entertainment by Ringling 5.

Plans are in the works for Stockgrowers’ Annual Convention and Trade Show, taking place December 3-5 at the MetraPark in Billings. To learn more about Montana Stockgrowers membership, programs and events, visit mtbeef.org or contact the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420.

For more photos from the event, visit our Facebook page.

June 4, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Kicking off 2015 MidYear Meeting in Bozeman

If you're on the MSU campus, keep an eye out for our Massey Ferguson tractor to designate our reserved parking lot this week! Also, don't forget to purchase your raffle tickets for the chance to win an 8-month/200-hour lease for this tractor!

Montana Stockgrowers is certainly excited to kick off our 2015 MidYear Meeting in Bozeman today! Preparations are going well and the staff at the MSU Department of Animal & Range Sciences are more than gracious hosts, allowing the use of their Animal Bioscience Building for the majority of our meetings this year.

Our schedule for the next two days includes a number of meetings, guest speakers and great topics for the Montana ranching community. We’re excited to host Sarah Bohnenkamp, leadership coach and active member of the ranching community, for a leadership workshop in today’s Cattlemen’s College. Friday morning’s Policy Committee meetings will include a variety of topics to discuss policy subjects impacting Montana’s ranchers and landowners. Opening General Session will answer a question all ranchers have – How long will these record cattle prices last? Dr. Gary Brester will take a look at historic spikes in market prices and share what we might learn and apply to today’s cattle markets.

If you’re on the MSU campus, keep an eye out for our Massey Ferguson tractor to designate our reserved parking lot this week! Also, don’t forget to purchase your raffle tickets for the chance to win an 8-month/200-hour lease for this tractor!

Be sure to follow along with our events on social media through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We’ll be using the hashtag #MSGA15 and encourage everyone in attendance to share the experience through online posts!

A big Thank You to all of our sponsors for this year’s meeting and to all of those in attendance this week!

June 1, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MidYear Includes Reception Benefiting MSGA Foundation

REEF Reception MissionThe week of our MidYear meeting is here and Stockgrowers is excited to see everyone in Bozeman beginning Thursday afternoon, June 4! Following our Cattlemen’s College with guest speaker and leadership coach, Sarah Bohnenkamp, everyone is invited to attend the Welcome Reception at the Best Western GranTree Inn starting at 7:00 p.m.

Proceeds from the Welcome Reception will benefit our Research & Education Endowment Foundation (REEF), a 501(c)3 which supports MSGA youth, education and leadership programs. The reception will feature appetizers, fun, networking and live music from Crazy Mountain Express. This is sure to be a great time to join everyone in celebrating the MidYear meeting.

REEF will recognize recipients of numerous programs the Foundation supports, including the Educational Heritage Scholarships, the Environmental Stewardship Award Program, Montana’s delegates to the Young Cattlemen’s Conference, the MSU Nancy Cameron Chair in Animal and Range Sciences and the Montana Stockgrowers Fellowship Fund.

During this week’s Welcome Reception, a live auction will be held with a variety of items to support REEF programs. Auction items will include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Bobcat football package with 2 tickets to a MSU Bobcat football game with MSU shot glass, Camelbak water jug and cap
  • Two Bobcat/Grizzly football packages. Each package includes two tickets to the Bobcat/Griz game in Bozeman and $100 gift certificate for dinner at Ferraro’s Fine Italian Restaurant.
  • A package for the NFR: includes a condo on the Las Vegas Strip with one bedroom and living room with fold-out couch for Monday December 7, 2015 through Saturday, December 12 2015. Rodeo tickets for two people for two nights.
  • A rope mirror with the MSGA steer head and REEF’s license plate wording Heritage-Integrity-Tradition etched on it.
  • Two Adirondack chairs
  • David Graham print of the painting commissioned for the MSGA convention in Miles City
  • An assortment of prints
  • A case of wine from Yellowstone Cellars & Winery

Tickets for the Welcome Reception can be purchased today for $35 at mtbeef.org. After June 1, tickets can be purchased on-site for $40.

A special thanks to Lazy SR Ranch of Wilsall for supply beef for the event and to the Welcome Reception sponsor, Loomix/ADM Alliance Nutrition.

MidYear Meeting 2015
May 13, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Stockgrowers MidYear to Feature Short and Long Term Cattle Price Outlook

What will the markets do next? Aside from keeping an eye on the weather forecast, this seems to be the frequent question among ranchers in today’s cattle business. With recent record-high calf prices, we’re not always sure what to expect next, only guessing whether the markets will fall or continue climbing.

At Stockgrowers 2015 MidYear meeting, attendees will be provided with some insight and historical context to today’s cattle market prices and what can be expected in the months ahead. Dr. Gary Brester, Professor in the Department of Ag Economics at Montana State University, will highlight the Opening General Session on Friday, June 5.

Gary Brester, ag econ MSU photo by Kelly Gorham“Current record-high calf prices have occurred (in inflation-adjusted terms) three times since 1920 — in 1951, 1973, and 1979,” says Brester. “In each case, price spikes were caused by a combination of low cattle numbers and unusual market situations. Each of these record-high price events was short-lived — less than two years.”

In general, prices declined after each of these price spikes after outside economic conditions corrected themselves in response to world events. During these previous periods of high prices, cattle inventories increased for a short time.

Will history repeat itself after 2014’s record-setting cattle prices? Will these high returns to ranchers continue in response to lower world cattle inventories and continued strong beef demand?

Find out more by attending Montana Stockgrowers’ MidYear meeting and hearing from Dr. Brester at the Opening General Session. Event tickets are available online for a 20% discount if registration is completed prior to June 1.

The 2015 MSGA MidYear Meeting takes place on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman, June 4-6. For more information, contact the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420 or visit our event page.

May 1, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Legislative Review, Agriculture Research Funding, CSKT Water Compact | Podcast

PodcastOn this week’s Stockgrowers Podcast, Ryan Goodman and Jay Bodner begin reviewing the 64th Montana Legislative Session, which adjourned on Tuesday, April 28. This week Ryan and Jay discuss major funding for agriculture research in the state (HB 403 with $2.4 million for infrastructure; $15 million from budgets go to research initiatives) and we give an outlook for the CSKT Water Compact as it heads to Congress.

Also, we provide a look at this year’s MidYear Meeting, which takes place in Bozeman, June 4-6. Find MidYear information and registration on our events page.

MidYear Meeting 2015
April 30, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Stockgrowers to Host 2015 MidYear Meeting in Bozeman

Mark your calendars to celebrate 131 years for Montana Stockgrowers Association at the organization’s MidYear Meeting, June 4-6 in Bozeman. This year’s MidYear event will be highlighted by Cattlemen’s College workshops, a tour of area businesses and live music with Ringling 5 and Crazy Mountain Express!

Mid-Year is one of two major meetings MSGA holds annually where members will gather to discuss the issues facing Montana ranching families and set interim policy to guide the association through the rest of the year. Policy Committee meetings this year will be hosted on the campus of Montana State University.

Events will kick off Thursday afternoon with Cattlemen’s College workshops presented by leadership coach, Sarah Bohenkamp. Ranchers will have the opportunity to learn more about growth in leadership, improving time management and developing skills to build strong relationships that are critical to being successful in the ranching business.

Friday’s Opening General Session will feature MSU Ag Economics Professor, Dr. Gary Brester, who will provide insight for current record cattle prices and provide context from historical market trends. Association policy meetings will take place on Friday with discussion on topics affecting Montana ranchers today. A review of the 2015 Montana Legislative Session activity affecting the ranching community will also take place during the meeting.

Ranchers will gather on Friday night for a steak dinner, fun and live music from Ringling 5. Area business leaders and the community are invited to a special fundraiser event on Thursday night for MSGA’s Research & Education Endowment Foundation, held at the Best Western GranTree Inn, with entertainment by Crazy Mountain Express.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Best Western GranTree Inn and Holiday Inn. Rooms at discounted rates must be reserved by May 5. For more information about MSGA’s 2015 Mid-Year Meeting, contact MSGA’s office at (406) 442-3420 or join the Facebook event. Registrations are available online for a 20% discount if made prior to June 1. Visit our event page for more details.