10] KIT PHARO gave us the latest updates on the expanding market as well as the newest level of bulls coming up for sale at his big annual event November 6th. He was extremely positive about the exciting changes in our movement. Kit also delivered an inspiring address at our banquet.
9] Expanding demand was in evidence by the 250 attendees at this event, making it one of the largest and most important Grass Fed events in the US.This is close to TWICE the attendance from the same event a year ago in the same location!
8] FRED PROVENZA has retired from the University of Utah and moved to Colorado. He is working around the world now, Europe, Africa, India and other regions learning and expanding his knowledge of animal behavior and grazing science. He is paying particular attention to the art of training cattle and other livestock to eat and thrive on weed consumption.
7] Renowned CHEF AL ROSAS was brought up from Florida to prepare a gourmet all-grass-fed beef meal for our banquet. He used 100 gallons of bone broth, over 36 pounds of tallow, and unusual and creative cuts of beef for the meal. We enjoyed a terrine appetizer using bone stock and heart, beef wonton dumplings in broth, massive quantities of marinated and braised hanger steaks, followed by a salad with fresh hard boiled eggs and beef bacon. Dessert was slices of melons with creme fresh. Chef Al also spoke at the banquet explaining his connection to cooking farm-fresh food and particularly grass-fed meats. Chef Al actually has his own herd and raised 100% Grass Fed beef!
6] TODD CHURCHILL gave us a trip-worthy seminar on a theme from Holistic Management regarding “what am I building?” as well as “what is the market telling me” and “what is my product”. One powerful concept relates to the notion of how few producers are finishing 1200# GrassFed steers for the market. The current cow-calf operation basically sells a “raw material” product, weanlings (that cannot be eaten at that stage by the final consumer” instead of a finished product. The only way that this can exist is a large feedlot and corn-feeding movement that sucks up the product (at low cost) puts on weight gain and makes the bulk of the money by selling a “finished product”. You truly must see the videotape of this one to grasp the significance.
5] On Thursday we spent the day FARM TOURING some of the most productive, most sustainable and most creative GF ranches in the vicinity. We visited the farm of JERRY & CINDY GLASSER near Spaulding NE as well as the ranch of CURT MORROW who farms near O’Neil NE. You can see my photo/video essay of this tour (as well as the cattle of WAYNE RASMUSSEN) at the following site CATTLE CALL http://gallery.me.com/willwinter/100003
(for best results let it load fully before watching and be sure to have the sound on)
4] The interest in FORAGE NUTRIENT DENSITY has increased tremendously as evidenced by the interest in soil and tissue testing and BRIX METER SALES. I noticed this having sold out of meters halfway through the event! A lecture was given last year fully exploring the concepts and details of brix testing.
3] There is a growing curiosity in ALTERNATIVES to vaccines, wormers, antibiotics, and drugs in the GF movement. This interest expressed at the event appears to be growing exponentially. We seem to be about halfway on the spectrum of a block of white salt in the pasture (least amount of input, time, knowledge and energy and the lowest form of supplementation) to the other extreme which I consider to be cafeteria-style 16 hopper free-choice movable servers (the most intensely time and energy consumptive but also the highest level of availability for necessary minerals and vitamins).
2] Perhaps the most powerful and certainly the most provocative lecture was delivered by DR LEE MANSKE of North Dakota State. His lifework project of designing the most efficient, most sustainable, and most profitable form of grazing flies directly into the face of the newest fad Mob Grazing. Audience reactions ranged from penetrating questions, disbelief and dismay. Following his lecture Dr. Manske treated a few of us to a couple of hours of further elaboration of his theories and research. It was my belief that the entire table full of attendees who were lucky enough to get this extra-curricular opportunity came away saying “….wow, I think this guy is right!!”
AND #1…. TERRY GOMPERT– Who, as most of you know passed away a few months ago. Terry was basically the key inspiration for not only the GE event but for the majority of the reasons that we find the heart of Grass Fed beef raising to be centered around his backyard here in mid-Nebraska. Terry started this event, was the inspiration of the event as well as the motor that made it work. He was deeply missed. Other organizers, especially WAYNE RASMUSSEN and JOEY JONES (and many many others!) stepped up to the plate making this event one of the most powerful events many of us have attended. Terry’s widow CONNIE GOMPERT inspired us further feeling that it was necessary for her to attend this event and she was loved by all. TODD CHURCHILL led a touching tribute to Terry’s memory. There will be a full herd dispersal sale coming up on the Gompert ranch in October. (see Stockman Grassfarmer for details.
THE EVENT WAS VIDEOTAPED IN ENTIRETY and I highly recommend acquiring the lecture DVDs! To acquire any or all of the DVDs visit the website GrassFedExchange.com or email joey at grassfedexchange.
Will Winter
Grassfarmer Supply
WillWinter.com
GrassFarmerSupply.com
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