Waiting for the Stork.

When I was very young I asked my mom a question that seemed logical to me at the time. We were driving past our bottom field when I saw a mama cow licking its baby. I looked over to my mom and lovingly asked, "Mom, how do cows get married?" I can't remember my mother's exact response, but I'm sure that one went down in the quote book.

I remember this moment, because I now have three baby calves on the ground back at home. Of course, this is killing me not being able to ooooh and awwww them at home, but I'm sure that's good for me to have to wait a bit. They are much cuter when they are a few days old anyway, because they have had time to fluff up and get their sea legs.

One wouldn't think 9 months would take so long, but it sure did! I'm so happy to have babies now so that I can enjoy them in all their little calf cuteness glory! They also make for great educational opportunities in terms of videos and whatnot!

This is Fiona from last year's calf crop, but Sunday Rose, Little Miss Sunshine, and the newest brown calf were born yesterday and today! We will have 5 more on the way soon! I can't wait to go home to love them!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

Women in Agriculture

Hello All,

This afternoon I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Cal Poly College of Agriculture "Women in Agriculture and Natural Resources Careers" panel and luncheon. I was very pleased and excited to attend, because one of my dear friends, Celeste Settrini, spoke on the panel! I had the greatest fortune in meeting Celeste at the California CattleWomen's Mid-Year meeting, joined with the California Women for Agriculture, around March of 2010. I will forever be thankful for that moment, because I have discovered a life long friend, mentor, and fellow woman in agriculture that I will cherish for a lifetime. See our cute picture below! ;) I couldn't let her get away without one of our famous Malorie/Celeste photo opportunities. After all, today is "Farm girl Fashion Friday!"


The panel consisted of six women in agriculture and natural resource careers including Ms Tonya Antle, Vice President of Organic Sales--Retired, Earthbound Farm, Ms Peggy Biltz, MBA, RD, CEO, Dairy Council of California, Ms Mica Heilmann, CPSS, CPESC, Soil and Agriculture Scientist and Partner, NewFields Agricultural and Environmental Resources, Ms Dris O'Conner, Executive Director, Central Coast Vineyard Team, Ms Celeste Settrini, President, Calfornia Women for Agriculture, and Ms Sarah Spann, Senior Project Manager, Padre Associates, Inc.

There were many great topics brought up in the panel discussion, and I'd just like to share some things that I learned today with you! I know they will help me further in my college career and well into life, where ever it may lead me, and I hope they impact you too.

1. Be present, always. Take some time away from the electronics. It won't kill you to turn off your phone, step away from your laptop, turn off the radio, and stop tweeting for at least half of a day. It will prove to you that time to yourself is important and beneficial. Quite time is sometimes the best medicine to cure stress. Take time to read a book, enjoy a walk, or bake, yes this means chopping vegetables to let out your inner stress!
2. Love what you do. Can you imagine hating your job? If you do, then maybe it's time to reevaluate the situation. Take care in discovering your career path. In a job interview you aren't only selling yourself to the employer, but the employer should also be selling themselves to you. If you aren't treated how you would like to be treated in the interview, you can bet that you won't be treated how you want to be treated in the work place as their employee.
3. Keep relationships with your peers. Yes, you will need to be on the look out for future employers, but who's to say you should stuff your friends under the rug if the opportunity allows. Continue to grow relationships while in college...you never know who you might run into several years from now in your career journeys, and you might need a favor.
4. Balance your work life and spare time. Several times a year (or a week, for that matter) you may feel stressed out past the point of breaking. Well, if you did this to yourself you can certainly undo it. If you plan things right, you won't really have to balance consciously. Your life will already do that for you. If you follow step 2 (Love what you do) you can find a happy balance in life. Love what you do, and then when you get home from work, love what you do there too.
5. Have a mentor. Even if that certain someone you look up to is younger than you, or completely different than you, it is important to have a role model in life. That person can help guide you in times of stress and challenges, and support your strong moments. All in a moment's time you will always have someone you can trust!

Moral of the story: Women in agriculture ROCK!

Thank you so much for a wonderful time today, Celeste!
For the rest of you, I hope you can take away something from my list. It goes on and on, but that will be all for my blog today!

Until next time!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

Looking Back

Two years ago tomorrow I earned the honor of serving as the 2009 CA Beef Ambassador. I cannot believe this much time has passed, but then again, it's all happening in a whirlwind!

I was born and raised on a small cow/calf operation in Livermore, CA. Going into the competition I was familiar with beef cattle and had an understanding of their purpose and their lifestyle. Reflecting on my knowledge of the beef industry now soars high and above what I ever expected myself to acquire.


Looking back on where I was then and where I am now humbles me to know that a program like the Beef Ambassador Program can teach a young person so much and inspire me to learn more and create a place for myself in the beef industry.

BEEF is not only what's for dinner. It's what's in my future. For that, I am and forever will be thankful to the Alameda County CattleWomen, the CA CattleWomen, and the American National CattleWomen.

Thank you to all who have taught me, learned with me, and inspired me to become a leader in the beef industry. Without your knowledge and experience I do not know where I would be today. Without your sound advice and passionate wisdom for beef cattle, youth in the industry, just like me, might not have found their place in such a welcoming home.

Good luck to all of the CA Beef Ambassador Contestants tomorrow. Remember, even if you are not named the CA Beef Ambassador or Junior Beef Ambassador, we are all still AGvocates and cannot let our duties as such fall to the wayside!

In the beef industry we are all winners, leaders, and role models.

I LOVE the American BEEF industry!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

It's Show Time Somewhere!

Hello!

In an epic quest to share our new found cattle items with each other, Jessica Sweet, a member of the 2011 National Beef Ambassador team and 2010 California Beef Ambassador, and I have spent the better part of the past hour discussing our love for beef cattle!

In an attempt to show her a cool new item I found on my new favorite site "Hop the Fence: Cattle Swag", she helped me think of an idea. The item I was oogeling over I find quite interesting, but Jessica was confused by its meaning. I suggested a sub-caption of "It's Showtime", with which she responded, "Yes, it's show time somewhere." Which inspired me to write this spoof off of Alan Jackson's song, "It's 5-o clock Somewhere." We will both be at the California State Beef Ambassador Contest this Saturday in Fresn0, CA, so she made me promise to sing it to her...until then the lyrics will have to do Jess...


The barn is hot and that ol' cow is movin' slow
And so am I
School day passes like molassas in wintertime
But it's just March
Gettin' calves by the hour, they get older by the minute
This calving season almost pushes me over the limit
I'd like to call them somethin'
But think I'll just go get the hay!

Chorus:
Give me somethin' small but strong
Make it a Angus cross, somethin' that will show well.
It'll only take 8 months, but I don't care
It's show time somewhere

This jackpot is gonna take all afternoon
And into the night
Tomorrow morning I know he'll want hay
Hey, but that's all right
We ain't had a day off now in less than a year
His King Ranch vacation is gonna start right here
If the class is for me
You can tell 'em I'm on my way

Chorus:
Give me somethin' small but strong
Make it a Angus cross, somethin' that will show well.
It'll only take 8 months, but I don't care
It's show time somewhere

I could pay off my truck
Pick up a new calf and be back again before 2
At a moment like this, I can't help but wonder
What would a beef ambassador do?

Jessica Sweet spoken:
Funny you should ask, Malorie
I'd say
Give me somethin' small but strong
Make it a Angus cross, somethin' that will show well.
It'll only take 8 months, but I don't care

Give me somethin' small but strong
Make it a Angus cross, somethin' that will show well.
It'll only take 8 months, but I don't care
She don't care
It's show time somewhere



Jessica: Which jackpot is this weekend?
How many calves do you have?

Malorie: It doesn't matter

It's show time somewhere

Jessica: It's always on show time on my ranch, come to think of it

Malorie: I heard that

Jessica: You've been there haven't you?

Malorie: Yes, Ma'am

Jessica: I've seen your truck there

Malorie: I've been to the ranch a few times

Jessica: All right.
That's good

Malorie: Showed a few calves while I was there.

Jessica: OK Just want to make sure you can keep it in the show ring

Malorie: Between the barns.
I got it

Jessica: All right.

It's show time
Let's go somewhere

Malorie: I'm ready.
Crank it up

Jessica: Let's load up the trailer

Malorie: We're gone


Yes, I realize I am a complete dork. Cattle geek. Whatever you would like to call me.
I prefer the term "Cattle Enthusiast"

And remember...it's show time somewhere!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

That's No Bug!

Hello all!

If you have been following my Facebook status updates you could have gathered the classes I am most excited about this quarter--environmental horticulture, people pests and plagues, swine management, and beef cattle fitting and showing. I think I have finally come to the time in my college career when it is all making sense. Several classes that I have taken previous to this quarter are actually helping me understand concepts this quarter...I think that means "it's" working!! "It" being my college education.

One of the classes that I thought would be interesting has proved to be just that, and then some. You see, People, Pests, and Plaques is in fact about bugs. Now, I'm sure that's a taboo word, kind of like calling the media in which plants grow in Soil Science dirt. However, repeating People, Pests, and Plaques is already getting old well into only the second week of class, so I have deemed my classes as such: plant class, bug class, pig class, english, and cow class. That simplifies my life some, and it make me more interested in the subjects, oddly enough.

In about one hour I will take my first quiz of the quarter. This quiz happens to be in my "bug lab," which last week I spent dissecting a 5 inch grasshopper. That was loads of fun...no really, it was way cool! So this week, we will take a quiz on the parts of an insect. In lecture yesterday we learned about the internal systems of insects, which I found quite fascinating, because it never crossed my mind to wonder how a bug makes its blood, since they don't necessarily have bone marrow. I find myself thinking that I could name any part of a pig, cow, sheep, goat, and even chicken, but bugs are much more challenging. So after four years of judging livestock in High School bug identification can't be that bad right? Ahem:

I placed this class of insects 2,4,1,3. 2 is the most complete bug in the group which allows it to surface to the top of this class with ease. The way its head connects smoothly to its thorax, which then connects to its abdomen makes for a very appealing bug. The way its forewings come out if the second segment of its body easily makes for ideal flying capacity. In my middle pair I placed 4 over 1, because the grasshopper appearing insect has more spring to its coxa and its spiracles are large enough to provide ease of breathing. 1 has adequate leg placement, but its trochanter is a bit underneath him. Lastly, I placed the 3 bug at the bottom of the class. This bug is simply the smallest framed, worse performing insect in the class. It narrows throughout its mandibles and its compound eyes are not large enough for it to see very well, making it highly edible for predators. Therefore, I placed it last.

Those reasons came out pretty good, if I do say so myself!

Alright, back to studying. But that was good review. Stay tuned for more random facts from my interesting classes this quarter.

Did you know....that only female honey bees can sting you, because their stinger is an adapted ovapositor, which is just an extended part of their abdomen which is meant to lay their eggs underneath a surface, of which sometimes happens to be your skin?

Now you do!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

Where's the # sign @?

Greetings!

I was born in 1991. I can remember when my mom left me with my dad to take a computer class when I was less than 2 years old. The outcome to that night was me putting my diaper on by myself--backwards! However, I remember my mom being overwhelmed with information when she returned from the class. We bought our first home computer in 2000. When I was a Sophomore in high school (2006) I was gifted my first lap top for Christmas. Now that I am a Sophomore in college I just recently purchased a new lap top (because the old one died a tragic death), and my mom still has that computer from 2000. Time for an upgrade? In this day and age the answer most undoubtedly is, "Yes".

People all over the world are a finger's reach away from their electronics. iPhones, iPods, bluetooths, Blackberry's, Smart Phones, MP3 players, iPads, lap tops, computers, and anything wireless that could possible make your day a bit easier. People have known to become "plugged in" to their electronic devices. The miracle of it all is that all these things even have the option of connecting with each other. Personally, I'm waiting for the day when a gazillion dollar company comes out with an iEverything: the one stop machine for everything electronic that you could ever need...in the form of a contact lense so all you have to do is think what you want it to do and it will.

Another great question to ask yourself is, "When is it all too much?" Will there come a day when we go back into the "cavemen stage" where we start dragging our knuckles back on the ground, get a little hair on our chests, and have no clue what a tweet or a twibbon or a hashtag is? My guess is, "NO." Technology is advancing so fast in today's era that pretty soon, we won't need humans to do anything. Then we will realize, "What was the point of all the 'smart' electronics?" They all have just seemed to make us appear dumb or less educated.Yet, this is where I begin to jab my foot in my mouth and make my exit stage left. Not only is "this" (social media and agvocating) what I want to do with my life, but I find it very fun and intriguing! So please take note that I have said everything I have above to make a point. I fully believe that knowledge is power and that technological advancements, as well as social media, have made a strong and powerful impact in many people's lives. However, (drum roll please) my point is this: Technology has advanced in such a way that has made our lives easier to live. They help us organize our lives and share stories with more people than we can ever imagine. This is where the importance of social media comes into play with agriculture.

Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Blogs, Yammer, LinkedIn, etc, there are many consumers to contact with our stories in agriculture. Even if it is a small experience you have had or a synopsis of your farm or ranch, our industry needs to be transparent. Let consumers in, tell them the facts, and don't let anti-animal ag groups like HSUS ruin what advancements we have in agriculture.


If you need help learning about these great tools that have evolved since the '90s and the past, then don't be afraid to reach out and ask! If you have a specific question that I may be able to answer, please leave a comment below, and I will be glad to help!

So, where's the # sign @? No matter what your experience with technology and social media may be, with a little practice, your experience will be perfect!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

Animals are NOT Created Equal

Hello!

I have not blogged in a while, but since it is my first day of Spring Break and I have no more school work for a while, I decided staying up a little bit later than usual to share my thoughts would be worth it! Earlier today I came across a blog, thanks to my good friend Ms. Celeste Settrini. This article was, of course, aimed at putting down animal agriculture. With the title "Some Animals are More Equal Than Others", I figured it might be a good read. Sure enough I was immediately reminded of one of the goals of the brand new National Beef Speakers Bureau that I am a part of. The message is: A companion animal does not equal a food animal. Often, this idea is thrown askew by anti-animal agriculture activists, however, it is our duty to inform then that that is, in fact, true. While Paris Hilton may enjoy walking around with her Princess Chihuahua in her purse, I wish her luck finding a purse large enough to fit a cow.


It's as simple as this: a dog does not equal a cow. We all learned this in science class in elementary school. Good luck finding a biologist who can prove this statement wrong, too. Sure the picture above depicts a cow dog facing his opponent: the cow. Now you probably know just as much as I do that we love our ranch dogs, and we love our cattle. However, the kind of love we have for these animals is different and distinct. The love we have for our cow dogs is that of a trust bond, a companionship, and happiness. Yet our love for cattle is one in the same, but we also love these cattle, and give them our best care, because they help provide for our livlihood, as ranchers, in this world. Yet, cattle provide for more than just us, which is why others "love" cattle too: for their beef. We realize that cattle were placed on the earth to transform nutrients that we, as humans, cannot digest, like grass, and turn it into the most powerful protein in the world: beef.

So to the author of "Some Animals are More Equal Than Others", to respond to your statement, yes they are. Food animals help provide protein for humans that we otherwise could not receive. American farmers and ranchers care for their livestock 365 days a year, and everyday is Earth Day!

Thank you for reading! Don't forget to leave a comment on the article sharing your story in agriculture. Don't let others tell YOUR story for you!
~Malorie

Love is in the Air

I remember it like it was yesterday. This photo was taken in Denver, CO last summer when I visited for the first time. I attended the Cattle Industry Summer Conference as a National Beef Ambassador. I absolutely love this photo, because the red in my shirt and the red in the flowers dominate the picture. Red is defined as the color of passion, and this shirt saw a lot of passion in my term as a National Beef Ambassador. Seeing as today is Valentine's Day, I wanted to reflect on the love that I have in my heart. My love is spread out to all of the things in my life, and to my life in general.

Naturally, as February is I Heart Beef Month, I love beef as well! You can show your support by adding an I <3 Beef twibbon to your Facebook page or Twitter account, and don't be afraid to share with people your love for beef!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! What better way to show your sweetheart that you love them with a nice, juicy top sirloin for dinner tonight?

Love, Agriculture
~Malorie

The Other Side of the Barbed Wire Fence

Hi!

I know how much I love beef, and I'm pretty sure you know how much I love beef, but I decided to take a different route today. For my Dairy Science Feeds and Feeding class we had to write a paper on the history of the California Dairy Industry. In case you wanted to know, here is a brief summary for you about something I enjoyed learning about!

California hasn’t always been the leading dairy producing state in the nation. Wisconsin was in the lead until 1993 when California passed it in leading dairy production. Yet the industry in California began well before the Gold Rush. It all began when the Spanish settled California and began the state’s history as well as the dairy industry’s existence. In addition to the herd if Longhorn cattle that roamed the land, each soldier was awarded two milk cows, according to a law of 1795. The native missionaries who taught the word of God also taught the soldiers how to make what is now the equivalent of Monterey Jack cheese. When American’s began to arrive to California around 1840, they brought with them the love for fresh cheese and milk. Women were responsible for tending to the cows that the families were able to keep, but in 1848, when gold was discovered in California, the dairy industry in California changed drastically. California’s dairy industry has come a long way since its creation!
With the population increasing greatly in California due to the Gold Rush and the demand for dairy products rising, the need to expand homestead dairies was extremely necessary. By 1860 California had about 100,000 milk cows in areas around San Francisco and Sacramento, the states two most populated areas. Butter was the primary product in the beginning stages of the industry starting at 25 cents per pound! However, by the mid-1850s the Steele family had settled in the San Francisco area from Ohio and changed the face of the industry. Mrs. Steele had hired an Indian man to rope some near-by cattle which she milked. She used her grandmother’s English cookbook to create cheddar cheese from the milk of those cows.
The family’s success in the dairy industry led to an expansion from their original Point Reyes expansion. Their dairy is known as the first in the United States to become a commercial dairy selling high quality cheese and butter. However, shortly after the beginning of their success the Steele family did not own the only dairy in Point Reyes. The Laird family operated a dairy close in location to the Steele family’s dairy and in 1859 the Laird cheese took first place from the Steele family at the California State Fair. Yet, as settlement continued, more and more people gained interest in the dairy industry. The Shafter brothers, attorneys from Vermont settled the Point Reyes peninsula in an ownership dispute, which resulted in the growth of the Point Reyes dairy industry, making it the largest in the western United States. As time passed by and the diary industry grew, changes were made to production cycles. At the peak of its business, the Point Reyes dairies peaked at 31 ranches. They were located on mostly flat ground, and the milking was done outside in a well-drained central corral, as it rarely rained. Each milker took on about 20-25 cows and could milk them in about two hours. The butter of Point Reyes was so popular that dairies around the area were counter fitting it. The Shafter brothers discovered this and began stamping their butter boxes with P.R., creating the first brand on a consumer product in California.
As dairying became more popular in the state of California venturing into areas like the San Joaquin Valley and San Luis Obispo County areas, California was well on its way to becoming the leading dairy state in the nation. With the introduction of new technology like cream separators and the first creamery in Ferndale in 1889, the California dairy industry began to explode with surplus. This led the dairymen in California to export their products. In 1891 the Dairymen’s Union of California (renamed the California Dairy Association in 1893) was created to improve distribution of the dairy products. Since the 1990’s consumers have become more concerned with food safety and product handling. For more than 100 years, the dairy industry has worked toward achieving regulatory success with its products. Today dairy products lead the commodity list in California, and California leads the nation in dairy products. Dairymen produce a high quality product with ease, because of advancements in milking technology and herd health practices!


Source: "Two Centuries Of Prominence And Personalities | California Milk Advisory Board." California Milk Advisory Board | The California Dairy Press Room. Web. 08 Feb. 2011. .

Thank you very much for reading! I hope you learned something new!

Love,
Agriculture

JBS/Five Rivers: An Extended Stay at the Spa

Hello hello!

It is quite a glorious day! Happy Friday! While I'm sitting at my computer, I figured I'd tell you about my trip to the JBS/Five Rivers feedlot in Kersey, CO over the weekend. As some of you know, I was in Denver, CO for the National Beef Speakers Bureau training. I met nineteen of my fellow American National CattleWomen there, and we spent the weekend working on public speaking and presenting skills. It was a great experience! To wrap up our training we took a special trip to the JBS/Five Rivers feedlot on Monday to tour the feedlot and visit their corporate offices. I was expecting to write a blog on my trip there, but I wasn't sure how to write about it. I know that people who are unfamiliar with the beef industry, and even some of those who are involved in the beef industry, feel that feedlots (often referred to as CAFO's--Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) are a "bad" part of our industry. Well, about five minutes into the tour, I realized how I could explain a feedlot in a way that many people would understand. Yes, you read the title of this blog correctly. I am comparing a feedlot to a spa. You might ask, "Why? She is plain crazy!" But I hope by the end of this post you will understand!

First of all, I had the opportunity to tour the same feedlot over last summer with the National Beef Ambassadors. They were just in the beginning stages of their remodel then, which was completely finished when I visited this time. When we first arrived we huddled into the feedlot office, as it was snowing outside, to listen to a brief presentation about the feedlot. There we learned that it costs roughly $.22/head/day to house the beef cattle on the feedlot. At any given time there are around 93,000 head on the feedlot. This means that there are 1,400 head/employee working at the feedlot.
My favorite quote of the day was said by a staff member of JBS/Five Rivers. "The quickest way to get fired from a beef cattle operation is to abuse one."



We learned some other statistics, took a group photo, and then headed out into various vehicles to begin the tour.

While we were in the nice warm pick-up, I pondered how the snow-covered steers and heifers felt. Then I was quickly reassured that they hardly knew cold because of their weather resistant hide, which gave me comfort. However, we were shown the shade/wind break that double as either/or during the summer and winter seasons. I thought they were new, but I realized that they were shades when I was there over the summer, and now they were wind breaks for the sub-zero winds. We learned that the cattle get fed three times a day, with their "breakfast" served very early in the morning to start their digestion off right! Their diets are formulated by a nutritionists on staff at the feedlot that professionally chooses the rations so the cattle reach the most efficient digestibility. There are roughly 300 head/pen which gives them ample room to live comfortably. I actually witnessed--and I kid you not--a group of steers playing tag. At one end of the pen stood one steer facing the feed bunks, while the others ran the other direction and dispersed across the pen. It took about ten seconds before all of the steers were running around, quite literally playing some sort of version of steer tag! When our tour leader asked why the cattle were running around, I replied without pause "Well, that one's 'it'!" He laughed. Because it was SO true!

This particular feedlot was designed with the help of Dr. Temple Grandin. Each animal is individually processed once arrived to the feedlot. A hydrolic gate determines which pen each animal is sorted into by weight. This feature was probably one of my favorites! Part of the new renovation between 2009 and 2010 included the slope of the pens. The feedlot used to have mounds in the center of the pens, but the drainage is much more efficient if the slope of each pen is tilted toward the center drainage pipe! My tour leader said this system had proven itself with the first rain, as the pens managed to stay dry.


Each pen is equipped with its own water trough, which does not freeze in cold weather because of constant water movement around the trough. Each pen is also equipped with sprinklers, so in the summer time they control dust and keep the cattle cool! The pen riders keep a watchful eye over the cattle, making sure they are all healthy and not getting bullied. If this is noticed, the pen riders separate them into the sick pen at one of the two hospitals on the feedlot or into a pen known as the "buller" pen, otherwise for those cattle that are mounted or picked on by other cattle. When the cattle are separated they receive a special colored ear tag for ease of identification.

I realize now that I could go on and on about my tour at JBS/Five Rivers. But I hope that you see how I can compare the feedlot to an extended stay at the spa! Every single beef animal that I witnessed looked happy and healthy (or well on their way to becoming healthy again!).

I am a big fan of the number one beef feeding business in the world! I would speak highly of the JBS/Five Rivers feedlot company again and again!
Thank you for reading this udderly long post. Hehe. A little cow humor for you!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

There is No "I" in Beef!

Good afternoon!

Some of you may be later in the afternoon than I am, as I am very familiar with time zones these days, but nonetheless I'd like to thank you for reading my blog!

I was just recently in Colorado for the National Beef Speakers Bureau training. This is a brand new program designed to help spread the truthful message about animal welfare in the beef industry. Nineteen of my fellow American National CattleWomen and I gathered in Denver for three days this past weekend and worked together on our speaking and presentation skills. I used up all of the sheets of paper in my notebook that I brought taking notes, jotting ideas down, and thinking of ways to help spread our message. The teamwork among the group was commendable, which led me to think that there really is no "I" in beef.

There we were, all gathered in the middle of the United States, one mile high, and most of us were away from home, or the ranch, for that matter. If we were there, and our cattle, horses, ranch dogs, and house-hold pets were home, then we certainly weren't taking care of them firsthand. This led to the conclusion that husbands, family friends, mothers, fathers, siblings, or significant others were taking care of our animals, and most of them with no questions asked. However, something that did catch my attention was the communication between the homestead and the CattleWomen at the training. Weather reports were given over text messages, animal updates were shared via brief phone calls on breaks. Yet that wasn't even half of the whole. Many of the CattleWomen were calling to check on their animals even if an update phone call had already been made. Seeing this made me conclude that CattleWomen care. Hands down. Hooves down. Paws down. Claws down. CattleWomen care.

All of this really brought our message home to me: that no matter what, rain, shine, sleet, snow, or travel our animals are well taken care of. They are put into the hands of someone we know and trust, and we work our hardest to ensure that our animals are safe while we are gone, and while we are home. To me this is a beautiful thing. This might be why the CattleWomen are my favorite group of ladies in the whole entire world.

I am honored and proud to be an American National CattleWomen!Please look forward to my blogs this week and into the weekend celebrating I Heart Beef Month, as well as my travels to the JBS/Five Rivers feedlot and headquarters, and the stories that I have been able to share since then!

Thank you very much for reading! Remember, there is no "I" in beef, but that doesn't mean that YOU can't love beef just the same!

Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

From My iTouch

I am posting this from my iTouch! It sure takes a while to type, but it is AWESOME!!! It doesn't look like you can add pictures, but nonetheless I cam still share my thoughts with you without a computer!! I'm heading to Denver tomorrow for the National Beef Speakers Bureau to learn how to spread the great beef message! Sin-steerly, Malorie

Walk a Mile in My Boots!

Hello all!

I was pondering my blog topic for the week when I remembered all of the walking and hiking I've been doing lately. I thought, "I've seen some beautiful things over the past few weeks! I wish some people could take a walk in my shoes." But then I realized, as I gazed down towards my feet, that the brunt of what I do doesn't necessarily happen in shoes; it happens in my boots!



This lead to a medley of thoughts in my head associated with my boots! I'd like to take a moment to share with you just what "my boots" have walked in, on, and around in my lifetime!
The first thing that comes to my mind that I ever did in boots was ride in the tractor with my dad as a young child. Dad would be headed out to disk the field, and I would quickly grab my pillow and jump up into the tractor, wedged carefully behind the passenger seat. The pillow would shelter my head from the hard glass so that when Dad hit a bump, my noggin would be saved! I still remember how we'd sing our "Tractor Song" which entailed humming and letting the rhythm of the jostled tractor change your vocal chords! Those were the good ol' days!

My boots have stepped in every kind of manure known to man, it seems. They've seen the top side of cow patties, sheep pebbles, and much more, unfortunately. My boots have raised seventeen hogs, three steers, and 4 sheep in 4-H and FFA. My boots have been to a jackpot show, many an Alameda County Fair, three years of livestock judging contests, and in many show rings and fairs across California. My boots have spoken about agriculture to many consumers in a grocery store, a farmer's market, and in everyday life. My boots exhibited the 2010 Alameda County Fair FFA Champion Market Hog! My boots help spark conversation about agriculture when I wear them places like the movie theater, shopping, or even to dinner. My boots always match my belt, and they always match my mood.

"You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl"

The past year, my boots helped spread the message about the American beef industry at places like the Boston Marathon, the New York State Fair, and the D.C. Cooking and Entertaining Expo where they even met Rachael Ray. They will continue to do so throughout this next year as I am a part of the brand new National Beef Speaker's Bureau.
Fairly soon, my boots will even be headed to Washington, D.C for the summer. I am very pleased, excited, and honored to announce that I was recently accepted for a USDA internship in conjunction with the National Beef Ambassador Program!!! Each year one ambassador receives this amazing opportunity to intern with the Agriculture Marketing Services, Livestock and Seed branch of the USDA, and this year that ambassador is ME! I am very excited to take on this challenge and you better believe, in the words of fellow Cattlemen and CattleWomen, that I will be "burning boot leather on Capitol Hill!"

My boots are who I am! Would you care to take a walk with me?
Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie

I Know Where I'm Going

I know where I'm going
Don't you wanna come too?


Lyrics to a song that I know most of the words too that brings back great childhood memories. Artist? You mean artists! The Judds: my childhood duo of music. Most anytime I would buckle my seat belt in my mom's '91 gray Ford Explorer, we'd fire up the cassette tape player and I'd start digging through our tape holding case. Black, with a handle, much like a plastic breif case. Depending on my mood as an innocent young girl, we'd blast the tunes and sing at the top of our lungs. I always thought my mom and I could be like Naomi and Wynonna, mother-daughter duo. Mo and Mallie. Has a nice ring to it. As I listen to the words sung on my iTunes now I begin to miss my mama. But I know she'll always be with me where ever I am. No matter if she is three and a half hours away, at home. The Explorer has been long gone in my life, but the memories of singing with my mama will never leave me!



I'm an only child. Always have been and always will be my mama's joy, and my mama will always be my hero. It gives me great excitement as I listen to these songs sung by the Judds, my familiar traveling tunes from childhood, and I STILL know almost every word to these songs! It amazes me that my brain can be such a trap when it comes to certain things like this.

Listening to these songs sure has put me in a great mood today! It's beautiful here in SLO and I have it all to enjoy just outside my window! So maybe it will be a "girl's night out. Honey there ain't doubt I'm gonna dance every dance until the boys go home. Well it's my night to rock. No watching that clock. Oh ain't no doubt, Lordy! It's a girl's night out!"

Tomorrow I will continue my SLO time adventures and climb another peak with my roommate! That is sure to be gorgeous! So I know where I'm going. Did you wanna come too?

~Malorie

Mother Nature's Perspective

Good afternoon!

It is a beautiful day in San Luis Obispo, CA reaching upwards of 80 degrees in some places here today. I have already been to lunch, on a very lovely drive, and to a short visit to Avila Beach. Now I sit here in my apartment alone, which has me thinking: I'm usually the one that leaves others "home alone". For the past year I have been out of state usually once or twice a month on a Beef Ambassador trip. Unfortunately, those are no longer. As I look back on my year as a National Beef Ambassador, I have realized something over the past week or so. I only get to live MY life once, so why not do the impossible, accomplish the unthinkable, or conquer the unstoppable? My new philosophy in life is to do what I want, because I want to, and because it will make me a better person.

I sure do miss the leadership camps and conferences I attended throughout middle school and high school, but I've been thinking...why can't my life be a leadership conference? I mean every once in a while I try to do something that I wouldn't normally do, and I find myself grateful for the experience. Then I reflect on my participation and do something else. That, to me, seems like a leadership experience in a nutshell; I'm leading my life.

Throughout the past couple of weeks back at college I have found many things to inspire me. I have climbed two mountains, walked on a 7 mile trail, and taken a 40 minute drive through a beautiful rural area all in the town I live in. Why did it take me a year and a half to realize what I could have been soaking up this whole time?! I could be kicking myself for missing the opportunities that I have been hiding myself from, or I can embrace them and discover something new each week that makes me happy here. Today, I felt like I was on top of the world. From one point on my drive I could see what seemed like everything: flat land, hills, trees, sandy beaches, the ocean, and even what I love most in life...cows! The dreaming me would love to live in some mansion of a house I spotted while climbing the hills of San Luis Obispo, but alas, living anywhere here is like living in paradise.

I was confronted by a long time friend of mine today about where I see myself ending up in life. She made the venture herself to guess not in California. During the past few months I would have to say my very own conclusion on that matter is to agree with her. I love where I was born and raised, and where I live now, but there is so much more out there that I need to discover, I'm just going to go with the flow. Where ever life takes me, I will make the most out of it. I live to learn, explore, and cherish what Mother Nature has given me in this lovely life I lead.

Moooooving ahead,
Malorie

1st Friday

Hello!

Today is the first Friday of 2011, and I have been celebrating it as such! I had one class this morning and a meeting this afternoon, and then I ran some errands and worked out a little bit. I classify this as a usual day, but today one thing was out of place. Usually every Friday for the past 52 weeks I have blogged. Not all the time on this blog, but another blog: the National Beef Ambassador Blog. I blogged about my activities, my feelings on beef related issues, and about me in general. Today is the first Friday of 2011, and I didn't have to blog on the National Beef Ambassador Blog, because my term expired on December 31, 2010. I have had this blog for some time, but I'd like to begin on of my New Year's resolutions and blog on my personal blog more often.
I titled this blog "Love Agriculture", because I do. I love everything about it. Today, being the first Friday of the year and the day that I only have one class, I'd like to tell you a little bit about the class. I'm enrolled in Soil Science 121 at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
I've heard that this class is challenging, but like usual I like to keep an open mind about my classes and feel them out for myself. The other day I found it a bit easier to like the class, even though I do find it interesting, because my professor and I have something in common: PASSION. This woman is so passionate about dirt, I doubt I will ever find anyone else in my life like her. Granite I realize she is a scientist in her field (drum line, please!), yet she shows her passion about soil through her teaching. She said something today that made me smile. She said this: "Oh my gosh! (Pointing to the white, sandy E horizon on the power point screen) Isn't it the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? Well, okay maybe not EVER seen. Come ON guys, I think it's great!" I giggled a bit, because I realized that this is precisely what I do to the people around me. "Oh my gosh, guys! LOOK! A cow! It has the most beautiful hide I've ever seen!! Guys? Guys?" By this time my friends are usually rolling their eyes at me or poking fun at my fascination with cattle! But it's no skin off my nose, because I love it! My professor loves soil, so I'm going to trust her, because I would trust me and my love for cows.
Until next time! Happy Friday everyone, and here's to what you love in life!
Sin-steer-ly,
Malorie