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