Ranchers’ workshop Saturday

 The central theme of this year’s free workshop is “Opportunities in a Changing Beef Industry.”

The event is sponsored by Beef Northwest Feeders in North Powder and 30 other cattle industry groups, agencies and businesses.

Ron Rowan of Beef Northwest said the workshop helps ranchers keep abreast of the challenges and opportunities facing their industry, ranging from the activities of animal rights groups to the importance of regaining export markets.

“We had record attendance of 350 people attend last year’s Cattlemen’s Workshop, and we’re hoping to top that this year,” Rowan said.

He said the workshop has grown in stature over the years by bringing in an all-star cast of beef industry speakers from throughout the United States, and that tradition continues this year.

“The purpose of this whole Cattlemen’s Workshop is to an opportunity for regional cattlemen to come to a one-day free conference and listen to speakers who are national leaders in the cattle industry,” Rowan said.

The workshop starts at 9 a.m. with an overview and introductions by Tom Field, executive director of producer education for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, headquartered in Denver.

At 9:15 a.m. Forrest Roberts, the Association’s CEO, speaks on the Challenges and Opportunities for the Beef Cattle Industry.

Phil Seng, president and CEO of Legislative Affairs for the NCBA, will talks about Beef in a World Market — Meeting the Challenged.

Following a 15-minute break, Collin Woodall, executive director of legislative affairs for the NCBA’s Washington, D.C., office, reports on the Opportunities for the Beef Industry in the New Political Environment.

After lunch provided by workshop sponsors, the agenda resumes at 1:30 p.m. with a presentation on Cow/Calf Strategies for Uncertain Times — Thinking Outside the Gate, by Bernie Rollin, professor at the University of Bioethics at Colorado State University.

At 3:15 p.m., Dave Daley, professor of agriculture at California State University-Chico, will give a presentation titled “What Does it Take to Stay in the Game.”

The workshop wraps up with a panel discussion led by Field with workshop speakers fielding questions from the audience.

A new feature has been added the day before the workshop, on Friday, Jan. 22: the Pacific Northwest Young Cattlemen’s Tour.

“The Oregon, Washington and Idaho Cattlemen’s Associations have created an outstanding opportunity for young cattlemen to tour premier beef industry facilities and hear from nationally renowned speakers,” Rowan said.

The Pacific Northwest Young Cattlemen’s Tour departs at 9 a.m. Friday from the Red Lion Inn in Pasco, Wash., with stops at 9:30 a.m. for a tour of the Tyson processing plant, and a 11:30 a.m. tour of the Simplot feedlot near Hermiston, with lunch provided by Simplot.

The 50-passenger tour bus departs the Simplot plant and heads for Baker City at 1 p.m.. En route, more than two hours of presentations will be made about the Certified Angus Beef program, Washington Cattlemen & Cattle Feeders, along with videos by the Oregon, Washington and Idaho cattle groups.

 When the bus arrives in Baker City, participants will tour the Thomas Angus Ranch and Harrell Hereford Ranch from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by dinner from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sunridge Inn, with keynote speaker Forrest Roberts, plus a panel discussion with speakers making presentations at the Cattlemen’s Workshop on Saturday.

While there is no registration cost for the Friday tour, Rowan said participants will be responsible for their lodging costs in Baker City Friday night.

Those riding the tour bus from Baker City to La Grande for Saturday’s workshop will leave the Sunridge Inn at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

A bus will leave La Grande for the Red Lion Inn in Pasco at 5 p.m. Saturday, and return to Pasco about 7:30 p.m.

For more information on both events, call the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association office in Salem at 503-361-8941, or Julie Laird, chair of the Young Cattlemen’s Committee, at 541-947-4115.