From the Field
It’ s the People
By Nathan Smith, NALF regional manager
Officially one month in and I have had the pleasure of working the National Western Stock Show, the Fort Worth Stock Show, and NCBA as the NALF eastern regional manager. The biggest thing after meeting the membership of NALF at all these events that really sticks out to me, is that it’ s the people that matter most. For example, as I traveled the state of Texas during the Fort Worth Stock Show, I was regularly met with hospitality and kindness that is second to none and as I know from my time in Denver, that this isn’ t a strictly regional phenomenon. It’ s the culture of the people in an industry that relies heavily upon community, family and faith to accomplish goals. Whether that is calving heifers during wet, cold spring or fitting bulls in the yards, it’ s an industry that without that sense of family, would rapidly lose its allure and prestige.
With that I would like to take the time to introduce myself to you via this editorial. I grew up on a multi-faceted crop and livestock farm in south central Kansas. Our family operation consists of a wheat pasture stocker program, a small starting yard and various small grain cropping systems, along with production cows and ewes. During high school, my summers were spent 4-H’ ing and haying. These two activities continue to carry a large amount of influence on my morals and ethics today. After high school, I attended Kansas State University majoring in Animal Science with an emphasis in Production Management. During this same period of life, I was lucky enough to work with two seedstock programs near
Much of the membership that I have had the pleasure of meeting have proven to be“ movers” in the beef industry.
Manhattan as ranch labor, which was my first true introduction to the registered cattle industry. After Kansas State I moved back to south central Kansas and to continue the family farm operation. During this time, I assisted the American Simmental Association in their customer service sector. Traveling this member base cemented the fact that it is not the cattle that make the breed, it is the people and their stories that make the industry.
So far, my experience with Limousin has been educational and enthralling, the quality of cattle and people at both NWSS and FWSS was deep. Much of the membership that I have had the pleasure of meeting have proven to be“ movers” in the beef industry. I look forward to hearing more of these stories and getting to know more of these families that make this industry and especially the NALF family so special. My role as the new eastern regional manager is to help you, the members, with advertising( print or digital), any questions concerning NALF programs, and to be your direct line to the Foundation with any concerns that you may have.
Feel free to give me a call, shoot me an email or even a standard old letter. Lets have a chat and if we can make it work, a cup of coffee, even if its just to discuss the weather.
Thank you and God Bless! I
64 | MARCH 2018