Scott Williamson, TSCRA Executive Director of Law, Brand and Inspection Services, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss opportunity and awareness around the upcoming total solar eclipse taking place on April 8, 2024. As some ranches will open their gates to welcome visitors, he explains the importance of properly communicating expectations as well as having liability forms signed and the proper insurance in place. For those who do not plan to have guests at their ranch, Williamson discusses securing the property.   While Williamson stresses the importance of not being fearful, he does share about the importance of having an emergency management plan that is communicated to employees and family, which can be put into place during weather emergencies or events that put a strain on resources.   Additionally, Williamson encourages listeners to stay up-to-date on specific information from their area through their local city and county officials.    

James Clement, III, with EarthOptics joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, for a high-level discussion on the impact of carbon on the cattle industry. As a multi-generational rancher, Clement shares his experience with carbon sampling on a variety of land types during his time at the King Ranch which sparked his interest carbon and soil sampling.Clement goes into the detail about the different segments involved in the carbon conversation. Through the conversation he shares how the misconception and negative view of cattle and the environment is shifting as large corporations have a strong interest in how and why cattlemen do what they do in taking care of the land and cattle, which is measured with facts through soil sampling and other technology.As the carbon partnership with cattlemen and landowners continues to develop, Clement encourages cattlemen and landowners to engage in learning about carbon and joining the conversations to help develop the role of cattle in the carbon industry.

Kent Rollins, renowned chuck wagon cook, along with his wife, Shannon, join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown to discuss their path in taking the history and heritage of ranching and beef to a national audience. Raised on the Red River near Hollis, Oklahoma, Kent grew up working cattle with area cowboys and learned the art of cooking with his mother at a young age.  As opportunities arose, Kent cooked for cowboys on open fire across the U.S. which eventually led to numerous TV appearances on shows including “Throwdown with Bobby Flay, Chopped Grill Masters and NBC’s Food Fighters.” Kent and Shannon continue to share the cowboy way of life to the world through their YouTube channel and cookbooks.  

TSCRA executive director of government relations, Melissa Hamilton, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, with insight on three Propositions on the ballot for the November 7 election. Hamilton encourages cattlemen and landowners to vote yes on Propositions 1, 6 and 8. Hamilton shares that Proposition 1 - protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture and wildlife management – is vital to the future of our industry and, ultimately, the survival of our country. She stresses the importance of Texans making it a constitutional right, especially in the current environment of the changing demographics in the state. Proposition 6 – creating the Texas Water Fund to assist in financing water projects – has been a work in progress for many years Hamilton says, and will also be important to the future of cattlemen and landowners. Additionally, Proposition 8 – creating the Broadband Infrastructure Fund to expand high-speed access and assist in financing connectivity projects – is another topic that has been in the works for many years and continues to grow in importance with the growth and dependence on technology Hamilton explains. Hamilton stresses the importance of having conversations with family and friends about the upcoming election. Additional resources: 

Emily Lochner, executive director of engagement and education at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and a seedstock producer, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, for an in-depth conversation about EPDs.   Lochner shares the background on EPDs and how they have continued to evolve as gene technology improves through DNA analysis. She discusses the importance of evaluating the goals of the operation to know which EPDs will be impactful in the progeny.   Additionally, Lochner goes into very practical information by detailing ways to evaluate EPDs of different breeds of cattle and using the Dollar Value Indexes to encompass end goals. 

Curt Pate, a renowned livestock handling clinician, join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share about his experiences that led him down the path of stockmanship at the ranch as well as his insight on the impact it has to the ranchers bottom line.   Pate describes his childhood as incredible as he shares about growing up in Montana with family in a variety of segments of the livestock industry. He says he has always had a sensitive spot for animals and is always up for an adventure which led him to opportunities such as working on the set of the movie Horse Whisperer.   He goes on the discuss the added value that comes to the rancher when proper cattle handling is common practice at the ranch. “Good cattle handling isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the only thing to do.”   https://curtpatestockmanship.com/about/ 

Aljoe says that the grazing principles are the most beneficial management tool in managing forages, lands and grazing landscape. He goes into detail about soil management, forage care, human involvement as well as profitability. Aljoe emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach, it all has to come together. Rest and recovery, while often lumped together, he explains there is a key difference when it comes to grazing. Additionally, Aljoe talks about how to implement regenerative grazing practices on ranches of all sizes.  

Cattlemen and corn grower Wesley Spurlock visits with TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown about the interdependence of cattle and corn on each other. Spurlock farms and runs cattle throughout the Texas Panhandle and is a past president of the National Corn Growers Association.     Spurlock discusses how the growth of feedyards and cattle production increased the need for corn and how that relationship continues to grow, touching on dry distillers grain. He says the two industries are tied so closely together and emphasizes the importance of working together. “Every pound of beef exported out of the U.S. is an amount of corn that is being exported also,” Spurlock says.   Spurlock discusses a recent study released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation that shared good news for both cattleman and corn growers.    

Compass Ag Solutions’ Bryan Vasseur, chief operating officer, and Garren Bellis, business and risk management consultant, join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, for a high-level discussion on the cattle market.   Vasseur starts by explaining the fundamentals that impact and drive the market, going in-depth on seasonals and the cyclical pattern of the markets that create the highs and lows of the year. He discusses similarities and differences between the cash and futures markets.   Bellis shares about market disrupters including slower changes through drought but also overnight shifts from black swan events. Additionally, they discuss the importance of a risk management plan saying there is a lot to protect but also a lot to gain.  

Scott Williamson, TSCRA Executive Director of law enforcement and theft prevention, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss a prevalent issue on the rise – fraud. Williamson discusses how utilizing the internet, while convenient, opens the door for misrepresentation of the items such as cattle, horses or hay. Williamson emphasizes the importance of utilize credible sources to locate commodities which could be a trusted website that specializes in selling the item or find a reference that you know and trust to inspect the item prior to purchase.  Additionally, he mentions phishing schemes and says if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. He shares other tips to keep your animals and property secure as well as remembering the ‘neighborhood watch’ mentality.