All you have to do is leave a comment below and I will deliver! I will select a winner using random.org, next Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Good luck!

You can buy this book at amazon

In honor of Dr. Grandin’s visit, my Parent’s are installing our third set of humane handling corrals. I got to share with Dr. Grandin how much her designs have helped us and our cattle. I think she liked hearing that. My Dad has been on his backhoe this week, tearing down our old wooden corrals so we can install the new sweep and solid panels. In addition to tearing down the old corrals, my Parents have been cleaning up some old barns and buildings that are slowly falling apart.

The herd heading to the Valley in 1939

The neat thing about having old buildings and barns is the cool stuff that my family stored there generations ago. For example, we found the old port-a-potty that my Great Grandpa used on the week long cattle drives we used to have. It was made so you could set it on two stumps or rocks, have a nice seat to do your business, yet it was small enough to be portable so they could carry it on the chuck wagon.  According to legend, they also had a “deluxe” model, with two holes, so the kids wouldn’t fall in. Isn’t that ingenious? They never covered that on the Oregon Trail game we played in elementary school. I know my least favorite parts of cattle drives was pooping in the forest. In fact, I attribute my early woods pooping experiences to why I loathe camping now. Scarred for life.

Sam Brown Jr. and his dog. Notice the chuck wagon behind him?

This port-a-potty is so neat, and has such a wonderful history, I want to make it into my new coffee table. Yes, I am aware generations of my family pooped through it, but that just adds to the charm, in my opinion. I could even put a chips and salsa bowl in the hole when I have parties! I have several talented friends that I am talking to right now about this project.  Hopefully I can blog the whole process and share with my readers! Check back often!

My new coffee table!

"The Seat"

Jamie Johansson, Dr. Grandin and myself. Thanks again Jamie!

Yesterday was a major life event for me. Not only did I get to see my agricultural hero speak in person. Twice. I also got to have lunch with her (I took her left over quesadilla home!). As if that wasn’t enough, in the sold out Bell Memorial Union full of local Farmers and Ranchers, she made me stand up, while she spoke about this blog. I’m still not convinced yesterday wasn’t a dream.

I sat next to Dr. Grandin at lunch. It was hard to eat, I was just too excited.

I owe the Butte County Farm Bureau for this opportunity. Specifically Jamie Johansson, Irv Leen, Colleen Cecil, Holly Foster, and Louis Venturini. These people all played a part in getting me and Dr. Grandin together, and I will be forever grateful for this experience. Big thank you to Louis for getting me a ticket to the sold out Farm Bureau 2012 Annual Dinner. And to Irv, you know what you did.

The Program

Dr. Grandin and I spoke and about the Ranch, how her books have changed how we run our Ranch and treat our cattle, things that the Ranch can improve upon, and about my blog. All I can say is it was amazing. She encouraged me to keep showing the Ranch, and not just the pretty parts. She said people don’t want PR fluff, they want to know what actually happens. She went on to say that the general public does not know the good we are doing in Ag. As Farmers and Ranchers it is now part of our job to open our barn doors and tell our stories.

Dr. Grandin giving the keynote, it was breathtaking.

The point was made that when Ag gets bashed, we tend to shut our doors, when in actuality, we should do the exact opposite. She also stressed that all ag is in this together, that Big Ag needs to stop bashing Little Ag. These are all messages I agree with and am trying to promote and live up to.

Dr. Grandin signed a picture of the Ranch for my Dad

I learned so much yesterday. I can’t wait to implement what I learned on the Ranch. The most exciting advice I got from Dr. Grandin was that our cattle should be used to people on foot, people on a horse and people on an 4-wheeler. That way when they make the transition to the feedlot, it won’t be as stressful when they encounter all these things. The Ranch has pretty much stopped using horses around the cattle. They were slowly phased out for a variety of reasons. Over the past couple of years I’ve realized how much I miss riding behind the cattle. I’m bringing it back.

He's my hero for getting me a ticket to the dinner.

I’m still trying to wrap my head around what happened yesterday. Once I have an opportunity to digest my day, I’m sure there will be plenty of new posts. I just feel so good! So validated! Like I really am doing something to help my industry! Go Team Ag!

Louis Venturini got an award!

My new bank sponsored wine glasses. My tablemates let me have theirs. And the centerpiece.

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I first learned about Dr. Grandin in college. Her books touched me deeply, I even started to get a masters in a field where I could work with people living with Autism. I made every member of my family read her books, I gave her books away as Christmas gifts. We re-designed our corrals based on her teachings. I started “opening my barn doors”, like Dr. Grandin advocated farmers and ranchers to do.

I really hope I get to meet her. I would just die. Meeting Dr. Grandin is in the top 10 on my bucket list.

This opportunity means so much to me. I can’t wait to share with the Beef Jar Readers!!!

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fun ag fact of the day: Selection for economically important traits like wool type, has resulted in more than 200 distinct breeds of sheep. Some breeds only have hair, some wool and some both.

fun ag fact of the day: In the US, all beef cattle spend most of their lifetimes grazing grass on pastures. Cattle designated for meat production are switched to high-energy, grain-based diets for about 100 days before slaughter.

fun ag fact of the day: About 16.8% of the food that we eat is imported, according to USDA, up from 11.3% two decades ago.

fun ag fact of the day: 90% of American cow herds have fewer than 100 cows. The average cow herd size in the US is 44.

fun ag fact of the day: A typical banana goes on a 4000-mile adventure before it is eaten.

fun ag fact of the day: The most profitable side of the food business is in processing and marketing, not the farmer’s share. In fact, for every dollar that consumers spend on food, farmers receive just 20 cents.

fun ag fact of the day: Chickens have more bones in their necks than giraffes. They have no teeth and swallow their food whole. Part of their stomach is used to grind their food up.

Fun ag fact of the day: the average American consumes nearly one half cup of soybeans, in some form, each day.

fun ag fact of the day: US dairy industry reduced its carbon footprint by 41% between 1944 and 2007 (from Dr. Capper, aka Dr. Awesome).

Fun ag fact of the day: one 3 oz serving of lean beef has only one more gram of saturated fat than skinless chicken breast. Go Team Beef!

fun ag fact of the day: Chickens come in a multitude of colors and patterns. But there are seven types of combs on them: rose, strawberry, single, cushion, buttercup, pea and V-shaped.

fun ag fact of the day: A pig can run a 7 minute mile (and I’ll be going to the gym today).

fun ag fact of the day: Riesling grape is a native of Germany where it has been cultivated anywhere from 500 to 2000 years.

fun ag fact of the day: Americans are eating 21 pounds less beef per capita than 1975.

fun ag fact of the day: there are 29 different lean cuts of beef!

fun ag fact of the day: The CA almond industry shipped 213.1 million pounds in November 2011, a 19.2 % increase over November 2010.

fun ag fact of the day: a pig’s squeal can range from 110-115 decibels; a Concorde jet is usually under 112 decibels.

fun ag fact of the day: there is no U.S. government-approved organic seafood.

fun ag fact of the day: Compared to other major agricultural producers around the globe, the U.S. ranks near the bottom of the subsidization and tariff scale.