It's All About Beef. On The Land and On The Plate.

This week I got to attend the Wyoming Stock Growers Association summer convention in Riverton, Wyoming with my dad. It's a good time to catch up with old friends, make new ones, and learn a little more about what is going on in our industry throughout the state. We got the privilege to listen to Senator Barrasso, Senator Enzi, and Congresswoman Cheney tell us what is going on in Washington, D.C. and what they are doing to help better the ag industry. We also heard from Governor Mead about what is happening in our industry on the state level. We had many committee meetings throughout the week that informed us of issues we as an industry are facing. In these meetings we were able to share our own input on what we as an organization were deciding to do on these issues. I also got to have a great time on Thursday night during the social banquet. I was told many stories of the better years by my dad, Lee Iseneberger, and Jody Bagley. You know, the years where you could go to a rodeo and have a little tussle and NOT go to jail. The years where being a rodeo cowboy was about the lifestyle, not just the money. This got me thinking about WSGA as a whole. I've attended conventions off and on since I was six weeks old. In 2016 I started attending the conventions regularly and started trying to get involved. I'd like to climb the ladder of the association and follow my dad's footsteps. I grew up with the WSGA being an important part of our operation and an important part of our lives' as a whole. I got to thinking this week, was I the only one my age that grew up this way? There are younger people that attend the conventions, but most of them are married with kids... not barely 22. So where are my peers at? Two babies were at the convention this year, and that's what you heard the older guys talking about the most, the younger generation being involved in agriculture. I can't remember the last time I saw a baby at either the winter or summer convention. It's enlightening to see families' like my own raising their children around WSGA and letting them grow up in this wonderful association. It blows my mind how little people my age care about the future of agriculture. We hear all the time how we need to be making connections and learning how to market ourselves. WSGA is just the place to do this! In the last three days I talked to the director of the livestock board, the governor, Dr. Logan the state vet, Senator Barrasso, as well as many other people that are important to the Wyoming Ag industry. If that isn't making connections to help me in the future I'm not sure what is! If my age group wants to get our thoughts heard and be a part of the ag community in Wyoming I believe we need to start focusing on groups like the WSGA. As an association and industry we need to focus on getting the younger generation involved in not only the day to day business on the ranch but the political side as well. Until then I'll keep attending the summer and winter conventions and hanging out with the old guys.