New Year, New Heights
By Matt Woolfolk, Field Representative & Commercial Marketing Director
To say 2014 has gone by quickly is an understatement! With less than two weeks until 2015, it’s a time that many will use to reflect on the past 12 months, while preparing for the upcoming year. Personally, this past year has been one full of transition. The big transition from a graduate student to a working professional was tough at times, but the most difficult transition for me was trading my Tennessee driver’s license for a Texas edition! All kidding aside, I’m ready to see what 2015 brings starting with Live Oak, then the stock show season, then spring sales will kick off. What a fun and busy time it will be!
The past year has been a year of transition for the cattle industry, as well as our breed. A surging cattle market held steady through the fall sale season. Lucky for us, the Beefmaster bull demand is at an all-time high. The commercial cowman is excited about our product, and we are sitting on the edge of a great time for Beefmaster genetics in the commercial sector. As the highest priced range bull breed on the market in 2014, we can look back and be proud of the work done to get to this point. The ground work for becoming a lead player in bull market has been laid, but 2015 is the time to improve our product and maintain our position. Collecting and providing more relevant performance data to commercial bull customers is a great way to increase the value of your bulls, while also providing you with information which can be used to influence and improve your breeding program.
As we head into 2015, I’d like to encourage everyone out there to set new goals for your operation, aiming higher than ever before. Make it a priority to surpass your 2014 productivity. Register more calves, begin collecting more performance data, invest last year’s profits in a better herd bull or AI, or make that facility improvement that will increase your operation’s efficiency. Make an effort to improve not just as a cattleman, but also as a member of BBU. Travel to a sale you may have never attended, support our juniors at the nearest JBBA show, or become involved in a committee when the opportunity presents itself. If every member becomes just a little more involved, the results would be outstanding!
I hope that all of you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If there’s anything that I can do for you and your Beefmaster operation, please do not hesitate to give me a call. I look forward to working with you during the coming year. See you at Live Oak!