Kurt Kangas
Association Perspective
Time to retire the old bull.
Recently, a friend was featured in a non-ranch-oriented Southwest magazine. Initially, he was reluctant to do the article. Revealing how his ranch operates and what it’s like to live on the ranch didn’t seem like a good idea to him.
Today, with the rural-urban divide growing ever larger, there is a real disconnect between what consumers are eating and where that food is produced. As ranchers, we need to do as much as possible to get the true story of ranching out there for the urban public to hear. When I visit with people from urban areas, most are fascinated by what ranchers do for a living and have lots of questions about the industry. Most are appreciative and often say, “I never knew that.”
The point to all this is that the ranching community needs to tell its story as often as possible. Whether it’s about calving heifers when it’s –20° F out, or the fun and fellowship of branding a set of calves, your daily ranch activities are great stories. They will help the general public understand our industry a little better.
Utilization of blogs, social media, webpages and YouTube are all great avenues to get your story out. Don’t be afraid to use them. When asked about ranching by someone who doesn’t ranch, spend some time and visit with them. Engage in conversations with people who may not necessarily be pro-ranching. All of this helps educate people about what we do.
When finished, the article about my friend’s ranch was great. The magazine contacted him and told him that the reader response was extremely positive with requests for more stories like his. Purebred and seedstock breeders alike have a story to tell.
Editor's Note: Regional Manager Kurt Kangas covers Region 12, including the states of Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. Click here to find the regional manager for your state.
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