Making Room for You

Industry professionals share advice for young professionals.

by Shelby Mettlen, assistant editor, Angus Media

MANHATTAN, Kan. (June 14, 2016) — Four cattle industry professionals led a panel discussion at the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Young Producers Symposium hosted June 14. Spencer Jones, owner and operator of Jones Family Angus and the Flint Hills Heifer Development program; Toby Jordan of Waukaru Farms; Matt Perrier of Dalebanks Angus; and Don Schiefelbein of Schiefelbein Angus all gave their advice to young cattlemen and women on how to make a place for yourself on your family’s operation.

Jones, a native of western Kansas, sold bulls with his wife in Iowa before moving back to Kansas to settle in the Flint Hills.

“Working together for a common goal is really important,” he stressed, noting that young producers should always keep adding to their plans.

He also shared a harsh truth: “If you’re young and don’t have a family farm or ranch to go back to, be prepared to take out some loans and go into debt.”

He added that it can be difficult to get your hands on land as a young producer, and urged listeners to be as flexible as they can within the marketplace.

Get to know your neighbors, trade labor with them and keep those connections strong, he urged. He also noted the importance of mentors and the relationships young producers can form with those mentors.

Jordan, of Rensselaer, Ind., shared some of what he considers “core strategies,” including resource and asset utilization, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and having a product ready for customers. He urged listeners to invest their time wisely into areas and projects at which they excel.

He noted that being involved with other family members can be a challenge, but discouraged listeners from making decisions for their own personal gain. Decisions should benefit the entire operation, he said.

He also stressed to the audience the importance of doing your research. If you want to make changes in an operation, have the information, he said. “My dad is my toughest sell.”

Embrace technology, challenge your cow herd, pay attention to your customers and make your operation unique, he concluded.

Good communication is critical, said Perrier of Dalebanks Angus in southeastern Kansas. “When we really get down to the nuts and bolts, I think the most important resource any of us have is our family.”

If you have more than one moving part in your operation, encourage those parts to move together, Perrier urged.

“Above all, communicate,” he said. “If we talk, we’ll work things out. If we assume or presume, we won’t.”

Schiefelbein of Kimball, Minn., was the last to take the stage, and truth was the theme of his advice.

There are two things that can kill a family operation, he said: A struggle over money and a struggle over power.

Have a plan, he urged, and if you’re going to come back to the operation, make sure you have something to offer.  

The four then answered questions and took part in dialogue with the audience. 

Editor’s Note:This summary was written under contract or by staff of Angus Media. Through an agreement with the Beef Improvement Federation, we are encouraging reprinting of the articles to those who will adhere to the reprint guidelines available on this site. Please review those guidelines or contact Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, at 816-383-5270. PowerPoints are posted with permission of the presenter and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission of the presenter.

Angus Media's coverage of the event is made possible through collaboration with BIF and sponsorship of LiveAuctions.tv. For questions about this site, or to notify us of broken links, click here. Look for additional coverage in the Angus Journal, the Angus Beef Bulletin, the Angus Journal Daily, the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA and Angus TV.