Spring is making its way across the state bring-ing warmer weather. Many of you are in the middle of calving while some are just gearing up. Not only are you busy at the ranch the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association is also busy working on several proj-ects across the state and in the west.

President Dan Gralian and Executive Director Meghan Wereley met with Governor Gibbons and staff Jodi Stephens regarding the upcoming fire season. As many of you are aware President Gralian has been working hard on the fire issue in Nevada looking at all the angles that it affects ranchers, sportsmen, rural communities, and ulti-mately the state.

Dan stated that, “We believe that livestock graz-ing can play a beneficial role in reducing the cheat grass competition in newly seeded burned areas, thereby increasing the likelihood of a successful seeding. We also believe that livestock grazing

can be used to help reduce excessive fuel loading.” This excessive fuel loading can take place within burn areas during the emergency stabilization and rehabilitation period. This type of prescription grazing can take place in the fall and winter when the plants are dormant.

Governor Gibbons said, “I understand this and would like to help take your message to Washing-ton DC. I know what ranchers mean to this state and to our rural communities and this cycle needs to stop.”

Dormant season grazing can be used in the non-burn areas where there is excessive fuel loading. President Gralian pointed out that, “We are not suggesting over grazing and are fully committed to good stewardship. However, we do believe that livestock grazing can play an important role in the

Sage SignalsVoice of the Nevada Livestock Industry

Volume XXX, #6 April 2008 Published monthly for its membership

EDITION HIGHLIGHTS

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Spring Projects at the NCA

pages 1 & 12

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What Has NCA Done For You page 2

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Richard Orr Hired by Sustainable Grazing

Coalition page 3

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UNR Livestock Production Specialist

Asks for Input page 5

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Scholarship Application page 6

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Market Reports page 7

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Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Report

pages 8-9

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Checkoff News page 11

Nevada’s rangeland is an open playground for wildlife viewing, hunting, and other recreation-ists. It is also a workplace for ranchers: sheep, cat-tle, and goats dine there. A new agreement among the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDOA), and the University of Nevada, Reno outlines goals towards understanding “disease events,” such as major wildlife die-offs, and towards effective rangeland management to benefit both livestock and wildlife.

“Domestic livestock and wildlife both benefit the economy of Nevada and are important to the cultural heritage of the state,” said Ken Mayer, NDOW’s director. “All three agencies recognize, however, the risk of disease transmission when there is contact between domestic livestock and wildlife,” he continued.

Collaborative research is a component of the recent Memorandum of Understanding, which fo-cuses on bighorn sheep populations. Possibly be-cause of their isolated populations, bighorn sheep may be particularly susceptible to pathogens. “We’re looking to understand the factors that

influence the risk of disease transmission, and to establish mutually beneficial practices,” said Dr. Phil LaRussa, state veterinarian with NDOA.

“All parties will actively participate in collab-orative research, explained Dr. David Thain, state extension veterinarian at the university. “Science-based information can be used to improve disease management for the mutual benefit of producers and the wildlife resource.”

Unexplained die-offs of wild bighorn sheep pop-ulations have occurred in the past, the most recent in the fall of 2007. A herd in the Hay’s Canyon Range in the northwest part of the state suffered great losses attributed to bacterial pneumonia.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunt-ing and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more informa-tion, visit www.ndow.org.

Agreement Seeks Thriving Wildlife, Productive Land

Spring Projects at the NCA

CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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Membership Update

(New members are in bold.)

We would like to thank the following people for joining or renewing their

membership with Nevada Cattlemen’s Association between

February 24 and March 23, 2008.

March 31 - April 4

PLC/NCBA Summer CoNfereNCe

April 15 -16

ASSeSSiNg ProPer fuNCtioNiNg CoNditioN of

riPAriAN AreASA two-day training session

on the methodology for assessing Proper

Functioning Condition (PFC) of Riparian AreasPine Valley Volunteer

Fire Station

April 15-17

CooPerAtive Weed mANAgemeNt

AreA NAtioNAL CoNfereNCe

Reno, NV

For membership information, contact the NCA office.

Official Publication of the

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association

Dan Gralian President

Ron Cerri President-Elect

Ron Torell 1st Vice President

Jon Griggs 2nd Vice President

P.O. Box 310, Elko, NV 89803-310 • 775-738-9214 • nca@nevadabeef.org

WHAT: An opportunity to attend a two-day training session on the methodology for assessing Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) of Riparian Areas.

WHEN: April 15 -16, 8 am to 5 pm both days.

WHERE: Pine Valley, Nevada - Pine Valley Volunteer Fire Station, west side of High-way 278, 15-20 Miles South of I-80.

DETAILS: The training will be presented by the Nevada Creeks & Communities Cadre, a diverse teaching team with members from Cooperative Extension, State and Federal agencies, and the ranching community. The workshop will include approximately equal portions of classroom instruction and fieldwork. This course is user-friendly and pro-vides a tool for people from all walks of life to share their knowledge and focus on man-agement activities that make a difference in these lands they care for.

WHY: Nevada is the driest state in the nation, and therefore water and soil are our most basic natural resources. The job of a watershed is to capture, store, and safely re-lease the water from precipitation. Understanding the proper functioning of riparian areas will help us understand our opportunities for better land management.

The workshop is free of charge, but seating is limited. Attendees should plan to bring foul weather gear, rubber boots, and a sack lunch each day.

Please let us know by April 11th, 2008 if you are planning to attend. Contact Sherm Swanson (775-784-4057; sswanson@cabnr.unr.edu) or Kent McAdoo (775-738-1251; mcadook@unce.unr.edu). A listing of Elko motels/hotels can be found at www.elkone-vada.com (click on “accommodations”).

Training Announcement:Assessing Proper Functioning Condition of Riparian Areas

Several members of NCA met with new Department of Agriculture Di-rector, Tony Lesperance to discus issues pertaining to the livestock industry.

Members of the Sustainable Grazing Coalition gathered at the Nevada Rangeland Resources Commission meeting to renew their contract, and to secure funds for the future.

Meghan traveled to Ely to meet with Assembly Member Goicoechea, County Commissioner Eldridge, Gene Kolkman, Jeremy Drew, and a member of White Pine County Sheriff’s office to discuss upcoming legislation regarding OHV.

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President Gralian convened a confer-ence call with members from Loyn and Mineral county to get direction from potential impacted members regarding the lands bills, and pro-posed wilderness areas. This call gave NCA the direction it needed to proceed as the unified voice for the livestock industry.

NCA President Dan Gralian and Sam Hicks from NDF set up a fire liaison meeting to bring together ranchers and wildland fire fighters to open up discussion about the needs of one another, and to make sure that there is an open line of communication between everyone.

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What has NCA Done For You:

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SOn March 10th Richard Orr was hired by the Sustainable Grazing Coalition; comprised of the Nevada Farm Bureau, Department of Agriculture, Central Grazing Committee, and Nevada Cattlemen’s Association.

Rick was raised on a ranch in the Nebraska Sandhills where he was involved growing up and through high school with all aspects of ranching and ranch operations.

Rick graduated Rushville High School, Rushville, NE in 1971, and received a bachelor of Science Forestry-Range Manage-ment, University of Montana, 1976.

Rick’s career started and will most likely finish in Nevada. In 1977 Rick started his career as a Range Conservationist with the Las Vegas BLM and worked his way up to Assistant Field Manager in the Caliente BLM office. Not only has Rick worked for the BLM he has also spent 13 years with the NRCS both as a District Conservationist and Area Conservationist.

Along with his dedication to range management as a pro-fession Rick has been involved in: 4-H club member and club officer; FFA member and chapter officer; Compiled the Nevada Youth Range Judging Manual; NV Section Society for Range Management – Endowment Fund chair, Section President; In-ternational Society for Range Management; Currently elected to the International Society Board of Directors.

Rick says, “I feel we owe it to future generations to educate

everyone about their importance to sustaining us all. Through many years managing rangeland resources and working with others who manage rangelands, I realize that the greatest trav-esty isn’t the knowledge we have not gained, it’s the knowledge we have gained but haven’t been able to communicate in a manner that it can be actively applied or implemented on the ground

Rick’s position will be to act as a liaison on land management decisions. He will be commenting on as well as alerting permit-tees regarding, grazing permit renewals, EA, EIS, wilderness designations, and monitoring. Along with commenting Rick will also be a contact person for ranchers regarding these same issues. More information regarding his current activities will be coming shortly.

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On March 3, 2008, I walked bravely into my new position as Associate Professor in the Dept. of Animal Biotechnology at the University of Nevada, Reno knowing the expectations awaiting me were grand. I had been chosen as the first Donna Anderson Endowed Professor in Grazing and Rangeland Management - quite an honor. The late Donna Anderson provided a generous gift to the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Re-sources for the purpose of funding a scientist whose work would be directed toward maintaining the ranching tradition within the Great Basin through the improvement of rangeland man-agement. That responsibility now lies squarely on my shoulders and I am in the process of gaining information from folks who utilize Nevada rangelands for their livelihoods, but first let me introduce myself.

My name is Tamzen after my 6th generation grandmother Tamzen (Tamsen) Donner. I grew up on a farm near Grass Valley, CA where my family raised Angus cattle and Yorkshire hogs plus dryland wheat and walnuts. I realized as a young adult that the farm was not going to support more than one family and I desired to stay involved in the business of livestock production therefore I chose to attend college where I studied agricultural economics and rangeland management. I have spent the last 11 years at Oregon State University as a professor within the Rangeland Ecology and Management department. My teaching, research and outreach focus has included rangeland restoration, riparian management and restoration, prescription grazing to enhance sage grouse food sources and livestock nutrition on winter range to mention a few. My research locations were primarily located in the SE corner of Oregon, in other words the NW corner of the Great Basin. Nearly 100% of my research efforts have been in cooperation with private landowners, on their private lands, trying to answer questions of importance to rangeland livestock production and management. I have developed great friendships and working relationships within the ranching community in Oregon and I hope to do the same here in Nevada. I am excited to be located in the Great Basin – by far my favorite landscape – and I am ready to tackle issues facing rangeland management within this great state.

What I need from you is information. Many issues are facing the ranching community from endangered species to weeds to fire to drought etc. I would like to hear what you think are the top two or three issues needing research attention within Great Basin rangelands. My contact information is listed below and I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,Tamzen StringhamDept. of Animal Biotechnology M/S 202University of Nevada, Reno1664 N. Virginia StReno, NV 89557775-784-6755tstringham@cabnr.unr.edu

UNR’s New Livestock Production and Rangeland Management Scientist

Tamzen “Tam” StringhamWants To Hear From You!

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2008 NEVADA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONDeadline for all applications: April 30, 2008

NAME: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

PHONE: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

1.Pleaselisttheextra-curricularactivities,clubsandaffiliationsyouareinvolvedinandhowlongyou’vebeeninvolvedineachone.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What leadership roles have you held? ______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What are some of your hobbies/interests? ___________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.WhatisyourcurrentGPA?___________(EncloseOfficialTranscripts)

5. Do you work while going to school, and if so, where? _________________________________________________________________

6. What are your future goals? _____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This is a $1,000 scholarship offered by Nevada Cattlemen’s Association to all Nevada high school graduating seniors. The requirements for the scholarship are as follows:

You must plan to attend a junior college or a four-year univer-sity and plan to study in an agriculture field.

You must have at least a 2.5 GPA and submit official copy of transcripts.

You must submit three letters of reference from teachers.You must write an essay on any current issue involving the

beef industry. The typed essay must be at least 1000 words and

no more than 1500 words, plus referencesThe deadline for scholarship applications is April 30,

2008. Please fill out the attached form and send it with your essay

to: Nevada Cattlemen’s AssociationResearch and Education CommitteePO Box 310, Elko NV 89803775-738-9214nca@nevadabeef.org

REQUIREMENTS FOR 2008 NEVADA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

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Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. (775)867-2020 March 11, 2008

Sale Every Tuesday 11:00 am

Weight/Type Steer/Bull Price Heifer/Cow Price

300-400 105.00-132.00 90.00-120.00

400-500 104.00-131.00 90.00-118.00

500-600 100.00-125.00 85.00-107.00

600-700 86.00-109.00 80.00-91.50

700-800 83.00-92.10 70.00-88.50

800 & Over 70.00-80.00 70.00-80.00

Breaker Cows - Fat 44.00-47.50

Boner Cows - Medium 50.00-52.50

Cutter Cows - Lean 35.00-40.00

Feeder Cows 48.50-55.00

Butcher Bulls 53.50-61.25

Cutting Bulls 66.00-96.00

Shasta Livestock (530)347-3793March 14, 2008

Kevin Devine E-mail-wvm@wvmcattle.com Website-www.wvmcattle.com

Weight/Type Steer/Bull Price Heifer/Cow Price

300-400 lb. 134.00-143.00 xxxx-xxxx

400-450 lb. 125.00-134.50 110.00-125.00

450-500 lb. 120.00-137.00 110.00-125.00

500-550 lb. 120.00-130.00 108.00-117.00

550-600 lb. xxxx-xxxx 100.00-110.00

600-650 lb. 104.00-116.00 xxxx-xxxx

650-700 lb. 102.00-110.00 90.00-95.50

700-750 lb. xxxx-xxxx 87.00-92.50

750-800 lb. 88.00-95.60 xxxx-xxxx

800-900 lb. xxxx-xxxx xxxx-xxxx

Breaker Cows 49.00-53.00

Boner Cows 43.00-48.00

Cutter Cows n/a

Bulls 1 & 2 55.00-64.25

Pairs: Too few for market test. Calvy Cows: Too few to test.

Superior Livestock Auction Region 1-ID, OR, CA, NV March 7, 2008

Website-www.superiorlivestock.com

Cattle Type Weight Range Price

Steers 480-495 125.00-129.00

590-590 115.00-115.00

600-600 112.00-112.00

700-725 98.00-103.00

795-795 96.50-96.50

825-825 87.75-87.75

925-925 84.50-84.50

Heifers 495-495 118.00-118.00

590-590 108.00-108.00

640-640 98.00-98.00

710-710 90.00-90.00

Western Video Market — Price Report March 14, 2008

CONSIGNOR HEAD COUNT WT PRICE

HENDRIX RANCH 80 Weaned Steers

610 $114.00

MARTIN BUNYARD 75 Heifers 645 $96.00

F.M. FULSTONE, INC. 70 Heifers 695 $96.00

GALLAGHER LAND & LIVESTOCK

45/25 Wnd Strs/Heifers

725/660 $97.00 $93.00

CASSINELLI BROS. 60 Steers 790 $98.75

MARY’S RIVER RANCH 65 Steers 775 $98.00

MARY’S RIVER RANCH 55 Steers 890 $95.50

MARY’S RIVER RANCH 120 Heifers 800 $93.25

RICHARD BASS 63 Steers 825 $93.25

RICHARD BASS 63 Heifers 800 $88.85

JERRY & NANCY HARPER

55 Steers 880 $95.00

JERRY & NANCY HARPER

120 Steers 840 $96.50

JERRY & NANCY HARPER

120 Heifers 830 $91.00

JOHN ADAMS 60 Steers 800 $93.10

SANDHILL LIVESTOCK

110 Steers 900 $95.50

SPEAR S CATTLE CO.

35/21 Steers/Heifers

875/775 $92.85 $89.85

Reno (775) 825-7282 Elko (775) 738-8496 Yreka (530) 842-1304 Fallon (775) 423-3136 Alturas (530) 233-4304 Tulelake(530) 667-4236

or call toll free 800.800.4865 today. www.agloan.com

A Part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender.

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PLEASE CONSIDER THE SIZE OF YOUR MAILBOX, AS ONCE AGAIN AMERICAN AgCREDIT IS SENDING OUTSOME REALLY BIG CHECKS.

R

AAC_08CD_ProgressiveRancher_4.7511 3/6/20089:44:05AM

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The Winnemucca special event season went off with a roar earlier this month with the popular Ranch Hand Rodeo weekend.

February 28 through March 2, five fast-paced and fun events drew participants and spectators from numerous Western states and Canada; in all, more than 2,000 people packed the Winnemucca Events Complex.

The weekend included a Ranch, Rope and Per-formance Horse Sale, Stock Horse Challenge and Open Cow Dog Trial. A Western Trade Show got things started on Thursday, February 28, with over 60 vendors and plenty of fantastic buys.

The 19th annual Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo took place Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2. The action got un-derway Saturday morning with the traditional Calcutta auction of Ranch Hand teams.

This year drew 36 four-man/one-woman teams—34 from outside the Winnemucca area—whose mission it was to outdo the competition in seven events, including saddle bronc riding, cow mugging, calf roping, team branding, team roping, ranch doctoring and women’s breakaway. Each team competed in all the events; women had to compete in steer stopping and cow mugging.

Following fierce competition, it was Nevada Live-stock Marketing, Inc. of Fallon, Nevada, that walked away with first-prize winnings of $6,615 along with

Winnemucca Ranch Hand Rodeo Championship jackets.

Second place went to the Mackenzie Ranch of Jordan Valley, Oregon, with winnings of $5,103; the B Bar B Quarter Horses of Elko, Nevada, cap-

tured third place and $3,591 in winnings; fourth place and $2,268 in winnings went to the Eiguren Ranch of Jordan Valley, Oregon; and fifth place went to the Flying M Ranch from Imlay, Nevada, with $1,323 in winnings.

Daniel Norcutt was the lucky winner of the Calcutta with $5,645. Second place went to Tim DeLong for his

purchase of the Mackenzie Ranch Team; he walked away with $4,355. Richard Eiguren and Shadow Elordi bought the third-place B Bar B Quarter Horses Team as well as the fourth-place Eiguren Team. They won $3,064 and $1,935 respectively. Tim DeLong, who also bought the Flying M Ranch Team, took home fifth place and $1,129.

The competition was sponsored by the Agricultural District No. 3. Director Kim Petersen said this year’s Ranch Hand Ro-deo weekend was spectacular. “We had our highest registration

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19th Ranch Hand Rodeo Produces Big Competition, Big Cash Payouts

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numbers ever,” he said. “The Ranch Hand Rodeo continues to get stronger every year, and the addition of these other great events has made this a true event season opener.”

The Ranch Hand Rodeo weekend used to round out the event season in September. “Our move to March has made all the dif-ference,” said Petersen. “By March, folks are going stir-crazy; they’re ready to get out and see some action.”

Petersen said that kind of “action” would be impossible without the Winnemucca Event Center. “This rodeo is just one more good example of how that center is changing the way we do business,” said Petersen. “Before it was built, there was no way we could have enjoyed a show like this in early March, and our local businesses could not have enjoyed the extra influx of income.”

Petersen, along with the entire rodeo committee, thanked the many volunteers and sponsors who helped make the Ranch Hand Rodeo weekend a success. Ranch Hand Rodeo results follow:

Ranch Hand Team Winners:First Place: Nevada Livestock Marketing, Inc. (Fallon, NV)

$6,615 – Darrel Norcutt, Jack Payne, Billy Finks, Buddy Blosser and Rosie Bliss. Points: 40

Second Place: Mackenzie Ranch (Jordan Valley, OR) $5,103 – Ryan Mackenzie, Sam Mackenzie, Josh Mackenzie, Josh Bruce and Lacey Matteson. Points: 32

Third Place: B Bar B Quarter Horses (Elko, NV) - $3,591 – Mark Eldridge, Marlow Eldridge, John Schutte, Hanes Holman and Audrey Eldridge. Points: 30.5

Fourth Place: Eiguren Ranch (Jordan Valley, OR) $2,268 - Richard Eiguren, Mike Eiguren, Jason Eiguren, Shawn Lequerica and Jane Eiguren. Points: 30

Fifth Place: Flying M Ranch (Imlay, NV) - $1,323 – Tim DeLong, T.J. Thompson, D.W. Fowler, Jess Eary and Rita Fowler. Points: 26

Winners of the Calcutta:First Place: $5,645– Darrel Norcutt bought the Nevada

Livestock Team.

Second Place: $4,355 – Tim DeLong bought the Mackenzie Ranch Team.

Third Place: $3,064 – Richard Eiguren and Shadow Elordi bought the B Bar B Quarter Horses Team.

Fourth Place: $1,935 – Richard Eiguren and Shadow Elordi bought the Eiguren Team.

Fifth Place: $1,129 - Tim DeLong bought the Flying M Ranch Team.

Individual Event Winners:Saddle Bronc: Ryan Mackenzie, Mackenzie Ranch, Score 76

Team Roping: Nevada Livestock Marketing Inc. – Darrel Norcutt and Billy Finks – Faster Time: 7.22

Calf Roping: Jeff Garijo, DeLong Ranches - Time: 15.60

Women’s Steer Stopping: Kassi Venturacci, Venturacci Livestock - Time: 5.59

Wild Mugging: B Bar B Quarter Horses Team - Time 40.03

Team Branding: B Bar B Quarter Horses Team - Time: 3:37:50

Ranch Doctoring: C Lazy L Ranch – Time: 43.91 (Nathan Kelly Sr., Nathan Kelly Jr., Robert Crutcher and Asher Freeman)

Top Hand Award: (Given in memory of John & Dutch Zabala and present by Ray Zabala) Jack Payne, Nevada Livestock Marketing, Inc. - 34 points

2008 Ranch Hand Rodeo Teams:B Bar B Quarter Horses, Elko

B Team, Alturas, CABlossom Ranch, Owyhee

C 7 Ranch, Weiser, IDC Lazy L Ranch, Owyhee

Coleman Cattle Co., Harper, ORDave Stix Livestock, Fallon

Dave Wood Ranches, BridgeportDavison Ranch, Caldwell, ID

DeLong Ranches, WinnemuccaEiguren Ranch, Jordan Valley, OR

Eliason/Taylor Ranch, St. AnthonyFlying M Ranch, ImlayGS Bar Ranch, Carlin

HS Ranch, Paradise ValleyJ3T Inc., Gooding, ID

Lazy S Ranches, YeringtonLee Ranches, Fallon

Lee Stock Horses & Livestock, FallonMackenzie Ranch, Jordan ValleyMartinez Cowboys, Winnemucca

Nevada Livestock Marketing, FallonNevada Star, Fallon

Quarter Circle CH, WinnemuccaR-Arrow, Round Mountain

Rocking R Team, Bruneau, IDSlash Y Cattle Co., Wellington

Sligar Ranch Team, Spring CreekStewart Ranch, Haines, ORTanner Ranch, Rogerson, IDThe B Flat, Battle Mountain

Tulle Land & Lvstk, Wendle, CAVan Norman Ranch, Tuscarora

Venturacci Livestock, FallonVillagrana Ranch, Vale, ORWolf & 6D Ranches, Fallon

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Nevada Department of Agriculture

Has New DirectorDr. Anthony Lesperance from Paradise Valley, Nevada has been

appointed Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDOA). Dr. Lesperance was selected for the job by Governor Jim Gibbons and appointed by NDOA’s board. The former Director, Donna Rise, resigned her position after 7 months. Dr. Lesper-ance will serve as Director on an interim basis of undetermined length.

NDOA’s new Director has lived in Nevada since 1957 when, af-ter graduating from California Polytechnic State University went to work as a ranch hand at the Fairfield Ranch. Later he earned a Masters degree in Range Livestock Nutrition from the University of Nevada, and holds a doctorate in Animal Nutrition, Ecology, and Biochemistry from Oregon State University.

Dr. Lesperance was a Professor of Animal and Range Science at the College of Agriculture, University of Nevada until 1984. After that he owned and operated a successful agricultural busi-ness in Elko, Nevada where in 1996 he was elected a County Commissioner. In 2000, Dr. Lesperance and his wife purchased a small cattle ranch in Paradise Valley, Nevada where they cur-rently reside.

“I have always believed in a team approach in management and problem solving,” Lesperance said. “The Nevada Department of Agriculture has an excellent staff that I am already enjoying working with,” he added.

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April 2008 11Sage Signals

CHECK-OFF DOLLARS IN VEGASYour check-off dollars really went to work in Las Vegas, NV for the

International Hospitality Week Trade Show and Culinary Challenge. Well over 30,000 business men and women visited the International Restaurant Show, Night Club and Bar Show and the Coffee and Tea Expo.

The Nevada Beef Council (along with the support from NCBA’s Beef Board’s Federation and Lido Veal and Lamb, Inc.) had a corner booth that featured the goodness of beef, but also featured the four “new” cuts of veal that were created from the chuck. The “new” cuts were presented as cooked plate presentations for the restaurant trade and they received a lot of interest for additional menu ideas from the attending chefs.

The Nevada Beef Council also sponsored a culinary challenge from the top chefs in the nation. The meat of choice was veal racks, in which the chefs had to make four cooked plate presentations for the famed judge’s professional evaluation.

CHECK-OFF and BEEF RECALL INFORMATION

Kim Essex, vice president of communications at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association- which coordinated and delivered the response for the Beef Check-off Program-was featured in a satellite media tour and appeared in more than 100 TV news reports nation-wide, notably on NBC’s “Today” show and the Fox Business Channel. The safety message she delivered to consumers reached upwards of 14 million viewers. Dr. James “Bo” Reagan, vice president of re-search and knowledge management, was featured in dozens of print publications and online media, notably in an Associated Press article that gained considerable nationwide pickup and an op-ed piece in the Kansas City Star. Other major newspapers quoting Dr. Reagan include the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post and Los Angles Times.

A third party expert spokesperson, Janey Thornton, Director of

Child Nutrition Association for Hardin County Schools in Elizabeth-town, KY and past president of the School Nutrition Association, also was featured in dozens of TV reports nationwide.

The check-off program has issued nine Issue Advisories and Issue FYI reports to state beef councils, providing critical information tools and resources, including reports about USDA actions, mes-sages and talking points, media statements, fact sheets, draft letters to the editor and template letters to send to school districts regard-ing beef safety. Media training was made available for state spokes-people in preparation for interviews and national staff worked with states to develop state-specific communications.

Thanks to check-off efforts, 425 retailers also received an e-news-letter sharing a media statement and resources to respond to con-sumer questions. In addition, a consumer hotline with a recorded beef industry message and referrals to additional information sources was set up and a fact sheet about the Hallmark recall posted on www.beefsafety.org

BEEF BACKER AWARD “AWARD OF MERIT”

When you visit Yerington, NV check out their award hanging proudly at Dini’s Casino and Casino West. Ormachea’s Dinner House in Winnemucca proudly displays their award and in Elko, Roy’s Mar-ket is an honoree as well as the Star Restaurant and Machi’s. Don Noorda of Wells received his award for his educational skills and producing top placing FFA teams at the national Meats Evaluation contest.

As a producer, do you have a business or person that should be honored? The categories are; restaurants, meat shops, dairy, meat processor, abattoir or an educational institution or person that is a strong supporter of BEEF. To receive an application, go to www.beef.org or contact the beef council and one will be mailed to you.

CHECKOFF NEWSApril 2008

NEVADA BEEF COUNCIL201 S. Roop Street Suite 101 • Carson City, NV 89701

Phone: 775-841-6224 • Fax: 775-883-7398 • e-mail: bbutler@nevadabeef.org

Nevada Beef Council’s booth at the Las Vegas mega hospitality trade show that was viewed by over 30,000 food service profes-sionals.

Roy Herr, owner of Roy’s Market (Elko) and his meat manager are proudly displaying their Beef Backer “AWARD OF MERIT” Award on their meat counter for all to see.

PRSRT STDUS Postage

PAIDElko, NV

Permit No. 138

stabilization and rehabilitation of burn areas.”Unfortunately, ranchers are unable to utilize livestock grazing

for burn rehabilitation purposes, because current policy states that livestock are to be excluded from burned areas until monitor-ing results, documented in writing, show emergency stabilization and rehabilitation objectives have been met. We need the flex-ibility to use grazing as a tool in the rehabilitation process. This policy change also needs to be followed down into the local Resources Management Plans (RMP) giving the local offices the authority to make positive resource change happen.

Dan told the Governor that one of the ways that we can stop this cycle is to have better fire detection across the state when lightning storms pass through. In many counties across the state there is only one plane that flies to spot fires and when it does become assigned to that fire that leaves the rest of the county with undetected fires. The Governor agreed that this is an issue and would like to have NCA look into the cost of such a program and help make sure that it can get funded in the next legislative session.

Along with a productive meeting with the Governor, the Presi-dent of the association and Executive Director traveled to Boise Idaho to meet with several other Presidents of Western cattle-men’s associations. At this meeting several specific topics were discussed with the over arching theme of coordination of efforts among cattlemen’s associations. Several topics that were covered included sage grouse, animal welfare, Checkoff, and wolves.

The meeting allowed members from different states dealing with the same problems to connect and collaborate possible solu-tions and creative ideas of dealing with these issues. Members

from Idaho Cattlemen’s Association brought everyone together and had different members and state officials report on different happenings within the state on issues that were happening across the west. Members of Nevada Cattlemen’s Association were able to learn about how different states were attacking the same is-sues, as well as share what has happened in our state.

Although the meeting ended, the collaboration between the states did not. This meeting was the foundation for cattle asso-ciations across the west to begin to work together more on issues that affect us all. One of the first actions of the group is on animal welfare and promoting BQA and animal husbandry skills. The group decided that we need to tell our story of how we care for our animals and care for their well-being. This letter will be sent out to the general public media.

One of the last things on the horizon for many cattlemen in the upcoming months is the annual Spring Conference in Washington DC. Several members from NCA are traveling to Washington to speak with our congressional members regarding issues that are important to our state and to our industry. Some of the topics that are going to be discussed include: fire, wild horses, beef qual-ity, county land bills, and water.

Although the trip will only last a few days the discussions and networking will help the cattlemen make contacts that will last all year, and potentially help make positive actions happen in our state.

The work of NCA does not stop with the topics that I listed here. Know that the association works hard every day to represent the ranchers in this state.

Spring Projects at the NCA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1