Miranda Skaggs of Bryan, Texas and Emmie Bertoni of Yoakum, Texas join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share about their experience this past summer at the inaugural Cattle Raisers Roundup. The group of – 15 youth from across the state of Texas spent five days touring all aspects of the cattle industry including TCU Ranch Management, R.A. Brown Ranch, Texas Tech University Red Raider Meats, H-E-B, Lubbock Impact, Caviness Packers, Bar G Feedyard, Wrangler Feedyard, Timber Creek Veterinarian H...
Dec 05, 2022•19 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In episode 34 of TSCRA Talk, host Kristen Brown visits with 92 year-old Jimmie Powell of Fort McKavett. Powell shares stories of working cattle horseback from a young age out of necessity during the war. He tells of riding his pony and training horses as he got older. Additionally, Powell talks of how ranching has changed over the years and the importance of being involved with agriculture organizations and specifically the legislative aspect. Thank you to our sponsor, the Texas Department of Ag...
Nov 09, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Chad McNutt, co-founder of Livestock Wx, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, for a high-level discussion on drought. A biologist by trade, McNutt has experience working for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a livestock background to provide cattle raisers valuable insight on the situation. McNutt shares the duration of a drought is key as it impacts grass production, soil moisture and tank levels. He offers comments on the current situation in Texas, with a dry spring and sum...
Oct 03, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Hannah Fuerniss, manager of nutrition and health with the Texas Beef Council, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the role of beef in a balanced diet. Fuerniss discusses the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a joint report from USDA and the Health and Human Services Department, which is meant for nutrition and health professionals who can then make decisions and recommendations with the intention of improving overall health for individuals and family in the U.S. She shares that ther...
Aug 30, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Coleman Locke and his son, John Locke, of the J.D. Hudgins ranch in Hungerford, TX join TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss operating a multi-generational ranch. As a fifth-generation family member at the ranch, Coleman likens working with different generations of family to a marriage – communication is vital. John, who is part of the sixth generation working on the ranch, says that succession and transition of the business is one of the biggest challenges in agriculture. He encourages li...
Aug 01, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Jay Evans, chair of the TSCRA water subcommittee, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, with an update on important topics for cattlemen and landowners concerning water. Evans starts by commenting that drought tends to put a spotlight on water and the need for clean, usable water. He talks about the Texas Produced Water Consortium formed during the 2019 Texas Legislative Session, which is focused on studies to use produced water, and the conversations around the ownership of the groundwater. Add...
Jun 30, 2022•23 min•Season 3Ep. 6
In episode 29 of TSCRA Talk, Brent Smith, Kinney County Attorney and third-generation rancher, joins host, Kristen Brown, to share his experience both personally and professionally with the crises on the border. Smith describes the current state in the county as an active invasion with the high-speed smuggling cases, bailouts and helicopters flying day and night trying to apprehend illegal immigrants. He notes that the border patrol’s report for the month of April included 234,000 apprehensions ...
May 25, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Jon DeClerck, a cattle consulting nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the planning that goes into a successful breeding season. DeClerck highlights the fact that reproduction is the number one factor that effects profitability at the ranch. He discusses having the right nutrition available for cows throughout the year to increases the opportunity for the cow to be successfully bred and raise her calf. When it comes to bulls, he encourages a ...
Apr 26, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 4
AgriLife Extension assistant professor and economist Justin Benavidez joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the ins and outs of selling beef directly to consumers. He shares that there are risks and rewards for producers who engage in the direct selling process, which he goes into detail about through the conversation. Benavidez recommends starting with a business plan that first outlines the goals of the producer in order for success to be measured and to ensure the production model ...
Mar 30, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 3
TSCRA Special Ranger Marvin Wills joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to share a few of his most memorable cases over the last 14 years, as well as tips to prevent cattlemen from becoming the victim of a crime. Wills explains the importance of staying vigilant with livestock and property, which includes keeping a record of all equipment VIN numbers and having contracts on all partnerships. He stresses the importance of knowing your neighbors–have their phone number and contact them if somethin...
Feb 28, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Dr. Ben Espy, a veterinarian with an extensive equine-focused practice, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss equine wellness tips. In addition to being the King Ranch veterinarian, Espy cares for professional roughstock and timed event horses. For 25 years, he has served as the head of veterinary services at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. He was awarded the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association's Veterinarian of the Year award for 2021. Espy discusses the importance of a vaccination pr...
Jan 25, 2022•16 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Sustainability expert Myriah Johnson joins TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown to discuss three components that make up the broad scope of sustainability — environmental, economics and social. Later in the conversation, Johnson shares about ongoing research to continue to strive for improvement in terms of sustainability. Digging deeper into the environmental pillar of sustainability, Johnson explains it includes greenhouse gases, water, ecosystems but, often, each topic overlaps with another pillar. ...
Dec 18, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Jeremy Fuchs, director of policy communications and government relations at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, joins TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown to discuss the legislative happenings in 2021. Fuchs shares that the second and third special legislative session in Texas produced productive funding for border security and COVID relief funds to help with rural broadband infrastructure and rural hospitals. Redistricting was an important component and Fuchs says with the growing pop...
Nov 23, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith joins TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown to discuss Chronic Wasting Disease, or CWD. Smith shares the background on CWD being identified in the state of Texas and the monitoring taking place through both mandatory and voluntary testing. He says early detection and containment are vital to prevent the disease from being spread. With the value hunting brings to rural land, Smith says that it is important that landowners know that their...
Oct 26, 2021•18 min•Ep. 10
Justin Sexten, farm boy turned ranch tech expert, joins TSCRA Talk host Kristen Brown to discuss utilizing technology at the ranch. Sexten says the best advancements provide the user with a simpler experience, saving them time. He says technology offers a lot of opportunity in converting data points into usable information to visualize in a valuable way, ultimately leading to making fact-based decisions no matter the size or scope of your operation. For cattlemen who are already collecting data ...
Sep 24, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode, Radale Tiner joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss buying and selling at seedstock cattle sales. For cattlemen in the market for bulls, Tiner recommends knowing what your end goal is with the calves that will be produced and make a game plan accordingly. Tiner also recommends communicating with the seedstock producer as they will want to help their customers be successful in finding the bull that is going to best fit the operation and the producer's goals. On the prod...
Sep 01, 2021•19 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Jeff Goodwin, conservation stewardship leader and senior pasture and range consultant with the Noble Research Institute , joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss regenerative ranching. Goodwin explains it is the process of restoring the degraded grazing lands using practices based on ecological principles. He shares how both ecology and economics flourish jointly on the ranch. Additionally, Goodwin explains the importance of the right mindset — seeing opportunities where a challenge onc...
Jul 23, 2021•16 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Risk management analyst Casey Mabry joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss basics of risk management for cattlemen. On the episode he discusses tools for managing risk looking at both the downside and the upside of the market. A key factor he says is building a plan and then working through the plan with a long-term vision in place, which helps keep emotions from taking over. Mabry goes on to explain Livestock Risk Protection insurance, which is underwritten by USDA, protect downside r...
Jun 25, 2021•21 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Texas Beef Council Executive Vice President Molly McAdams joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss consumer trends over the past 15 months (and share which ones are sticking around). McAdams shares that during the pandemic consumers were learning to cook at home and turned to their online platforms for information. She explains how the Texas Beef Council team focuses on meeting consumers where they are with the information they are seeking. As sustainability continues to be top-of-mind f...
May 24, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Texas AgriLife Extension Agricultural Law Specialist Tiffany Lashmet joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the importance of properly setting up a hunting lease. Lashmet shares a variety of topics that need to be included in the written hunting lease as well as who needs to sign the lease. Landowner liability protection is another important factor when it comes to having people on the land, according to Lashmet. "You never think it will happen to you.” Lashmet says, “And the odds are ...
Apr 26, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 4
More than 7,000 bills have been filed for the 87th legislative session in Texas this year. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Director of Government Relations Kaleb McLaurin joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss top priorities for TSCRA as well as how COVID-19 has shifted many aspects of the session. The conversation covers eminent domain, rural broadband, animal import/export facilities, truth in labeling, farm animal liability act as well as other legislation. Additio...
Mar 26, 2021•20 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Dr. Richard Thorpe is an emergency room physician, rancher and past president of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. He joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, this month to discuss the scientific data that proves beef does fit into a healthy diet. Thorpe gives insight into the history of inaccurate information surrounding beef and how it was perpetuated through dietary guidelines. A wealth of knowledge, he also shares how there has been great progress over the last decade showing...
Feb 26, 2021•23 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Scott Williamson, TSCRA's executive director of law enforcement, brand and inspection services, joins host Kristen Brown to discuss the importance of a “neighborhood watch” mentality at the ranch. Williamson says all eyes and ears are required when it comes to preventing theft of livestock and equipment. A valuable component is knowing your neighbors and making a phone call to them when something appears out of the ordinary. Additionally, establishing a relationship with local authorities includ...
Jan 20, 2021•15 min•Season 2Ep. 1
When it comes to marketing calves, the first thing that likely comes to mind is the price. But as Dan Childs, senior agricultural economics consultant at the Noble Research Institute, shares in the December 2020 episode of TSCRA Talk, there are several other factors to consider. Childs visits with podcast host Kristen Brown about the Livestock Risk Protection program, preconditioning calves and the value of knowing the genetic potential of the calves. Additionally, they talk through learning mom...
Dec 16, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Amanda Radke joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss beef advocacy and connecting with consumers. Radke discusses the importance of being an authentic and transparent resource for people to learn more about beef. As an author of children’s books that show the factual side of agriculture, she talks about the opportunity to engage with even the youngest of audiences to talk about agriculture. A seasoned veteran of sharing the story of cattle and beef, Radke gives advice on joining the con...
Nov 17, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Brian and Morgan Treadwell of Christoval, Texas, join host Kristen Brown to discuss prescribed burning as a management practice. Brian and his dad, John, recently won the Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award at the Cattle Raisers Virtual Convention. In this episode, Brian talks about the importance of using the tool of fire to regenerate the land as well as his experience performing prescribed burns across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Additionally, Morgan brings a wealth of knowledge as an...
Oct 26, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Attorney Jim Bradbury shares insight with host, Kristen Brown, into the hot topic of eminent domain. He shares how the process begins, the importance of the landowner engaging and negotiating, and tips during the construction phase. Additionally, Bradbury talks about the role of the state of Texas in eminent domain. Closing out the episode, Jeremy Fuchs, TSCRA’s director of public affairs, emphasizes the need to refine the process with the state. He talks about the importance of TSCRA members an...
Sep 22, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 9
TSCRA Special Ranger Marvin Wills joins host, Kristen Brown, to talk about catching one of the most notorious cattle thieves of modern times, Willie Rittenbaugh. Wills talks in-depth about bringing Rittenbaugh to justice after a total of five charges ending in 37 years in prison and $588,500 to be paid by Rittenbaugh in restitution to the victims. Later, he provides tips that will keep you from becoming a victim. Closing out this episode, TSCRA's Michele Woodham talks Cattle Raisers Insurance, i...
Aug 25, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Jeff Geider, director of Texas Christian University’s Institute of Ranch Management, joins TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, to discuss the “portfolio” approach to ranch management. He describes the method as “the art and science of selecting and overseeing a group of assets and resources to meet long-term objectives.” Additionally, Geider discusses natural resource management and grazing systems more in-depth with the TCU Living Laboratory. Basic principles of grazing management, soil management,...
Jul 24, 2020•19 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Stan Bevers, founder and owner of Ranch KPI and practitioner in Ranch Economics at the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management, talks through the importance of keeping accurate, detailed records at the ranch. Bevers and TSCRA Talk host, Kristen Brown, cover accounting systems that include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement, cash flow sheet and projected cash flow. Having a system in place and the operations projected plan is beneficial to make education decisions during times of volati...
Jun 25, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 6
