Summer Convention and Everything in Between

by Rose Wendel

Yes I knowwwwww, I’m finally making up for weeks of craziness hopefully through three blogs in a row.

Nothing gets a group of ranchers more excited than biosecurity and necropsy reports, and the tour of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory certainly delivered. We saw high-tech tools, disease surveillance systems, and enough biological samples to make you want to double-check your herd’s vaccination records. The lab staff walked us through brucellosis studies and how they’re moving forward.

Beef Checkoff Breakdown: Marketing Isn’t Just Billboards Anymore

Later, I sat in on the Marketing Meeting, where they broke down where those $1-per-head contributions go from the Beef Checkoff! Spoiler: it’s not just TV commercials anymore. We’re talking digital campaigns, influencer outreach (yes, cowfluencers are real), nutrition research, and teaching urban consumers that ground beef is not just “burger meat.”

Panels, Policy & People-Watching

As always, the convention featured policy panels where passionate producers debated everything from land use to cattle markets and where someone inevitably brings up wolves (it’s tradition). But between sessions, the hallway conversations were just as good: lots of coffee, plenty of firm handshakes, and enough boot scuffing on hotel carpet to warrant a vacuum truck.

Banquet

At the evening banquet, there were speeches by Governor Mark Gordon and his First Lady. An endowment fund for another intern was started to honor Jim Magagna as well!

Final Thoughts

If you also left this year’s convention feeling inspired, informed, and maybe a little tired, you’re not alone. Whether you came to network, nerd out about veterinary science, or just wanted to see if anyone was selling alfalfa seed at a discount, this year’s event was another showing of what Wyoming ranching is all about: resilience, innovation, community, and humor that’s just a little bit dry.

Until next time! Keep your cattle healthy, your calves growing, and your caffeine addiction at bay.

Peace,

Rose Wendel