Grass Fed - Grain Finished

A couple months ago, I was in Washington DC delivering a presentation on beef to personal chefs on behalf of beef producers across the country with Daren Williams from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. There was a participant telling me they had seen a label on beef that said "grass fed - grain finished".  That would explain a majority of the beef produced in the US, but it's worth a little more with a sticker. Don't you think?

That makes a good story for the lead into tonight's thank you.  My appreciation has grown for an employee of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association - Daren Williams. Daren instructed a media training Jake and I attended a few years ago and then encouraged us to take the free online course to receive or MBA.  We have had the opportunity to work with him on several occasions and it surprises me more and more that this man, travels the country advocating for the beef producers of America. In fact he spends a majority of his time traveling.  I enjoy advocating on behalf of beef producers, however I love my husband, girls and my own bed.  I also find airports, large crowds of people and mass transportation intimidating.

Daren has made sacrifices on behalf of beef producers everywhere. It is hard for me to understand why someone with no money invested (that I know of) in cows, cattle, feed yards, pasture or any other part of the beef industry, has dedicated so much of his life to the beef community. I am sure he misses his girls and wife and probably his home as he travels, but he does so anyway.  The beef checkoff and great people like Daren are becoming more instrumental for our survival as beef producers.  Tonight I am sending a big thank you to Daren for your unwavering commitment to the beef industry and for your family allowing you to travel so much on our behalf.