Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast

CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur shares are the current legislative session so far. Hear about CCA's two sponsored bills and other bills the government affairs team is watching. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

On this episode we hear about the California Beef Council’s Pasture to Plate Beef Tour, which is an in-depth experience that immerses participants in the beef lifecycle production process and engages foodservice, retail, and nutrition professionals. CBC Director of Retail and Foodservice Marketing Christie Van Egmond and CBC Manager, of Producer Education and Engagement Makenzie Coveau explain the...

Early on Thursday morning, the One, Big Beautiful Bill progressed out of the House. Just hours later, Sorting Pen host Katie Roberti got to sit down with Ethan Lane, head of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's office in Washington, D.C, to discuss what's in the bill, NCBA's success on it, and what's ahead for this legislation.  On this episode, Katie and Ethan also...

It is our 100th episode of Sorting Pen ! To celebrate, we are launching our first episode in a new series on this podcast focused on “Sorting Through Stories with California Ranching Legends.” Starting with this interview, a couple of times a year, Sorting Pen host Katie Roberti will sit down with some of the great cattlemen and women in the West to hear their ranching stories, lessons, and more....

On May 15, the California Fish and Game Wildlife Resources Committee will meet in Sacramento and consider changing a rule to restrict the ability to take any number of coyotes at any time. CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins this episode to share how this conversation started back in January at a Fish and Game committee hearing, detail what has happened since that hea...

Two board members from the Livestock Marketing Association join this Sorting Pen episode to share why they, LMA and their members are working hard to help create opportunities for their customers, ranchers and farmers, through their producer profitability initiative.  Back on the show is LMA's Western Director Jake Parnell—who is also a California cattle producer and owner of Cattlemen’s Live...

In this episode, Steve Lambert, a rancher from Butte County, shares his journey and insights as one of CCA's Second Vice Presidents. Tune in to learn more about Steve’s dedication to serving agriculture at local, state, and national levels, and hear why he continues to stay involved in these organizations. Katie and Steve also dive into the value of CCA, with a special focus on the important...

Representing California’s 34 Assembly District, we visited Assemblymember Tom Lackey in his office. On this episode, he shares with us about issues that are top of mind right now for California legislators. We also talk about how Asm. Lackey has partnered with CCA throughout his time in office. Hear about the bill he is helping CCA run this year, and why he believes ranchers are important voices t...

There are two issues that came up at this year's CattleCon that we highlight on this episode of Sorting Pen: trade & taxes. In this conversation hear from past CCA President Tony Toso, who is now chair of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) International Trade Committee.  Later in the episode we hear from NCBA’s Associate Director of Government Affairs Kelsea Kemp...

On this episode we have three experts joining us to talk about biosecurity. From UC Davis and University of California Ag and Natural Resources, we have Dr. Gaby Maier and Dr. Lais Costa sharing their expertise. We are also fortunate to have Dr. Julia Herman from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association share her national perspectives on the importance of biosecurity. Episode Resources:   To watc...

What happened in Point Reyes? Why are 11 ranching families leaving early next year? There are many questions you may have about the news that came about a month ago. This story is complex. It can be difficult to track and understand the full picture. To answer some of our questions and share his knowledge of the conflict Kevin Lunny, a rancher who has been in the park his entire life, joins us on...

There are many questions following the tragic wildfires in Los Angeles. How did the wildfires in Los Angeles get to this point? Could more have been done prior to prevent this level of catastrophe? Where does CCA and the CCA Fire Subcommittee go from here in advocating for more action on prevention?  Those questions and more are answered on this episode by Anthony Stornetta, a San Luis Obispo Coun...

Longtime Sierra Valley cattle rancher Rick Roberti has the reins as CCA President for the next two years. On this first episode of 2025, hear about his background, how he joined the officer team, why he is honored to serve in this leadership position and more.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

CCA just wrapped up our 108th Annual Convention full of great speakers. On this episode hear from one of them, as National Cattlemen's Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall is our guest on this final episode of Sorting Pen Season 4. Listen as Colin shares about the status of the Farm Bill, how NCBA feels about some of the nominations that have been made by the incoming Administration, why taxes...

California Beef Council Director of Food & Nutrition Outreach Kori Dover and host, Katie Roberti share about CBC's engagement and efforts to promote beef at the California School Nutrition Conference in the middle of November. Learn what the conference entails, why it is important CBC invests in showing up at this conference annually, and how exhibiting at this event gives CBC the opportu...

Los Angeles County cattle rancher and CCA member Mike Williams is the current chair of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, a national organization with a mission to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement of sustainability across the U.S. beef value chain. On this episode, Mike explains what the purpose of the Roundtable is, how he got involved, who makes up the leadership of...

Dr. Ken Tate, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Rangeland Management and Dr. Tina Saitone, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Livestock and Rangeland Economics, share about the wolf research in California they have been working on the last three years. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

On this final legislative recap episode of the year, hear CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur explain how CCA's priorities in the 2023-2024 Legislative Session shook out now that the Governor’s deadline to act on all bills has come and gone.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

Dr. J.J. Goicoechea , a Nevada rancher and the Director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, answers questions ranchers may have about the new USDA traceability rule going into effect on Nov. 5.  Hear why J.J. believes this change to make tags electronically readable, not just visually readable, needed to happen, and more about traceability in this episode. Episode Resources: Visit calcattleme...

California dairyman and CCA Feeder Council Vice Chair Jack Hoekstra talks with Katie about what concerns and opportunities are top of mind for California dairy producers almost three quarters into the year. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

In this episode, California Cattle Council Executive Director Justin Oldfield explains why 10% of the Council's annual budget is put into a response fund, of which dollars are only deployed if an emergency or a potentially significant disruption to California's cattle industry arises. Hear how this response fund is proving to be vital and about the special educational campaign it is curr...

This episode is focused on getting everyone up to speed on a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act. It is a law that was passed in 2021 and is now being enforced, with deadlines quickly approaching—which if you miss could result in  extreme fines. If your farm or ranch has 20 or fewer employees, is structured as a corporation, LLC, or filed registration paperwork with the secretary of stat...

This November California voters will see a $10 Billion Climate Bond on their ballots. CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur shares about the win teased in the prior episode—keeping funding for alternative protein research and development out of the Climate Bond.  In this part two episode, also hear Kirk share about some of the aspects CCA members may be pleased to see include...

CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur outlines a few of the most important wins CCA has secured in the last few months for California's cattle producers and ranching families. In this part one of two episodes hear about CCA's success in: Stopping two very problematic water rights bills that were introduced at the beginning of this Legislative Session Securing dollar...

In 1998, members from the California Cattlemen’s Association joined together to form the California Rangeland Trust (CRT). Now over 25 years later, CRT has permanently protected close to 400,000 acres. To discuss CRT's goal's and explain what conservation easements are, CRT Chief Executive Officer Michael Delbar and Vice Chair of CRT's Board of Directors Clayton Koopmann, join Katie...