Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast

On this episode, Jake Parnell makes his debut on Sorting Pen to discuss Western Video Market’s recent restructuring, give an outlook on the July WVM sale and discuss the importance of auction yards. Jake recently became president and chair of the board for Western Video Market. He is also a professional auctioneer, owner and president of Cattlemen's Livestock Market, co-owner of Parnell Dicki...

Tom DeJarnette is a retired Navy SEAL Captain and was recently a guest speaker at CCA's Feeder Meeting a few weeks ago. Before speaking to attendees at the event, Tom sat down with Sorting Pen Host Katie Roberti and CCA's Feeder Council Chair Mike Sulpizio for this episode to share about his presentation and perspectives on leadership. Hear some of the takeaways he shares from his 26-yea...

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane is back on the podcast to discuss what the current focuses are in Washington D.C. At time of recording on Thursday, May 23, the House Agriculture Committee was marking up the Farm Bill, which was passed later that evening . Hear Ethan discuss the Farm Bill process, give insights on what the rest o...

Assemblymember Gregg Hart joined the California Legislature last January. In that time he's gone out of his way to work with CCA's government affairs team and get to know ranchers. On this episode of Sorting Pen, get to know Assemblymember Hart. Hear about the priority issues he is working on in Sacramento, how he shares about rural issues and needs with other legislators from more urban...

Earlier this week, Central Valley Meat Holding Company announced it has entered an agreement to purchase the Cargill Meat Solutions beef processing facility in Fresno, Calif.  Brian Coelho, CEO and President of Central Valley Meat, joins CCA's Katie Roberti to talk through this new acquisition and what it may mean for California’s beef industry. Background: Central Valley Meat is a diversifie...

“Today, Sonoma County Family Farmers are under attack," Sonoma County Farm Bureau's website says.  "A ballot measure is being proposed by an animal extremist group from Berkeley, CA, aimed to eliminate Sonoma County’s diverse animal agriculture production." This episode of Sorting Pen discusses what the ballot measure is, the potential impacts, and how to support Sonoma County...

With dairy cattle testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza for the first time a few weeks ago, this episode is to give California beef producers an update on the situation.  Joining Katie to have this conversation and talk through what producers should know about the virus, current industry concerns, how it is being monitored and more is Dr. Tom Talbot, veterinarian and cattle ranche...

Since December, San Diego County cattle rancher John Austel has served as a CCA Second Vice President. In this episode, learn more about John, the unique perspective he brings to the officer team, and his time as a CCA officer so far. John also shares about the experience of running his regenerative, natural Angus herd on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Ecological Reserve Rancho Jam...

CCA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins Katie for this year's first CCA legislative update on the podcast.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

Assemblymember Jim Wood was elected to California’s Assembly 10 years ago to serve the North Coast. In that time, he has become a good friend of CCA's. In this conversation, hear why Asm. Wood has a kinship for cattle ranching, why he loves CCA's Steak & Eggs Breakfast, about the handful of priorities he's worked on in the legislature that positively impact ranchers and more.  T...

Have you ever worried about the mental health of someone you love or know in a rural area? You're not alone. On this episode, Vice President of Communications for Rural Minds Julie Lux, shares about the mental health emergency America's rural communities are facing and provides resources to help be part of the solution to this crisis. Learn about the Rural Mental Health Resilience Progra...

NCBA’s Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Policy Rebecca Barnett joins Katie at the 2024 CattleCon in Orlando. Rebecca grew up in Adin, Calif. and attended UC Davis. Hear about her journey to Washington D.C. and what issues she is tackling with NCBA, including traceability. Episode Resources: NCBA Backs FAIR Labels Act to End Deceptive Fake Meat Labeling Practices 2024 NCBA Legislative Conf...

If you're heading to Red Bluff don't miss this episode. If you're not going, listen to this update anyways! CCA's Membership and Events Coordinator Gracie LeCheminant along with Jack Rice and Noah Lopez of the Rancher Technical Assistance Program join Katie to talk about the new "Ag Hub" that will be in the tradeshow at the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale. At the en...

Welcome to Season 4! On this first episode, CCA President Steve Arnold and CCA 1st Vice President Rick Roberti join host Katie Roberti to talk through priorities for the year, officer goals and why California cattle ranchers can be optimistic about the year ahead . Episode resources: Get to know each of CCA's officers  at calcattlemen.org/cca-officers . Learn more about RTAP at calcattlemenfo...

CattleFax Analyst Patrick Linnell recently provided a cattle and beef market outlook in Thursday morning’s general session at the 107th CCA and CCW Convention. Following the session, Patrick sat down with Katie to talk about some of the highlights and key points for California cattle producers, including what CattleFax predicts cattle prices will look like in 2024.  Text us your comments, feedback...

On this episode we talk about the impact the California Beef Council is making on school nutrition in California and how they are keeping beef on school lunch menus. To have that conversation,  registered dietician and CBC’s Director, Food & Nutrition Outreach Kori Dover is us on the podcast for the first time. Episode resources: Click here to see the photo of the school lunch Kori worked with...

CCA Feeder Chair Joe Dan Cameron and Vice Chair Mike Sulpizio provide an update on the feeder sector of California’s beef industry. Learn about Imperial Valley, what it is like feeding cattle in that community and more on this episode. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur provides an update on this year's legislative session, 30x30 and more.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

Jimmy Maxey and Mike Smith, two California cattlemen and past members of the board that runs the Beef Checkoff, known as the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, join Katie to explain how the Cattlemen’s Beef Board operates, including who is on the board and how decisions of what gets funded are made. Episode Resources: Producer Communications Article from current CBB board member Visit DrivingBeefDemand.com t...

Having recently been on Capitol Hill, Central Coast cattle rancher Kevin Kester discusses the current situation in Washington, D.C. On this episode hear: How the odds of a government shutdown became high What the road to getting a new Farm Bill passed may look like Why dollars given to CCA’s political action committee are crucial.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

This episode is first time we are talking about the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Pilot Program through the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Joining Katie to have this conversation and explain what is available to ranchers through this pilot program is Dr. Ken Tate, a UC Davis Professor of Extension in Rangeland Management—who many listening may know for his research on water quality. We also...

The Animal Ag Alliance’s president and CEO Hannah Thompson-Weeman joins Katie for an update on animal rights activism and the work the Alliance does to keep up on tactics and movements within that community. Hear about trends/topics the Alliance is seeing from the animal rights community, activism movements and news in California and more. Check out https://animalagalliance.org to learn more about...

Do you know what county Climate Action Plans are and why ranchers should be aware of them? If you have no idea, tune in to this episode to hear Noah Lopez with Western Resource Strategies and the California Cattlemen’s Foundation’s Rancher Technical Assistance Program, along with San Diego County ranchers Allison and Bryce Fender explain what these plans are and why ranchers should be know about t...

CCA’s VP of Gov. Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins to provide an update on all CCA’s government affairs team has been working on in Sacramento in the 2023 legislative session.  Hear about CCA's earlier successes and remaining legislative priorities as the race towards the end of session on Sept. 14 begins. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

Experts from the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture join Katie to go over the laws of mobile custom livestock slaughtering in California. Hear how a law that went into effect last year impacts mobile custom livestock slaughtering and how it removed limitations for some producers. Visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/MPES/   for more information and resources. Text us your comments, feedback a...