It's A Family Tradition

Working our bid numbers
table before the sale.

This Tuesday we had our 26^th annual production sale! I’m so proud to have come from a long and wonderful tradition in the Hereford business!

Sale day is one of my favorite days of the whole year because I get to see a large portion of my amazing, but huge family. Lots of my cousins come home and especially since they’ve all gone to college, I miss them and the sale is like our own little reunion.

Dad, on the phone,
as usual

I started the day helping hand out bid numbers until my older cousin Monica got there and then I was able to go mingle and chat with the many friends and breeders who made it out to the sale. I even made a new little friend, Miss Ryann!

As usual, our amazing cousin/caterer made a fantastic meal and my little cousins Hannah and Sarah took over my old job of filling cookie pans and running tickets. It’s a little strange having my main job just being meet-and-greet but it’s great fun at the same time!

Myself with my new friend, Miss Ryann

Once the sale got started, Dad had to get up and introduce everyone. Thankfully he didn’t forget Mom this time! Our auctioneer Mr. J. C. Barr introduced me.

            The sale went off without a hitch and was pretty successful. The Hereford bulls sold fantastically and we couldn’t have been happier.  It’s always great to see our wonderful breed flourishing!

            A big, big thank you to all our friends and breeders who came out and I hope to see you all again for the 27^th annual sale, and the many, many more to come! You can look up B&D Herefords and Beran Brothers Angus on Facebook.

Bridget Beran

2011-2012 Kansas Hereford Queen

My First Visit to Oleens!

Today I had the pleasure of traveling to Dwight for the Oleen Hereford Ranch sale. My fantastic grandma came to accompany me again which was great! I love spending time with her!

            Normally, I’m not able to go to the Oleen sale because it’s the day before our sale (more on that later!) and my parents think I should go to school occasionally. But this year I was able to go and it was great fun!

            While there I not only got to visit with some great Kansas breeders, including the Granzows and the Huggs, I got to meet some sweet new little friends!

            The sale went really well and I’m so glad I got to be there! Congratulations to the Oleens and you can visit their family’s website at www.oleenbrothers.com.

Amelia, Elaina and Lila were all more than
 happy to join me for a picture. Thanks girls!

The Pink Slime Myth

            Pink Slime. This ugly nickname given Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB) has caused an uproar among American consumers. While it is referred to as a ‘filler’ or ‘salvage meat,’ that is not the case. LFTB is 100% USDA certified beef. It has the same nutritional value as 90% lean beef and serves as a great source of 10 essential nutrients while being low in fat.

            Many people are also concerned about dangerous chemicals, namely ammonium hydroxide, being added to LFTB to make it safe for consumption. However, ammonium hydroxide is essentially ammonium and water. This chemical has been used and determined safe since 1974 by the Food and Drug Administration.

Some consumers believe that beef containing LFTB should be labeled. But LFTB is purely beef, therefore the labeling would be redundant and unnecessary. These close trimmings have also added 10-12 pounds of beef per animal over the years recently.

Help yourself and others around you to be an informed consumer. Beef is a healthy, safe and nutritious way to feed America and LFTB is just another variety of the beef America knows and loves. I encourage you to visit pinkslimeisamyth.com, a website launched by Beef Products, Inc. to better inform consumers, to do your own research as well.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you have about LFTB and I will do my best to answer them or help you find someone who can.

Bridget Beran

2011-2012 Kansas Hereford Queen

Over the Creek and Past the Pipers

            This Tuesday, I was able to attend the Mill Creek and Pied Piper sale. Which meant I also got to travel to my future home, Manhattan, KS! (Go Cats!)

My grandma Beran attended the sale with me. It was her first sale, other than ours, in quite a while. And, as usual, the Breiners and Moores put on a great sale!

While mingling and looking over their cattle, I was able to chat with our field man Mr. Levi Landers, Director of Field Management Mr. Joe Rickabaugh, and AHA Executive Vice President Craig Huffhines. It’s always a pleasure to get to see old friends!

Diane and AHA Board Chairman Dave Breiner
took a minute from their busy morning to take a picture with me!

I also had the pleasure of meeting the Breiner’s four grandchildren. They are so sweet! In addition, Ryan and Sharon are expecting in April. (Hint-I would aim for the 7^th…not that it’s my birthday or anything.)

All in all, it was a fantastic trip and a huge congratulation to Mill Creek and Pied Piper for their success this year! You can visit their website at millcreekranch.com.

Bridget Beran

2011-2012 Kansas Hereford Queen