7 minute read
BUNKHOUSE
MAKE ROOM FOR ZOOM
NORMALCY MIGHT BE ON THE WAY, BUT VIDEO MEETINGS SEEM HERE TO STAY
by CCA Director of Communications Katie Roberti
“In 2020, we simultaneously faced two once-in-ageneration crises when we combatted the worst wildfire season in our state’s history in the middle of the pandemic,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom in his State of the State speech at the beginning of March.
Over the last 12 months, the coronavirus pandemic and California’s wildfire crisis have become personal to most of us in one way or another. CCA has lost members to COVID-19, and members have lost cattle, homes, barns and irreplaceable places to wildfires.
Recent issues of this magazine have been somber, to say the least, as we’ve reflected on the wildfire tragedies that have impacted ranchers across the state and remembered lives lost to COVID-19 with articles and obituaries. Both situations have been heartbreaking, confusing and frustrating, including other waves of emotion, and my thoughts prayers go out to all of the families personally impacted.
Last year at this time, we all had a lot more questions than answers about how this pandemic would impact our lives and world. While plenty of questions remain today about what the future holds for living with COVID-19, I am hopeful we are making progress towards a little more normalcy each day. Like many of you, I’m ready for parts of life that have been on pause for the last year to resume. I can’t wait to go to a baseball game again, and I’m excited for events like our annual CCA convention, county fairs and so many others centered around agriculture to return.
As we are slowly starting to see life come back as we knew it prepandemic, I am optimistically looking forward. But I also understand that not everything will go back to how it was, and in some ways, that is okay. The Atlantic published an article in February called “Superstar Cities Are in Trouble.” Among other takeaways, there was one big one for me.
“‘The most important outcome of the pandemic wasn’t that it taught you how to use Zoom, but rather that it forced everybody else to use Zoom. We all leapfrogged over the coordination problem at the exact same time,’” David Autor, an economist, says in the article.
“Meetings, business lunches, work trips—all these things will still happen in the after world,” the article continues to say. “But nobody will forget the lesson we were all just forced to learn: Telecommunications doesn’t have to be the perfect substitute for inperson meetings, as long as it’s mostly good enough.”
Zoom meetings and other online meetings of that type cannot replace the value or importance of all face-to-face meetings and discussions. At the start of the pandemic, a friend of mine wrote on Facebook, “Check on your extroverted friends, they are not okay.” As an extrovert, I especially need these in-person interactions and have missed them over the last 12 months. However, the pandemic opened the door to normalizing virtual video meetings, such as Zoom, and I don’t believe that door is closing anytime soon.
It is never easy to get away from the ranch, or your operation. Some months it’s not even doable. But over the last year, together, we’ve seen that Zoom and the technologies like it can help make it possible to almost be in two places at once. You can check cows and a few minutes later be in a meeting with other ranchers from across the state and country without even leaving the ranch.
...CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
THURSDAY, THURSDAY,APRILAPRIL1515IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WVM SALE AT TLAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WVM SALE AT TLAY SATURDAY,SATURDAY,MAYMAY8 8 ••SATURDAY,SATURDAY,MAYMAY2222JUNE SALE PENDING WEATHER JUNE SALE PENDING WEATHER ALSO SELLING CATTLE FROM THESE CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS: ALSO SELLING CATTLE FROM THESE CALIFORNIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS:
MERCED-MARIPOSA | SANTA CLARA | NAPA-SOLANO | MADERA | CALAVERAS | TUOLUMNE | FRESNO-KINGS | SAN BENITO | TAHOE MERCED-MARIPOSA | SANTA CLARA | NAPA-SOLANO | MADERA | CALAVERAS | TUOLUMNE | FRESNO-KINGS | SAN BENITO | TAHOE ALSO FEATURING A SPECIAL SECTION OF NHTC ANGUS-SIRED CALVES & RED ANGUS AND CHAROLAIS-INFLUENCED CATTLE ALSO FEATURING A SPECIAL SECTION OF NHTC ANGUS-SIRED CALVES & RED ANGUS AND CHAROLAIS-INFLUENCED CATTLE These events will offer some of the best cattle reputable california producers have available! These events will offer some of the best cattle reputable california producers have available! whether or not you are enrolled in a special program - these cattle are for you! whether or not you are enrolled in a special program - these cattle are for you!
When marketing calves at TLAY, don't forget When marketing calves at TLAY, don't forget how essential the 2nd round of shots is. how essential the 2nd round of shots is. Make sure to include a modified live vaccination! Make sure to include a modified live vaccination! WATCH LIVE AND BID ON WATCH LIVE AND BID ON LMAAUCTIONS.COM LMAAUCTIONS.COM
TLAY REPRESENTATIVES TLAY REPRESENTATIVES
MAX OLVERA...................................... STEVE FARIA...................................... BRANDON BABA............................... JUSTIN RAMOS................................. JOHN LUIZ........................................... JAKE BETTENCOURT....................... TIM SISIL............................................ JOHN BOURDET ................................ TRAVIS JOHNSON............................ MATT MILLER..................................... BUD COZZI.......................................... EDDIE NUNES..................................... MAX OLVERA...................................... STEVE FARIA...................................... BRANDON BABA............................... JUSTIN RAMOS................................. JOHN LUIZ........................................... JAKE BETTENCOURT....................... TIM SISIL............................................ JOHN BOURDET ................................ TRAVIS JOHNSON............................ MATT MILLER..................................... BUD COZZI.......................................... EDDIE NUNES..................................... 209 277-2063 209 988-7180 209 480-1267 209 844-6372 209 480-5101 209 262-4019 209 631-6054 831 801-2343 209 996-8645 209 914-5116 209 652-4480 209 604-6848 209 277-2063 209 988-7180 209 480-1267 209 844-6372 209 480-5101 209 262-4019 209 631-6054 831 801-2343 209 996-8645 209 914-5116 209 652-4480 209 604-6848
SATURDAY, APRIL 10 • “HERE’S THE BEEF” SPECIAL WEIGH COW SALE • 1 P.M. SATURDAY, APRIL 10 • “HERE’S THE BEEF” SPECIAL WEIGH COW SALE • 1 P.M.
JOIN US FOR BURGERS AT THE SALE BARN 12 NOON! JOIN US FOR BURGERS AT THE SALE BARN 12 NOON! TUESDAYS, APRIL 6 AND APRIL 27 SPRING FEEDER SALES TUESDAYS, APRIL 6 AND APRIL 27 SPRING FEEDER SALES
FEATURING 2,000 HEAD OF CALVES & YEARLINGS AT 9 A.M. FEATURING 2,000 HEAD OF CALVES & YEARLINGS AT 9 A.M. TUESDAYS, MAY 4 & MAY 18 SPRING FEEDER SALES TUESDAYS, MAY 4 & MAY 18 SPRING FEEDER SALES
DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING CALVES &YEARLINGS FROM CONSIGNORS WITH 50 HEAD OF CATTLE OR LESS AT 9 A.M. DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING CALVES &YEARLINGS FROM CONSIGNORS WITH 50 HEAD OF CATTLE OR LESS AT 9 A.M.
CALL US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSIGNING CATTLE TO UPCOMING WESTERN VIDEO MARKET SALES! JOIN US APRIL 15 IN TURLOCK AND MAY 6, MAY 27 AND JUNE 11 IN COTTONWOOD. CALL US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CONSIGNING CATTLE TO UPCOMING WESTERN VIDEO MARKET SALES! JOIN US APRIL 15 IN TURLOCK AND MAY 6, MAY 27 AND JUNE 11 IN COTTONWOOD.
TURLOCK LIVESTOCK AUCTION YARD TURLOCK LIVESTOCK AUCTION YARD
I never imagined we would hold an annual CCA convention on Zoom, but now I know never say never. To that end, over 200 ranchers were able to get their Beef Quality Assurance training certifications a few months ago, all by participating online, and just a few weeks ago, the Inyo-Mono-Alpine Cattlemen’s Association held a virtual CCA tour meeting. The virtual tour meeting didn’t have the same weight as an in-person meeting, but it still allowed us to connect with members and give a few updates, all without having to travel.
Even with the annoyances of technology—buffering videos, muting and unmuting struggles, awkward moments of interrupting each other because of the difficulties of not being able to read body expressions—thank you for hanging in there and continuing to show up and engage. I’m proud of how many CCA members have been willing to step up and participate in meetings with us over the past year on Zoom.
As future virtual meetings arise, I encourage you to engage and not to rule them out. If you haven’t participated in one yet and need assistance getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for help.
While it looks like COVID-19 lockdowns should be in the rearview mirror moving forward into spring and summer of 2021, unfortunately, we all know California’s wildfire season is approaching with a giant caution sign. No one wants a repeat of the 4.2 million acres burned in our state in 2020, and CCA leadership has been working months already to ensure the issue is not left untouched until the 2021 blazes begin. In addition to running three sponsored bills on wildfire in the Legislature, CCA is joining forces with other organizations to communicate further the need for change now.
One of those collaborative efforts is CalReslient, a digital campaign launched in the middle of March by the California Cattle Council and centered around the need for increased use of prescribed fire and grazing to reduce fuel loads and create a more fire resilient state for all Californians. As the campaign continues, follow @CalResilient on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and visit CalResilient.com to learn more.
Zoom might be here to stay, but extreme wildfires in California don’t have to be.
