Harsh Realities

10600 U.S. Highway 42 Marysville, Ohio 43040 Phone 614-873-6736 • Fax 614-873-6835 www.ohiocattle.org cattle@ohiocattle.org

Editor: Elizabeth Harsh

Managing Editor: Hanna Fosbrink

Sales Representative: Luke McKee

Ohio Cattleman magazine (USPA: 020-968, ISSN: 1543-0588) is published six times per year: Winter issue, mailed in January; Expo preview issue, mailed in February; Spring issue, mailed in April; Summer issue, mailed in July; Early Fall issue, mailed in September; and Late Fall issue, mailed in October; for $15 a year to OCA members only. It is dedicated to reporting facts about Ohio’s cattle including marketing, production and legislative news. All editorial and advertising material is screened to meet rigid standards, but publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy or validity of claims. All rights reserved. Circulation for the issue is 3,086.

Published at Minster, Ohio 45865 by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, 10600 US Highway 42, Marysville, Ohio 43040. Periodical postage paid at Marysville, Ohio and at additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Ohio Cattleman, 10600 US Highway 42, Marysville, Ohio 43040. CHANGING YOUR ADDRESS: Please send old as well as new address to Ohio Cattleman, 10600 US Highway 42, Marysville, Ohio 43040.

Advertising

To schedule advertising write to: Ohio Cattleman, 10600 US Highway 42, Marysville, Ohio 43040, or call 614873-6736. All advertising material for the Winter Issue must be received by Dec. 1, 2022. Ohio Cattleman Advertising Rates

Full Page $460 2/3 Page $345 1/2 Page $260 1/3 Page $175 1/4 Page $145 1/8 Page $105 Business Card $65 Classified Ad $50 Four Color $270 One Additional Color $90

Ohio Cattlemen’s Association members will receive a 10% discount when advertising their farm products, such as cattle, hay, corn, etc. ... Call today to place your ad: 614-873-6736

OCA Staff

Elizabeth Harsh Executive Director Ron Windnagel Director of Accounting & Operations Hanna Fosbrink Manager of Communications & Managing Editor Tiffany Arnett Office & Project Manager Luke McKee Manager of Member Services Kelly Keirn Manager of Consumer Programs & Digital Marketing Karigan Blue BEST Program Coordinator

It’s a small world

By Elizabeth Harsh, Ohio Cattleman Editor

Our family recently traveled west to celebrate our nephew’s wedding. Many hours of windshield time provided an opportunity to assess crop conditions across multiple states before and after the wedding. The trip also served as a good reminder of the connectivity of agriculture.

A passion for raising and showing cattle brought the bride and groom together. The relationships built around a mutual interest in cattle united the families, created the invitation list, hired the caterer, the hair stylist for the bridesmaids and on and on. The celebration and all involved was further validation that we live in very small world and an even smaller world of agriculture and beef cattle.

As this issue goes to press, the Farm Science Review (FSR), hosted by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is quickly approaching. FSR will further reinforce how very small the world is as OCA members from all corners of the state stop by the tent to visit, stock up on beef merch and buy a beef sandwich or volunteer at the OCA Steak Tent. Hopefully you were among the many members who stopped by for a visit while at FSR.

The upcoming mid-term elections on November 8 and the season’s ongoing political fundraisers are also good reminders of the importance of building relationships to keep our world small and connected to benefit the cattle and beef industry. Elections provide an opportunity to support those office holders who have demonstrated their alignment with OCA’s priorities and policies, but they also present opportunities to create new relationships.

As the saying goes, democracy, and certainly elections, are a participatory sport. Your support of OCA’s Political Action Committee (PAC), its fundraisers and attendance at PAC events is important and appreciated. It helps OCA effectively advocate on behalf of the cattle industry. But it is just as important for you to build those small world relationships by getting to personally know your local, state and national elected officials. Good relationships open the door to share your opinions on important issues, hold them accountable and it all starts by participating with your vote.

Fall harvest should be well underway by the time this issue arrives in mailboxes. Finishing silage, weaning calves or fall calving, hosting seedstock production sales and finding that next great show heifer or steer are all important fall activities taking place across the state.

And if there are any conclusions to be drawn from our recent multi-state selfguided crop tour compared to the crops in central Ohio, it is that the degree of variation is more widespread than ever. This is simply my opinion, from someone who is not an expert in climate and weather patterns. But my conclusions should earn “expert-like” significance since I serve as the person who hears all the weather and rainfall related complaints on our farm and quasi crop tours. Have a safe and enjoyable fall in your corner of our very small world.