Board Commentary - by Steve Koester

Data Is the Road Map

Greetings from North Dakota.

I hope everyone is enjoying the fall and is prepared, or at least is preparing, for winter. Congratulations to all who worked on the annual convention. It was a fun, informative event. Whether you attended the breakout sessions, listened to the committee reports or took advantage of the Learning Lounge, you left with more knowledge about the Red Angus breed and gained insight into everything your board and staff do to advance the Red Angus breed within the industry.

A common theme throughout the convention was the need for more data! As stakeholders in a fantastic breed of cattle, we’re fortunate to be involved in a breed that has focused on the economics of commercial cattle production.

Red Angus cattle excel economically in multiple arenas within the industry – maternal, structurally sound, efficient-gaining, high-dollar end-product cattle, all in a sustainable package. These traits are all substantiated by data. As we all know, the more data the higher the predictability. We also know the higher the predictability, the higher the confidence level in our

product, whether that’s at the cowcalf sector, backgrounding, finishing or ultimately, the consumer’s plate. Confidence equates into market share. Data is absolutely the cornerstone to success!

Data drives the bus in so many industry sectors and, as stakeholders, we all need to do our part to enhance the breed that sustains our businesses. Industry stakeholders, no matter what sector of the business we are in, need to ask ourselves if we can help drive the bus to more market share by contributing more data.

The RAAA staff is working on a program that will help analyze all aspects of an individual’s data turned into the office. Then, a report will show you how you rank compared to fellow members. This report will be an eye opener for all of us and will be a great tool to help us become better stewards of data.

In closing, I would like to encourage all of us to grab hold of the rope and help pull Red Angus to the heights it so deserves within the industry. Pulling together is still the best way to achieve any goal.

Whistle, grin and ride. •

Data is the cornerstone to higher predictability which creates confidence in customers.