Today, I believe beef producers face many day-to-day challenges, including succession planning, input costs, interest rates and more. One challenge that stands out to me, however, is the amount of “noise in the marketplace.” There is no shortage of information, articles, online calculators, symposiums and opinions on what drives profitability and success in the cattle industry.
You likely hear constant discussions about topics such as cow herd frame size, mature cow size, hide color, the need to chase carcass merit or double down on female longevity, birth weights, maximizing growth, crossbreeding systems, fescue tolerance, heat stress and grazing efficiency. The list goes on.
There will always be cycles and trends within the industry. I believe you can stay ahead of them by identifying what works best for your specific operation, within your given environment, and by establishing clear short-term and long-term goals.
When it comes to genetic selection, partnering with a GENEX distributor or a Territory Sales Manager who understands your goals can make a significant difference. They can help identify the best genetic choices to keep your operation moving forward and progressing toward what works best for you.
Behind the Insights: A Q&A with Cody
Tell us about yourself.
My wife Hannah and I, along with our son Clay, live in southern Iowa on the farm I grew up on. We work alongside my parents at Circle K Cattle Co. offering seedstock bulls in the spring and show cattle in the fall, as well as a small grain operation. After graduating from Iowa State University, I’ve been fortunate to work full time in the cattle industry for the last 10 years, specifically in nutrition and reproduction.
What previous experiences prepared you for this role?
Previously, I’ve had roles with Purina Animal Nutrition as well as Vytelle in the IVF industry. I believe that overall management of a cowherd is key when trying to achieve genetic progress. The correlation between nutrition, reproductive success and genetic improvement has always been a passion of mine and ultimately led me to my current role as a GENEX Territory Sales Manager.
GENEX Territory Sales Manager
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Who has made the biggest impact on your career and why?
I’ve been extremely blessed to be surrounded by great mentors throughout my career who have influenced me through their sales experience, technical knowledge and leadership. However, my parents will always be the ones who have impacted me the most. The lessons and opportunities they’ve provided me with, and growing up watching their hard work, passion and dedication to their own operation, is something that has been instilled into my personality and what I strive to duplicate daily.
How do you bring value to beef producers?
By understanding each producer’s goals and providing the product knowledge to help them work towards those goals. Every operation is different. Every producer has unique goals based on their environmental factors, how they market their calf crop, or what they see as the right type and kind of cattle that suits them specifically. I strive to be knowledgeable of our sire lineup to match the right bulls on the given cows, informative of sync protocols and A.I. practices, and dedicated to helping our local independent sales reps meet and exceed their business goals.
What goals would you like to accomplish in your current position?
To be recognized as a well-rounded source of knowledge and information to beef producers. I continuously aim to learn more about overall cattle management and reproduction every day. I lean on and seek information from co-workers, our leadership team and previous counterparts to be able to give advice when asked and assist in identifying factors where results fall short.
What do you enjoy most about working with beef producers?
The uniqueness of every operation. Whether it be from one breed to the next, how the producer markets their cattle, what traits phenotypically or genotypically they desire, the list can go on. It means no two days are the same, while allowing me to work with people throughout the greatest industry in the world.
Fun Question: What is your favorite cut of beef?
Ribeye, as big of one as you can get!