If you’re familiar with Lynda.com or Skillshare, virtual platforms intended to enhance skills and promote personal growth, you’ll understand what I mean when I say the value they provide is immeasurable. The ability to learn new things, for personal or professional gain, in the comfort of your own space and at your own time opens up a whole new world of opportunities.
When it comes to the cattle industry, there is a lot left to be desired in the innovative education department. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association annual convention Cattleman’s College, state extension, farm bureau, and other organizations offer supplemental resources to further education, but Cattleman U offers a deeper level of learning by diving into specific topics of the industry and building a strong foundation of knowledge from the ground up.
What is Cattleman U?
Created and Launched by KRose Company in 2020, Cattleman U is a subscription-based, go-at-your-own-pace program that breaks up industry topics into 6-week segments. Subject matter experts provide pre-recorded learning sessions discussing different topics. The first segment, Cattle Marketing, was launched in September 2020. Certified Angus Beef, Certified Hereford Beef, Beefmaster Breeder’s Union, D and D Beef, Karoline Rose, and many other industry experts discussed how producers could better market their cattle by participating in value-added programs, or how to prepare their business for direct-to-consumer markets.
History
What started as a desire for more community with peers in the agriculture industry as a young rancher, quickly grew into a passion to take action for Karoline Rose, owner of KRose Company. Amidst conference and training cancellations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the KRose team began plans for a new way to connect with other professionals in agriculture, access educational content, and compare notes on ranch and farm topics.
“Cattleman U is an educational platform and community for the next generation of producers or people who want to raise livestock or crops in the near future. So many of this generation are working their operation full time and aren’t able to get away for conferences. There is a need for education that is easily accessible on an as-you-get-to-it basis,” says Rose.
Cattleman U became the newest online platform designed specifically for the next generation in agriculture. The online membership allows members to access expert advice and pre-recorded trainings presented by well-known speakers from respected organizations. It also has a free classifieds page where members can post items for sale or advertise their business. Members receive access to industry discounts for bulls, semen, ear tags, vaccines, and more. One of the biggest advantages Cattleman U offers is a community where members can network and access resources.
“There are a lot of questions that go unasked because a next-generation producer might be embarrassed to ask or not know who to turn to for an honest and straightforward answer. We need to be in community with other producers and growers to build a network while we learn and discuss alternative solutions and ways of doing things that might not be just like grandpa did them,” says Rose.
Cattleman U consists of 6-week sessions on topics such as agriculture marketing strategies, adding value to your calves, certified branded beef programs, and the futures market. Each session is packed with information, real-life examples, and expert advice from cattlemen who have been there before, and tried many different techniques. The first six-week session will focus on marketing cattle.
There are plenty of flexible options for everyone wanting to sign up for Cattleman U, with monthly, yearly, and 6-week only membership options. The waitlist for the second segment, Futures and Hedging Basics, is now open. On October 5th, the second segment will start. Learn more at cattlemanu.com.
Who Should Join?
I am excited about this program, and growing my own knowledge in the industry. KRose Company has stressed that producers from all backgrounds are welcome, including beginners. This is a great opportunity for aspiring ranchers to learn more about the industry that they won’t learn many other places. Whether you’re a large rancher, industry member, or just beginning, you’ll be able to gain invaluable knowledge from participating.
