Cow Camp toured by Oklahoma cattlemen
By PAT WICK
© Another Day in the Country
The Okmulgee (Oklahoma) County Cattlemen's Association made a stop April 23 at Brunner's Cow Camp, during a five-day tour through Kansas and Nebraska. Coming all the way from Oklahoma, they had dinner and a tour of Cow Camp's commercial feed yard.
David Boyett, past president and one of the Oklahoma visitors who looked like a typical cowboy in his black Stetson, leaned against the door as he listened to Tracy Brunner tell about Cow Camp beef and their goals for the future. "Our goal is not just beef production," said Tracy. "It's increased consumer value."
"You hear things in another state that may not affect you right now, but it comes," said David. "Like when we were in Colorado on a previous trip and saw them fighting over water rights and now we are fighting for our water rights in Oklahoma — three Indian tribes want to sell their share to Texas, of all things."
According to the president of the organization, John Kutz, of Morris, Okla., the Okmulgee County Cattlemen's Association is the largest county cattlemen's group in the state with 290 members. "We formed the association in one night, back in 1969," said Jack Lawson, who has been with the organization since its inception, and serves as secretary-treasurer. "We needed an organization specifically for cattlemen because of high degree of cattle theft, and we work for other things, too — to alleviate brand theft, lobby for legislative issues, promote 4-H and FFU programs and, of course, promote our product."
Since the organization's beginning in the 1969, the Okmulgee Cattlemen's Association has taken a five-day trip, like the one that brought them to Kansas, every year and have been to Wyoming, Kansas, South Dakota, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and even Old Mexico.
"What do you see in the future for small cow-calf producers, Tracy?" asked one of the visitors.
"In some ways, the small producer may have an advantage," said Tracy Brunner. "Size is not what is important — good management is what it all comes down to."
Tracy, spokesman for four generations of the Brunner family in the beef industry, challenged the beef producers from Oklahoma, "The question is whether or not you want to be part of producing a unique product — one that is superior genetically. We want the consumer to be able to trust our product and be willing to buy it even though they may have to pay a little more for the value."
At Cow Camp Beef, leaders in the beef industry in central Kansas, their goal is not just about making a profit, they also want to be sure that the people who consume their product have the healthiest and best beef available. "When we raise beef, we don't just settle for carcass data, we give recommendations as to how to increase your return on your investment," said Tracy.
Cow Camp, Inc. is one of the few companies involved in both genetics and beef processing. "We feel we can greatly improve the quality of our beef by combining genetics, management practices, and beef processing," said Tracy. As a result they have formed the Cow Camp Beef Alliance, which is dedicated to evaluating and improving their product.
Tracy Brunner, summed it up, "We want the Cow Camp brand to be recognized as a quality beef producer — not only for our clients in the Cow Camp Beef Alliance, but eventually for the consumer."
