Another Baxter Black Post

If you haven't noticed, I'm a pretty big Baxter Black fan - evident here, here, here and here. I was even lucky enough to meet him at Cattle Industry Convention in Reno, Nevada in 2008.

Baxter and I and some friends in Reno

Well, Amanda Radke has similar feelings about cowboy poetry, Baxter and his colleagues.  In a recent BEEF Daily blog post, Amanda talks about the importance of 'Saving Cowboy Poetry' and the people who so eloquently talk about the Western way of life. She also opens up discussion on whether or not GOP budget cuts should be enacted, thereby eliminating funding for events such as the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, NV (close to the hometown of one of my good friends). There is quite a discussion brewing up in the 'comments' section of Amanda's blog - head on over and share yours.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Grace by Baxter

I was reading the The All-American Cowboy Cookbook the other night (yes, I know some of you are in shock) trying to find new and interesting recipes that both the Ninja and I would like (quite a feat considering he likes vegetables and trying new things and I....well, don't).  I stumbled across a cowboy prayer written by Baxter Black - cowboy poet, story teller, agriculturalist and veterinarian.  Here is one of my favorite excerpts from the prayer:

I don't take it lightly if it's real good

'cause I'd eat it anyway

See I know there's people, in all likelihood,

That might not eat today.

So count me in if yer needin' grace said

and bless those who provide it.

The farmers and rancher, the bakers of bread,

the loving hands that fried it.

You can read the rest of the prayer if you buy the cookbook, but the point is that we should all be very thankful that we have such an abundant, cheap and healthy food supply. Imposing regulations on farmers and ranchers may not decrease the quality of product (though that is debatable) but it can definitely cause an increase in the price of our food.

The U.S. has the cheapest food supply in the world - we spend less than 10%  of our income on food. Other countries like India spend 39.4% and in Indonesia the number is a staggering 49.9%. Can you imagine spending half of every paycheck on food? I don't even want to think about that.

So today, while you're grilling your delicious pork chops or steak or burgers don't forget to say a prayer for the farmers and ranchers who provide our nation with the cheapest and largest food supply in the world.  Then you can dig in!

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~

Baxter is right on the money

It's hard to ignore the almost monthly reports of someone ingesting beef that has been tainted with the e.coli bacteria. Most recently is the news that a Minnesota woman is suing Cargill for 100 million due to tainted beef she bought from her local Sam's Club.

Previous e. coli appearances, in addition to the Minnesota case, have caused many comsumers to become critics of the meat industry overnight. Critics who think that the beef industry is just plain inefficient and that we don't have a way to prevent this deadly bacteria from being released into the food supply.

Those critics are wrong.

We do have a solution --- irradiation. Irradiating beef, which is basically x-raying it, kills the e. coli bacteria. If we have this technology, why aren't we using it? The FDA has approved it for use but we still haven't utilized it. I could go on and on about the pros of this production process but I think I'll let Baxter Black - DVM, cowboy poet and industry advocate- do that for me. Click here to read Black's commentary on irradiating our beef.


Want to know more? This link is to the Iowa State University Beef Irradiation Education Manual. The Iowans have got it figured out....

Until next time,
~Buzzard~