I am not a political person. I’m just not. My idea of fun doesn’t include sitting around a table, sipping on gin and tonic and debating politics. That’s okay if other people enjoy it; I’m not one of them.

 But these days, it pays to perk your ears up when legislation is being discussed, because there’s a lot on the table that could have some pretty heavy impacts for the beef industry. Greenhouse gas regulation, wolf laws, water rights, crop insurance, et cetera. 

Ignoring what is happening up on Capitol Hill can be disastrous. It can be easy to bury ourselves in work, in the challenges of just making it from day to day. But to hole up and stick our heads in the sand? That’s not the answer.

Unfortunately, I think we’ll be wading into some stiff battles on the political front pretty soon – in the beef industry and agriculture as a whole. The more information we have, the more educated arguments we’ll be able to make. Maybe we won’t be able to change anything. Maybe upcoming legislative decisions will be handed down with a “Do Not Pass Go” ticket stapled to it. Maybe we’ll get saddled with all types of regulations.

Okay, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dig our heels in, get informed and fight for what we believe in. That’s what my dad taught me anyway.