Today's interview is with YPC Member Landi McFarland from Hoover Angus Farm in Ellston, Iowa.  Let's see what Landi had to say: 

Landi, please describe your involvement in the cattle industry.

My family has been in the purebred Angus business for 82 years, and I am proud to be the 4th generation to carry on the "Hoover Angus" name.  I work with all facets of our operation - from managing our annual production sale to calving cows.  I am a member of several Angus, beef, and agricultural organizations both on a local and national level.  I have served in several state and national leadership capacities, primarily through Angus organizations. 

Why did you become a member of YPC?  Why do you think it is important for other cattle producers to become a member of YPC?

I became a member of YPC to further my quest to promote beef and animal agriculture.  I believe it is important for anyone involved in animal agriculture to form friendly alliances within the industry to promote what we do on a day-to-day basis.  If we don't tell our story, our story will be told by HSUS and other anti-agriculture organizations who have never even visited a farm.

What do you hope YPC will accomplish in the next year?  Next 5 years? 

I hope YPC can continue to branch out and involve more people.  More beef producers need to be aware of the issues, and then take action on those issues.  Hopefully YPC can continue to encourage involvement and education of the issues

If you could have coffee with your elected representative in Washington and talk about anything you wanted, what would you say?

I will actually be doing this next week in DC - first and foremost they will hear from me about Federal Gift & Estate Tax and how this will affect my operation.  I also hope to "educate" our elected officials about what farmers do to provide food and fiber to the world, and also how we do it in a responsible and sustainable manner every single day.

If you could spend a day with Michael Pollan what would do with him?  What would you say?

Seeing is believing.  I would take Michael on a tour of my farm, then head to other farms within traveling distance. We would meet the families behind the farms, we would pet the cows, we would explain the reasons behind why we do what we do.  We would show first hand the sustainability and explain the facts of protein production and how Americas beef producers help feed the world.

In your opinion, what is the best way to connect cattle producers to consumers – both in rural and urban areas?

Social media - this is our way to connect with friends, family, and consumers. 

Did you watch Food Inc.?  If so, what did you think?

No, it would cause my blood pressure to go through the roof.

Do you consider yourself an “agriculture activist?”  If so, what type of activities do you partake in?

Absolutely.  Every week I try to post a pro-ag message or photo on my Facebook page.  When I visit the doctor, I speak with him about food choices he recommends to his patients.  When I visit the Iowa capitol or our nation's capitol, I speak highly of animal agriculture and what we do to provide America and the world with a safe, wholesome, and nutritious source of protein.

What do you think are the top three issues that affect young cattle producers?

#1 - Today more than ever the start-up costs for a new farmer are nearly insurmountable if one does not have a family already engaged in farming/ranching.

#2 - More and more government regulations are beginning to hamper all beef producers - the current sentiment in our nation's capitol right now is: regulation and government involvement are good, free enterprise is bad.  

#3 - Securing our future - we need to be proactive in our messages to consumers and elected officials to ensure a positive outlook for the beef industry.