On today’s Cow-Calf Corner, Kellie Curry Raper, OSU Livestock Marketing Specialist and David Lalman, OSU Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, talk about the Master Cattlemen program.
Maybe you’ve seen the gate signs on a neighbor’s fence or barn. Maybe you’ve seen a promotional flyer at the county fair or posted on social media. Maybe you’ve heard someone refer to something they learned in their Master Cattleman class. And maybe you are asking “what is Master Cattleman and why should I consider it?”
Oklahoma State University’s Master Cattleman program is in its 20th year and, to date, has over 1500 graduates. Master Cattleman is a producer education program conducted through OSU Extension at the county level. The course focuses on research-based learning made practical for “on the ranch” implementation. Producers interact with experts across multiple topic areas, and – just as importantly – the group setting also allows them to learn from each other.
The Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manual is used as the textbook for the course and is provided as part of the course materials at enrollment. Note that the Manual is also available in Spanish. Cattlemen work through a minimum of 28 hours (i.e., chapters) in a mix of in-person lecture, discussion, and hands-on learning. Sixteen of those hours are required chapters for every Master Cattleman class and cover topics ranging from business planning and marketing to forage management and animal health. You can see the Oklahoma Beef Cattle Manual Table of Contents at https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/master-cattleman/beef-cattle-manual.html. The other 12 credit hours are flexible, so Extension educators and class members can choose which chapters are most useful for the class based on the group’s interests and needs. Those who complete the 28-hour requirement receive a graduation certificate, a portfolio notebook embossed with the Master Cattleman logo, and a personalized Master Cattleman gate sign.
So why should you consider becoming a Master Cattleman? In program evaluation surveys, 2018 graduates estimated annual improvement in their cattle operation’s profitability at an average of $3,700 per year. Nearly 90% of Master Cattleman graduates say they still refer to their Beef Cattle Manual at least once a month. Classes are composed of men, women, neighbors, husbands, wives, sons, daughters…and producers of all sizes. Chances are there is someone in the class who faces some of the same challenges that you face in your cattle operation. A few folks have found it so practical that they’ve taken it twice!
You can find more information on the Master Cattleman program at https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/master-cattleman/. If you are interested in taking the Master Cattleman course, contact your county Extension educator or let us know through the contact form on the website or at mastercattleman@okstate.edu and we’ll share that information with them.
