At the 2024 Cattlemen’s Congress, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster, Ron Hays, caught up with the President of the American Angus Association and Oklahoma Rancher, Barry Pollard. Pollard wears many hats, as he is also the owner of P&K equipment and a retired neurosurgeon.
Pollard said it has been a busy week as a trade show representative and sponsor at Cattlemen’s Congress, and the crowd has been great. After the sudden passing of Jarold Callahan, Pollard talked about the impact Callahan had on the cattle industry and his instrumental place in Cattlemen’s Congress.
“His leadership and his knowledge of the business, from beginning to end, was just fantastic,” Pollard said. “He has been a guy that has been on the commercial end of it, he has feedlot experience and ownership, he has followed cattle all the way through, as well as seeing them in the show cattle arena…”
Pollard applauded Callahan’s special ability to evaluate things in the present, look forward to the future, and see changes that needed to be made.
“He was truly a visionary in this business,” Pollard said.
Regarding innovations in the cattle industry, Pollard also talked about the ability of commercial cattlemen to meet the changing needs of the consumer continuously.
“It is all about giving our commercial cattlemen the opportunity to have better cattle,” Pollard said. “Put a better product out there in the grocery stores for the consumer public. The taste ability, the marbling of the animals and the carcass quality- that is what it is really all about and what the drive is.”
Pollard said there are new chances each day to improve and produce a better product for the consumer. The sales offered at Cattlemen’s Congress offer some routes of genetic progress for cattle producers.
Now that herd rebuilding is on the horizon, Pollard said producers have the chance to buy back better cattle than before.
“There are so many opportunities that are presented at these sales for you to be able to improve your herd, that make it a wonderful event and showcase of some of the finest cattle in the United States,” Pollard said.
Through his involvement in the beef industry and as the owner of P&K equipment, Pollard said he is grateful to have the ability to work with great individuals. Success comes from service, Pollard added, which he believes is the key.
