Logan County cattlemen are earnestly recruiting a new generation of local beef producers to continue the commodity association’s longstanding reputation as an active and influential organization, and a decades-long supporter and producer was recognized Thursday for his contributions to the Logan County Cattle Association.
Gary Saylor of Belle Center was presented the 2020 Friend of Beef Award during an annual banquet conducted at the Winner Harvest Barn.
Saylor is a 1979 graduate of Benjamin Logan High School. He and his wife Becky have three children: Cameron, Kelsey and Cole.
“Gary’s family are proud shepherds as they raise Polled Dorsets, and Gary participated in both 4-H and FFA with his sheep,” said Bob Stoll, who presented the annual award on behalf of the cattle association. “Gary and his family raised sheep and participated in many shows and sales during his younger years.”
Saylor is also the longtime auctioneer for the junior fair livestock sale at the Logan County Fair, promoting youth involvement in local livestock.
Saylor enjoys participating in the auction, primarily to help recognize youth achievements and to highlight their projects, he said.
The Logan County Cattle Association is intentional about promoting youth involvement and empowering a new wave of beef producers, representatives said.
The cattle association recently completed upgrades to the beef barn on the fairgrounds, including improvements to the floor, as well as installation of spouting on the east side of the building and replacement of eight posts supporting the structure.
The cattle association sponsors yearly scholarships for Logan County youth, and supports 4-H and FFA participants. It provides grants to consumer science programs that use beef, and collaborates with Farm Credit Mid-America during beef month throughout May.
In all, the organization has spent over $5,000 for youth enrichment in Logan County, according to information circulated by the cattle association.
Many of the longstanding leaders in the cattle association have begun to “step back,” and a new N generation of beef producers are needed to help move the association forward, said D. Rea King, president of the Logan County Cattle Association.
Liz Core is vice-president of the association; Jill Smith is secretary; and Dale Bleininger is treasurer.
Aging leadership and the need for new participation is a local challenge for cattle associations. Dietary trends like “impossible beef” and other plant-based hamburgers present national challenges for beef advocates.
“We have to take every opportunity to promote and educate people about the facts of agriculture and beef production,” Saylor said.
Over 7 million Americans eat beef everyday, the cattle association reports, and raising cattle is the largest segment of agriculture in the United States.
About 2.36 billion hamburgers are sold each year. One out of every seven jobs in the state of Ohio is related to agriculture.
One farmer in the U.S. feeds over 166 people annually domestically and abroad, YET farmers and ranchers make up less than 2 percent of the population.
The U.S. has over 700,000 cattle farms and contributes 19 percent of the overall world beef production.