What We’re Reading | How to win fans and influence consumers

Three people share how they changed their minds about beef, becoming advocates for beef production

By Piper Whelan, Canadian Cattlemen Magazine

David Kleiman’s first visit to a ranch in the southern Alberta foothills was an awe-inspiring experience he’ll never forget.

Nature and conservation have been life-long passions for Kleiman, a Calgary-based science teacher. After meeting Kimberly Wachtler of Burke Creek Ranch at a farmers market, Kleiman was eager to learn more about how cattle are raised at this 130-year-old cow-calf operation near Claresholm, Alta. When Wachtler invited Kleiman to visit her family’s ranch, he saw for himself how livestock can thrive in concert with nature.

“When I went up to Burke Creek Ranch, I’ll be honest with you, it brought tears to my eyes, (being) surrounded by a rich, biodiverse grassland ecosystem,” Kleiman recalls. “It’s just thriving life everywhere.”

‘What We’re Reading’ is a quick look at some of the issues and insights Alberta Beef Producers’ content creators and editors are reading to stay up-to-date, to broaden perspectives, and to explore issues relevant to the agriculture industry.