Envisioned as bonus content to the California Beef Council’s (CBC) stories for holiday recipes, hacks and entertaining ideas, this new podcast mini-series invites listeners to meet some of the people, families and communities behind California’s beef industry.

“This is a fun conversation with some very interesting people,” said Annette Kassis, director of consumer and brand marketing for the CBC and executive producer of the podcast. “In each episode, we sit down with cattle ranchers and beef producers from across California to hear their stories, their family histories, how they care for their cattle and the land, and the traditions that make California ranching so unique.”

The series includes episodes with a wide range of guests including:

• San Diego County ranching couple Alli and Bryce Fender, co-owners and operators of the Flying F Ranch, whose motto, “We Give a Flying F About Beef” plays into their approach to ranching.
• Fourth generation dairy farmer and Dairy Science college professor Nicole Morris, known online as The Milk Diva, and known nationally for coaching a top dairy-cattle judging team.
• Father and son team Jimmy and Steven Maxey, part of three generations that have been shaping California’s beef industry from ranching roots to innovative butcher shops and food partnerships that keep things fresh, local, and community-driven.
• Social entrepreneur, cowgirl, and president of Nova Farming Rizpah Bellard, who grew up ranching, studied at Cornell, and now reconnects kids to where their food comes from.
• Mother and daughter ranching team Betsy Behlen and Brooke Helsel of the Dot Seven Ranch who are continuing their family’s nearly century-long legacy of ranching and balancing tradition with innovation.
• Third-generation dairyman Jack Hoekstra, whose focus on innovation and sustainability links with family tradition.
• Father and son Mike and Matt Byrne of the Robert A. Byrne Co., with a six-generation legacy now leading the way in regenerative ranching, rotational grazing, and wildlife-focused conservation.

Hosted by Monti Rossetti, Meat Up with California Ranchers is produced with Hearst StoryStudio and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever podcasts are available.

Source: California Beef Council