Ranchers, processors and buyers from across the West will have an opportunity to connect and explore direct-to-consumer meat marketing during the first North Fork California Meat Summit, Oct. 15-16 in Siskiyou County, CA.
The University of California (UC) Cooperative Extension, Siskiyou County and the Siskiyou Economic Development Council are co-hosting the two-day event, designed to bring together different parts of the regional meat supply chain. Organizers said the summit will focus particularly on ranchers and the challenges and opportunities involved in producing, processing and marketing meat in the region.
The California event is part of a multi-state meat summit effort that began in North Carolina several years ago and is supported by the National Meat Summits Steering Committee. The summits are intended to strengthen connections among producers, processors, distributors and buyers while helping participants better understand the steps involved in moving meat from the ranch to the consumer.
This will be the first summit held in California, and organizers are encouraging participation from throughout the West, particularly Northern California, southern Oregon and western Nevada.
The program will include a ranch tour at Jenner Family Beef in Etna along with tours of Marble Mountain Meats in Fort Jones and StarHarvest processing facilities in Yreka. Attendees will also hear from Mary Heffernan of Five Marys Ranch.
A direct-to-consumer business planning session will be led by Dan Macon, UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor, and Dr. Kasey DeAtley, professor of animal and range sciences at California State University, Chico. A panel will also examine the development and long-term operation of rancher-led cooperatives, featuring Cody Hopkins of Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative and Morgan Doran, UC Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resources advisor.
Other activities include a tradeshow featuring local direct-to-consumer ranchers and industry resources, networking opportunities, a meat-cutting demonstration and an on-ranch dinner featuring Siskiyou County producers.
Registration is $150 and includes tours, transportation, educational sessions, networking activities and meals. Twenty sponsored registrations are available for qualifying ranchers through support from the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and California Cattle Council. Dinner-only tickets, which include the tradeshow, networking hour and panel discussion, are also available.
Registration details are available at northforkmeatsummit.com/. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
