In this episode of Casual Cattle Conversations, host Shaye Wanner sits down with Katey Johnson, a first-generation rancher and beef advocate, to talk about addressing consumer concerns in today’s beef industry. From questions about grass-fed vs. grain-finished beef to myths about factory farms, Katey shares how she connects with consumers at farmers markets, online, and through direct-to-consumer beef sales.

If you’ve ever wondered how to better engage with consumers or how to respond to tough questions about beef production, this conversation will give you practical insights and encouragement.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction with Shaye Wanner

01:35 – Why Katey Johnson bet on the beef industry

04:21 – Becoming a first-generation rancher

06:00 – Selling beef direct-to-consumer and shipping nationwide

07:21 – Common consumer concerns about beef production

09:22 – Explaining the beef lifecycle: cow-calf to feedyard

11:14 – Why Katey is “Team Beef” regardless of how it’s finished

13:03 – Grass-finished vs. grain-finished: consumer perceptions

15:24 – Shocking myths and misinformation consumers believe

17:05 – Beef’s role in upcycling food byproducts

18:30 – Addressing glyphosate and other health claims

19:57 – Building consumer trust as a rancher

21:27 – Advice for ranchers: engaging with consumers respectfully

23:36 – What Katey would do differently in her first five years

24:50 – Where to connect with Katey online

Resources & Links:

• Follow Katey Johnson:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  • @zerocattleranch
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • @kateyjohnsoncreative
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  



• Favorite Seasoning: EatPluck.com (use code ShayeWanner for 15% off)
  
  
  
  

Free Ranching Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FKWGvQKxh/