Buzzard's Beat by Brandi Buzzard

07/02/2025

Ever wonder what really goes into your steak beyond grass and water? Discover the team of experts who work behind the scenes to bring safe, nutritious beef to your plate!
Read the full blog below

07/01/2025

We all have gifts.

Not the literal kind but the skill-based, share it with others, use it for doing good-type skill.

Mine is storytelling - which encompasses emotion, sarcasm, empathy, wit and humor.

All of those are built into my psyche to tell stories - both written and verbal. A well-told story can evoke empathy, stir curiosity and inspire action, which is essential in motivating an audience to embrace new perspectives or take specific actions. When I tell a story, I strive to create a connection with the audience and make ideas more relatable and memorable.

Last Sunday, I had the chance to use my God-given gift in His house as a guest speaker for our church. I spoke about how God is with us all the time, even when we don’t realize it. Even we our faith wavers and we have doubts. I was, and still am, appreciative of the kind words and support I received from our congregation.

Earlier in June, I was honored to speak at the Beef Improvement Federation annual symposium. An event which carries a lot of prestige and I got to be on stage with a few other ranching creators. Few things fill my cup more than bonding with my fellow agriculture enthusiasts while sharing ideas and talking about solutions to hard problems.

Whatever your gift may be, I challenge you to use it to enrich your communities and the lives of your peers, colleagues and friends (new and old).

As for me, I look forward to sharing words and ideas at conferences and meetings across the U.S. this coming fall and winter. If you’re looking for an authentic and memorable speaker for your event, I’d love to speak with you and create something unforgettable.

06/30/2025

💧 Dairy farmers are true environmental stewards! From recycling water systems to using manure as natural fertilizer and focusing on air quality, our dairy community works hard to protect the resources we all depend on. It's amazing how much science and care goes into sustainable dairy farming!
What sustainable practices do you use around your home?

06/27/2025

This is the family that lives on our “factory farm.” We have more than the average herd, we sell some of our cattle into the Wal-Mart/Kroger market, we use technology to improve efficiency and sustainability and we practice improved land and water management strategies. But even though our little family unit are the sole owners of our ranch, we, and others just like us, are still called “factory farms."
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What about our ranch sounds bad? Where did we go wrong and turn into an enemy? My mind is boggled at how one can look around our ranch, observe the calm cows, breathe in the clean air and walk through green grass and think we don’t care about the environment or the animals. Mind. Boggled.
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Someone enlighten me. Please.

06/25/2025

LAB-GROWN MEAT: THE CONTROVERSY GROWS

“Truly, laboratories and scientific development have led to some of the greatest discoveries of our lifetimes and have saved and improved millions, perhaps billions, of lives. But when it comes to lab-grown meat, count me out, y’all.”

Read my thoughts on cultured meat in this post for Kansas Living:

Penicillin, the first antibiotic, which drastically changed the way we treat bacterial infections, was discovered in 1928 when Alexander Fleming noticed mold growing on a petri dish was killing bacteria. Dr. Jonas Salk distributed the first vaccine against polio in 1953, which paved the way to the d...

06/23/2025

If you had asked me 15 years ago where I thought I would be in my early 30s, "struggling as a working parent, ranching full-time and also trying to fulfill my rodeo dreams" would not have been my first answer.

Honestly, when I was a sophomore in college on the Fort Scott Community College Rodeo Team, I would’ve told you that my future held a career in agriculture, cutting necks (roping) and cashing checks. Trying to fit in 20 minutes of "me time" to ride my horse and doing the majority of my competing in a three month timespan is not the situation I spent hours dreaming or journaling about. In fact, I never thought I would have children, because I never saw myself as a mom or desired to be a one while growing up. Well, we all know the saying about showing God your plans - He laughs!

Life as a working mom, wife, rancher and cowgirl is not glamorous. **Life as a mom, in general, is not glamorous.** Go 12 miles past 'hard,' take a left and drive another 982 miles to 'exhausted' and you'll have a good start on what motherhood is like. And yet, despite its difficulty, I know there are millions of women going through it every day - putting their heads down and getting it done every day to make sure that their family is happy, healthy and as well-off as can be. And wowza, they do a helluva a job conquering the world and raising their littles.

There is quite literally nothing a mom cannot handle:
- Moms are the ultimate all-around competitor. They are the perfect picture of strength, grace, resiliency, inspiration, and more love that is possibly imaginable all while doing all the things, thinking of all the tasks and taking care of all the babies.
- Help their children and family through grief, while suffering debilitating loss? Moms can do that.
- Put their dreams on hold to build a career and a family? Yep, mamas do that ish all the time.
- Get blindsided by cancer diagnosis but continue to rock their career and motherhood? You better believe mamas can handle that [multiple moms in my life are doing this right now and they are strong and inspiring beyond all belief].

From rodeoing solo with a kid in tow to navigating the trials of motherhood amid life's winding road, there is no measuring stick to gauge a mother's love and tenacity. As one of my favorite Bible verses says, "She is clothed in strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future." - Proverbs 31:25. We don't have time to sweat the small stuff, mamas, we have arrows to raise.

Because it's brain-exploding hard, yes. But also, oh-so-worth it.
- It's worth it when your daughter can't wait to get to the rodeo so she can ride in the "gand entwy" with you.
- It's worth it when she looks up at you with quarters in her hand and says "This is for the Jesus tray. Jesus loves me."
- It's worth it when she reaches to hold your hand while you watch Robin Hood and sing "ooh-da-lolly."
- It's worth it when she runs to the chicken coop to collect eggs because she's inherited a love of livestock.
- It's worth it when she squeezes your neck and says "You are the mostest mama. I love you to the moon and stars and mostest my heart ever."

Despite the tears and drama and stress and tears and frustration and white hair and loss of bladder control and did I mention tears? It's worth it. All of it. We were chosen for a reason.
Nineteen-year-old me would probably not be very impressed with the current version of me. And I'm not really sure how proud of me I am right now. But I honestly hope that 39-year-old version me is proud in 2025. More importantly, I hope that when my daughter is my age she knows that I have no regrets...and that I'd do it all the same way again if I had the chance. Because I'm a mama; HER mama.
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This was originally written in 2020, when I was 34 and had one daughter. Five years later, I am now 39 years old with TWO daughters and I know that younger version of me would be proud. I'm now rodeoing with two daughters, self-employed, have more time and financial freedom and am still chasing my rodeo dreams on a higher level. I'm living my prayers and dreams, y'all, and there's no feeling like it.

In 2030, I hope 44-year-old Buzzard is stronger, wiser and successful so she can be a role model for her daughters.
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Originally shared on Buzzard's Beat by Brandi Buzzard

06/20/2025

🥤🎉 It’s National Vanilla Milkshake Day! 🎉🥤
What better way to cool off and celebrate June—Dairy Month—than with a creamy, classic vanilla milkshake?

Dairy is more than just delicious—it’s nutritious too!
🧬 Milk packs 13 essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin D, and potassium.
🍨 Did you know the first milkshakes in the 1800s were boozy treats with eggs and whiskey?
⚡ And thanks to the invention of the electric blender in the 1920s, we now get that smooth, dreamy texture we all love.

So raise a glass (or straw!) to milkshakes and the hardworking dairy farmers behind every drop of milk. 🐄💙

06/19/2025

ASK US ANYTHING
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We’re going to be spending some time in the sprayer today so let’s do an “ask us anything” - the ranch, work/life balance, etc.!

We’ll answer your questions and put them in a next week’s AcresTV episode!

Shout it out!
📣🗯️

06/18/2025

🍅 SUMMER EATS 🌽

With summer gardens in full swing, it's the perfect time to share some honest truths about how we really eat around here! From homegrown tomatoes to grocery store produce, Cheetos to fresh sweet corn—we believe in balance, choice, and raising kids who understand where their food comes from.

Check out this blog post about our no-nonsense approach to feeding our family and supporting ALL of agriculture!

What's growing in your summer garden?

06/16/2025

Check out the latest episode on AcresTV
Spring prep never stops! From Demco - Dethmers Mfg. Company sprayer maintenance and cleaning with Precision Laboratories products to silage corn planting, we're prepping for every season ahead. Plus, the latest on the screwworm threat facing our industry.

06/14/2025

🥛 DAIRY MONTH AMAZING FACT: A Kansas dairy cow produces 7.55 gallons of milk EVERY single day! That's enough to fill about 120 glasses of milk daily from just one hardworking dairy cow. Talk about incredible productivity from our Kansas dairy farmers!

June is Dairy Month, and we're recognizing the invaluable work of Kansas dairy farmers. Whether it's boosting Kansas' economy or feeding families around the world, Kansas dairy farmers make our state successful.

06/11/2025

🌱 Spring is in FULL swing on the ranch! This week's episode on AcresTV covers all our prep work—getting the sprayer ready, planting corn silage, and spreading fertilizer for the season ahead. Plus, an important update on the ongoing screwworm threat and what's being done to protect our livestock industry. From field prep to livestock protection, we're covering it all!

What spring prep are you tackling around your place?