Preserving a Way of Life Through Cattle Nutrition
For Elizabeth Belew, Ph.D., a career in agriculture was a given. “EB” grew up in a town of 250 people, where agriculture was “just what you did.” And for her family, raising cattle was what they did.
“I knew that I just wanted to be in agriculture, and I was going to do anything that I could to get that done,” says EB. “Now, my path may have changed. At first, I thought I was going to go into ag business, but then I really liked animal science.”
Her interest in animal science and nutrition was sparked while working on Lincoln University’s1 school research farm as an undergrad. She recalls, “That’s where I really found my love for research and animal nutrition. I’m a very analytical person, and animal science is very yes/no.”
She also was fortunate enough to find people who believed in her and gave her opportunities to advance her education and career. “They put me in every opportunity to try something, every opportunity to talk in front of producers, to be part of a research program, to travel. They let me decide if I wanted to do it or not. And I did.”
Today, she brings that lifetime of cattle knowledge and personal experience to Purina, where she is a nutritionist on the Beef Technical Solutions team. And if you ask her, she’ll tell you how she still enjoys growing and learning from those around her.
She’ll also tell you what it means to be checkboard-strong. “It’s a culture,” EB says. “I love what I do. I love the people I get to work with.”
For EB, what really sets Purina apart comes down to three P’s: products, people and passion.
EB uses Purina products in her own operation — specifically, Purina® RangeLand® Protein Tubs and Purina® Wind and Rain® Mineral. That experience and background also translates to stronger customer relationships. EB says she often tells customers about the products she uses. She adds, “I understand logistics. I understand why you might be hesitant, but I get it because these are the same objections that I have at my house.” As a result, EB can respond to customers’ concerns with firsthand accounts of how specific products quieted her own objections and met the needs of her operation.
Working with a smart team is a plus, but for EB, the relationships she’s built with dealers and producers alike are the most rewarding part.
“When I can sit down at a supper table with somebody that I’ve worked with a couple of years from zero, that’s success to me. I’m with them. I’m part of their operation in a very small piece,” she says.
EB also emphasizes the familial aspect of the ag business when she’s having those supper-table conversations. That’s where the final P — passion — comes in.
That’s a personal objective for EB, too. “My whole goal is to give Jeanine and Henry something that can be theirs, that they can continue on with. I’m going to give them every opportunity so they can make the decision whether they want to be farmers or not,” she says.
She’s focused on protecting a way of life — doing what you love, instilling a sense of responsibility and having the grit to continue day-to-day — for the next generation.
“There’s just something about knowing the kids have the opportunity to be farmers but they also get to live that life today. They get to be around cattle. They get to be around their two dogs, their mini donkeys and their two cats. They get to ride in the tractor with their papa and bale hay. It’s just a family thing,” EB says.
Ultimately, that’s what working in ag is all about for EB. She concludes, “That’s the beauty of agriculture — it’s like-minded people that share the same passion for what you do every day.”
“I knew that I just wanted to be in agriculture, and I was going to do anything that I could to get that done,” says EB. “Now, my path may have changed. At first, I thought I was going to go into ag business, but then I really liked animal science.”
Her interest in animal science and nutrition was sparked while working on Lincoln University’s1 school research farm as an undergrad. She recalls, “That’s where I really found my love for research and animal nutrition. I’m a very analytical person, and animal science is very yes/no.”
She also was fortunate enough to find people who believed in her and gave her opportunities to advance her education and career. “They put me in every opportunity to try something, every opportunity to talk in front of producers, to be part of a research program, to travel. They let me decide if I wanted to do it or not. And I did.”
Today, she brings that lifetime of cattle knowledge and personal experience to Purina, where she is a nutritionist on the Beef Technical Solutions team. And if you ask her, she’ll tell you how she still enjoys growing and learning from those around her.
She’ll also tell you what it means to be checkboard-strong. “It’s a culture,” EB says. “I love what I do. I love the people I get to work with.”
For EB, what really sets Purina apart comes down to three P’s: products, people and passion.
Walking the Walk
EB’s husband, Robbie, shares her passion for animals. The pair live with their two children, Henry and Jeanine2, on a beef cattle farm that’s been in Robbie’s family since 1834 and own land that’s been in EB’s family since 1926. They raise commercial cows — a fall herd and a spring herd — together with Robbie’s dad, Bruce.EB uses Purina products in her own operation — specifically, Purina® RangeLand® Protein Tubs and Purina® Wind and Rain® Mineral. That experience and background also translates to stronger customer relationships. EB says she often tells customers about the products she uses. She adds, “I understand logistics. I understand why you might be hesitant, but I get it because these are the same objections that I have at my house.” As a result, EB can respond to customers’ concerns with firsthand accounts of how specific products quieted her own objections and met the needs of her operation.
Building Trusted Relationships
With the amount of information available to producers today, the dealer relationship is more important than ever — and can help producers get the relevant answers they need. EB adds, “Our dealer and co-op networks are top of the line. If the dealer doesn’t know, they can go to the salesperson. And if the salesperson doesn’t know, they can go to their technical rep. It’s strength in numbers.”Working with a smart team is a plus, but for EB, the relationships she’s built with dealers and producers alike are the most rewarding part.
“When I can sit down at a supper table with somebody that I’ve worked with a couple of years from zero, that’s success to me. I’m with them. I’m part of their operation in a very small piece,” she says.
EB also emphasizes the familial aspect of the ag business when she’s having those supper-table conversations. That’s where the final P — passion — comes in.
Strengthening Generational Ties
“I pretty much start every session I have with, ‘I have two kids that are 5th and 8th generation farmers. My goal is to not mess this up for them.’ Part of that is showing that I’m here with the producers, too,” EB notes. “My goal is to keep these people in business and keep them in operation so that the next generation can take it over.”That’s a personal objective for EB, too. “My whole goal is to give Jeanine and Henry something that can be theirs, that they can continue on with. I’m going to give them every opportunity so they can make the decision whether they want to be farmers or not,” she says.
She’s focused on protecting a way of life — doing what you love, instilling a sense of responsibility and having the grit to continue day-to-day — for the next generation.
“There’s just something about knowing the kids have the opportunity to be farmers but they also get to live that life today. They get to be around cattle. They get to be around their two dogs, their mini donkeys and their two cats. They get to ride in the tractor with their papa and bale hay. It’s just a family thing,” EB says.
Ultimately, that’s what working in ag is all about for EB. She concludes, “That’s the beauty of agriculture — it’s like-minded people that share the same passion for what you do every day.”
1 Lincoln University (university of arkansas was my grad school)
2 Jeanine and Henry
Photo by Kelly Cosby Photography
Photo by Kelly Cosby Photography
