Beef blogger chronicles life as a cattle farmer

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Amanda Radke, owner of Radke Cattle Co. and Amanda Radke Communications LLC.

Name: Amanda Radke

Age: 30

Hometown: Mitchell

What keeps you in the Sioux Falls area?

I continue to work and raise my kids in my hometown of Mitchell as that’s where my family’s cattle ranch is located. We love this rural community and the opportunity to be involved in production agriculture.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

I love communicating the beef production story with consumers. From GMOs to antibiotics to hormones to nutrition, there are so many misconceptions about beef out there, and I work hard to reassure consumers that modern cattle production is sustainable for the environment and provides beneficial and safe beef and beef byproducts that enrich our daily lives.

What made you decide to work for your family business?

As a fifth-generation rancher, the cattle business is in my blood. I grew up showing cattle in 4-H and FFA, and agriculture is something I’ve always been passionate about. From raising cattle to writing about this industry, I never tire of this business and the hardworking people involved in producing food to feed the world.

You also write a blog about your business. What do you write about and what kind of response do you get?

My BEEF Daily blog can be found at beefmagazine.com. I’ve written four blogs per week since 2008, and I cover a wide range of topics — cattle health and nutrition; land management; environmental stewardship practices; beef’s role in preventing diabetes, heart disease and cancer; common consumer questions; and my journey as a young producer trying to beat the odds of this volatile business.

Describe Radke Cattle Co. in three words.

Family. Faith. Cattle.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see my husband, Tyler, and I continuing to grow our operation while also managing our full-time jobs — myself, writing and speaking, and Tyler, a farm manager for Farmers National Company. As my parents near retirement age, we could be looking at transitioning the ranch. We hope with good planning and foresight, this will be a smooth succession, and it’s something we hope to pass onto our children when they are grown as well.

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Beef blogger chronicles life as a cattle farmer

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Amanda Radke, owner of Radke Cattle Co. and Amanda Radke Communications LLC.

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