Brianna Gwirtz, OCJ Field Reporter
As a child, Mark Goecke was familiar with the phrase “Waste not, want not.” One of his 10 children on his family's dairy farm, he quickly learned that everything has value and to cherish all resources.
Now, Mark and his brother Steve have transitioned their family's dairy farm into a feedlot operation in Spencerville. With a focus on sustainability and raising quality beef, the company recently received his 2024 Commercial Cattleman of the Year Award from the Ohio Cattlemen's Association (OCA).
“Any time you are recognized by your peers, it is the highest honor you can receive,” Mark Goecke said.
The two brothers took over the family farming operation in 1999 upon their father's retirement. They recognized that changes were needed to sustain her two families on the farm. At the time they were already feeding a few Holstein steers, but decided to replace the heifers with more steers. In 2000, they built more barns and began adding cattle.
They currently raise cattle at three locations within a three-mile radius of their home farm.
Working with Nexus Marketing, Goecke sells six to eight 48,000-pound cows each month.
“We bring cows in and out, so we have a pretty good idea of how many pounds of feed a cow will need from birth to slaughter. We price our cattle through the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, so when it's time to put in cattle, we can consider the potential profitability of our operation. From there, we decide whether to pre-contract or sell on the open market,” Goecke said. “If you don't know the costs, you don't know the benefits.”
Due to the increased availability of calves in the state, the Goeckes feed primarily Holstein steers.
“Most of our cattle go to a packer in Plainwell, Michigan, which is only 290 miles away. Freight is much cheaper to ship to Michigan than to Illinois or Pennsylvania,” Goecke said. said.
Effective use of resources is very important to Goecke Farms. Their feed includes dry distilled grain leftover from ethanol production and wheat pulp leftover from the milling process, which is a good source of protein and energy.
“We feed products that are not available to humans to cows, which produce an extremely valuable source of protein for our diets,” Goecke said.
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword, especially for Goecke Farms, which is located in the western Lake Erie watershed. A variety of farming techniques are employed to reduce the farm's environmental impact. They grow cover crops in low-lying fields, plant grass along waterways, and incorporate manure from feedlots to fertilize their fields.
The Goecke brothers visited the University of Minnesota to study different structural designs for feedlot operations to reduce the amount of bedding used on the farm.
“In 2011, we started looking at different architectural styles and in 2012 we went to Minnesota, where they had been trying to perfect feedlot buildings for years. In 2013, we were one of the first manufacturers to install slat barns with rubber mats. We currently have three of these barns installed, so to reduce the flooring required, we “About half of Holsteins are raised on rubber-coated grates or mats,” Goecke said. “But the most important thing about sustainability is that it must also be economically sustainable. Sustainable for us means not wasting things. Let us use what has been given to us. This way of life is both a very pleasant way of living and a very difficult way of living. We have to feed our families and our growing population.”
Goecke said he is very positive about working with his brother.
“Over the years, we've come to think the same way. We don't always need to have the conversation now. We can look at each other and find the answer. We had a common goal and working together with my brother was very successful,” Goecke said.
Their father also remains nearby, building a home near the home farm.
“We are monitored every day,” Goecke said jokingly. “Although my father doesn't usually offer his opinions, he always gives advice when we ask for it and is always encouraging.”
In addition to receiving the OCA award this winter, Goecke was selected as the 2024 Ohio Cattlemen's Association President.
“I previously served as District 4 director for three years. I was re-elected to the board in November and elected president in December,” Goecke said.
“As I begin my term, I think my biggest goal is to help cattlemen rediscover what the association can do for them, no matter where they are in the beef industry. . There's something for cow and calf producers, too: show cattle folks, and commercial feedlot producers.”
He also wants to showcase what OCA can do for different age groups.
“I want to put a little more emphasis on young people because they are the foundation of the beef industry. They need to continue in the industry when I and others my age retire. “Yes,” Goecke said.
Goecke wants to encourage members established in the industry to continue to engage with local and state governments and advocate for legislation favorable to beef producers.
“I also think it’s important to work with producers who are ready to retire. We want to make sure they have the best tax policies in place so they can pass their farms on to the next generation,” Goecke said. said.
As for next year's issues, Goecke expects the availability of feeder calves to be a challenge for production, which is good for calf producers but could be tough for feedlot operators. There is a gender. He also recognizes the importance of educating the public about Ohio's beef production and continuing to work with lawmakers to prevent illegal groups from encroaching on state laws.
“We need to be careful about people proposing bills with hidden agendas,” Goecke said. “Unfortunately, we lost the fight against Proposition 12 in California, and we don't want that to happen here.”
Looking forward to the year ahead, Goecke feels OCA is well-positioned to meet these challenges head-on.
“I really have to thank the past presidents and the team of directors who have made our Cattlemen’s Association such a great organization,” he said. “I travel a lot around the country, and I see supermarkets stocking Ohio beef and American beef, and I see people buying that product over other beef products. Grocery stores. When you go to a store and see quality products, it speaks volumes about what we do.”
