Name: Steven C. Kahla

Home State: Texas

Job Title and Employer: Field Representative - The Brahman Journal/Caballo Rojo Publishing, LP

What do you do on a typical day at work:
market analysis, photo shoots, marketing plans, advertising campaign design, concept development, ranch visits, international market maintenance/development, client interaction, ring-man, PR, travel agent, chauffeur, cowboy (always good being in the saddle – recently I went to the area of the Texas Coast effected by Hurricane Ike to work cows for the Cattle Evacuation Effort spearheaded by the TDA, TSCRA, ICA and various breed associations) and much more. Your job is what you make of it.

What is your favorite thing about your job?
Seeing the success of our clients.

Do you get to travel a lot, or mostly spend time in an office? Which do you prefer?
On the road all the time, I have a mobile office, my good ol’ Chevy truck. Being in the actual office is good to, better coffee.

How did you get interested in this career?
I have a background in advertising/marketing and the cattle industry just got lucky and very blessed to get to put them together.

What was your college major, and do you think that degree was crucial in helping you get to the career you are at right now?
Agricultural Development – Texas A&M University

What advice would you have for someone who is searching for a college and trying to choose a degree?
Chose a college where you will feel at home. Once you are there, join an organization of like minded people so that you can begin networking. I personally am a member of Alpha Gamma Rho the National Agricultural Fraternity. Through the process of choosing a degree don’t fall prey to everyone being a “Brain Surgeon” or “Rocket Scientist” – find something that you like to do, and do it. If your heart is not in your profession, it is hard to remain employed and be happy with what you do.

If you were hiring an employee, what are the top three skills you look for and why?
Determination – They must be able to complete a task, giving up is not an option.
Devotion – They must me committed to their goals, family, faith and “work team”. Fleeting standards are only the base of failure, make up your mind and stick to your guns, but be open to compromise for the better good of a project. 
Confidence – They must be strong enough to be able to handle many various tasks, and if they don’t know how or have questions, they need to be strong enough to ask. Asking questions is not a bad thing. I would rather have questions than incomplete work or errors.

Does someone’s college GPA have a big factor in whether you would hire them?
No. Common sense is a big factor.

If you could have any other dream job besides the one you have now, what would it be?
Governor of Texas or Political Talk Show host – both would be less work

Who is someone you admire professionally and why?
My Clients. Brahman Cattle Breeders are some of the best people I know. They are devoted to the breed, their cattle, their families and the success of agriculture in general. Everyone may have a different way of doing things, but when it is down to the wire, they all come together to make things happen. Honesty, Integrity and Worth are all moral assets which they posses. Whether they are in Australia, South Africa, Brazil or the U.S., Brahman people all have something in common, the cattle and the life that seams to come with them.

Have you had any mentors who have helped you in your career? If so, who? Do you think mentors are important?
My grandfather Carmon Waits was my mentor. He was an ol’ cowboy, a field engineer in the oil industry and a good man. He started running “Brahmer” cattle in the early 40’s on the Texas Gulf Coast around Manvil and Alvin. He would tell stories of working cattle in clouds of mosquitoes, catching your horse from a remuda, and getting lost in the salt grass when he was thrown from his horse and knocked unconscious, thank goodness he finally sat up, or they would have never found him. He taught me to persevere, no matter what obstacle is in the way, if you want something bad enough and are willing to work to get it, then eventually it will be yours. But in a time of loss or disappointment, don’t focus on what you didn’t win, figure out why and move on to the next task. Learning from your mistakes is a key to success. Everyone is going to make mistakes, is how you develop after them that makes you who you are.

Who’s the person you go to “bounce ideas around with”?
I have several people I bounce ideas off. My boss – Vicki Lambert, is one of the best in the business, My wife, Erica – She knows me better than anyone and is not afraid to tell me when I am wrong, my co-workers - Emily Otto, Robin Kukowski and Mandy Chambers, they give different perspectives to many things. I also talk to my clients regarding ways to approach the market with their specific product. My 3 year old daughter Sidney is a source of inspiration as well. Kids are the best people to go to when you need complete truth about an idea. They will tell you exactly what is on their mind. I also talk with my counterparts at other industry publications like Wade Perks and Hannah Tabor at The Cattleman, E.C. Larkin and Charlie Wood at The Gulf Coast Cattleman, Ralph Means at the Weekly Livestock Reporter, Adam Cotton of the American Hereford Assoc. Chris Shivers of the ABBA and many other valuable sources for market information. Talk to everyone, there is no telling what “Next Big Thing” you might come up with.

Is your job directly involved in agriculture? if not, how do you still get your "fix" of still being involved in the agriculture industry?
I am blessed enough to be directly involved in agriculture on the global scale. The Brahman Journal is the leading “Cebu” magazine in the world. I have to keep up with the global economy to better determine how to project market trends to advise clients on how to advertise and what to advertise. You have to be aware of the world around you in order to focus on your own objectives. That is the nice thing about agriculture, it is tied to everything, everywhere. Everyone has to eat and wear clothes, so whether they realize it or not, they are a part of agriculture. The definition of agriculture according to Webster’s dictionary is - The science, art, or practice of cultivating the soil, producing crops, and raising livestock and in varying degrees the preparation and marketing of the resulting products. When you can combine science, art, production and marketing all into one word, I’d say you have something pretty special.

What are your thoughts about young people’s profiles and photos being on facebook/myspace while trying to find a job? 
As long as they realize that these areas are portals to the world, and should behave as such, then they are just another form of communication. Be smart about what you put up there though, many employers and recruiters check these areas for honest back grounding on potential employees, students and scholarship recipients. The “world” is not a nice place all the time, so by offering your life to the public in this manner, you may not like the response. If you want to be treated like a responsible adult, then act like one.

Which of these would you rather be? The judge of the Denver steer show, the breeder of the Grand Champion Steer, the exhibitor of the Grand Champion Steer, or the person who fit the Grand Champion Steer? Why?
The judge will have the most effect on the market. They are the benchmark for what the next years buying trend will be. It is up to them to judge the show based on the animals merit, not who’s showing them, where they bought it from or who did the fitting. Real cattlemen know that production is what matters. Quality and consistency are keys to any program’s success. Its always better to hear someone in the background say,” That is a good calf, they deserved it.” about a champion, than one of the other varying reasons of political affiliation or who got to the judge. Honesty and integrity again are the most important parts of being truly successful

Did you grow up showing livestock? If so, what?
Yes, I showed Simbrah Cattle and American Quarter Horses.

Favorite Stock Show: Houston, there’s no place like it during International Brahman Week

Why?You have to go to understand.

You just won a free dinner at the best steakhouse in town and you get to invite 3 other people from the stock shows. Who would you take and why?
I don’t think I could just choose three. I would probably decline the dinner and just grab a bite elsewhere with all my friends. Sometimes free isn’t always good.