Farming isn’t easy; I don’t have to tell you that. It will rain on your hay, your cows will get out, the market won’t always play nice and that quarter-of-a-million dollar tractor won’t always run like it’s supposed to – if at all.

At a Women in Agriculture conference earlier this year, Michael Stolp, vice president of customer insights and senior family business adviser at Northwest Farm Credit Services, presented ways to “Power up your communication” on the farm.

It all began six years ago, with two “one in a million” carcasses, one late-night call and a whole lot of questions.

It’s fitting that I bring technology up for two reasons: It’s our focus topic this month, and I happen to be one of those pesky millennials – you know, the generation known for selfies, selfie sticks and thumbs that can punch out a sentence faster than you can speak. (If you don’t know what a selfie is, talk to me later.)

With the reopening of the Chinese markets announced in September, Progressive Cattleman’s Cassidy Woolsey asked Joe Schuele, vice president of communications at the U.S. Meat Export Federation, if he would answer a few questions regarding the announcement.