For months, I had been pondering buying an iPhone because my Blackberry kept freezing.

After the 100th time I had to reboot the Blackberry in one day, I went to the Verizon store and bought an iPhone. The selling point was that it syncs to my MacBook, iTunes and is compatible with editing software.

But what I didn't know is just how useful it is as a tool for not only for me, but also, for ranching.

I zoomed through the list of thousands of apps and downloaded interesting programs.

And here's what I found for free:

1. AgWired app - This app gives realtime updates of agricultural news, videos, photos, tweets and market info with the touch of your finger.

2. Farm to Fork - This app is brought to you by British farmers and delivers all sorts of meat-related recipes by spinning a wheel with your finger.

3. Beef Producer - This app is similar to AgWired, but deals strictly with beef issues.

4. Farm Futures - A realtime update of all futures - including news, commentary, quotes, and blogs.

5. Moo Cows - My personal favorite...If you're ever away from the ranch and miss your herd, just click open this app and hear the wonderful sounds of moos from wherever you are.

These apps are helpful for ranchers and farmers, but we're not done!

There are even weather radars, iRanch (acts as a bookkeeper on your ranch), realtime updates of local, state-wide, and national news, stock ticker, police & EMT scanner, Google Search Box, voice texting, radio streams...along with easy access to your Facebook, email, Twitter, Skype, Google + accounts....AND the ability to take and post photos/videos to these accounts in 30 seconds or less!

Overwhelmed yet? If yes, that's OK. Just think about how having this device in your hand could help you ranch, help you farm, and help you agvocate with just the touch of a button.

I'm embarrassed to admit that before I came to work for MSGA, I couldn't tell you the first thing about the  4-H Club. But after about half a year surrounded by agriculture, I can proudly that I know what 4-H is and think it's a really great program for youth.

Last week, I went to my first 4-H Fair at the Lewis and Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena, Montana. My friend from New York came with me.

When we first arrived, we couldn't stop saying "awwww, look!" at all of the sheep, rabbits, and goats. But for us, the true excitement was seeing the judging of the steers. Collin Gibbs, 2011 Young Cattlemen's College participant, was the cattle judge for this event.

Collin thoroughly examined the steers while my friend and I tried to figure out what he was looking for in their build. We really had no idea...although, we did note that some looked cuter than others.

Six classes of steers went through the show ring and each time, Collin explained his thought process of judging them...teaching the kids and the audience about desirable traits.

After reexamining the top steers, he selected the winner.

I came away from the fair with not only a new list of cattle-based vocabulary words, but a greater understanding of how everything in the production of quality beef starts at the cow/calf level. There are some traits in cattle that are better than others...and these are better because they deliver a greater end product to the consumer. Ranchers have worked for decades to select traits in cattle that will yield better animals.

And here is the next generation continuing this on...

4-H teaches youth a lot of great information about agriculture and we should thank these kids for working so hard to bring great steers to the market.