Quiet strength: What feedlot people and soldiers have in common

S&D+ Executive Director Dr Ian Langford recently participated in BeefEx 2026 on the Gold Coast, Australia, where his keynote remarks reflected on the unexpected parallels between military service and the feedlot industry, from teamwork and responsibility to the discipline of preparing for disruption before it arrives.

His central theme was quiet strength: the strength to serve without requiring applause, to do routine things well when nobody is watching, and to take responsibility for the team, the animal and the country.

Langford’s keynote made the case that the work happening beyond the feedlot fence is part of Australia’s wider resilience, reaching into regional communities, supply chains, overseas markets and national security.

“Food security is national security, and the people who produce our food are part of the nation’s strategic depth.”

You can read the full transcript here: Quiet strength: What feedlot people and soldiers have in common