March 5, 2026
Why Beef Prices are So High—A Rancher Speaks!
Class Description
The beef industry is currently undergoing significant changes, which have led to increased prices and shifts in product availability. These transformations have raised questions among consumers who see higher costs at the store. The factors driving these price changes are impacting everyone involved in the beef supply chain, from farmers to suppliers, to consumers.
Local Ohio rancher Dustin Goldie will join EmpowerU to explain what’s happening in in the beef market causing exorbitant beef prices. He’ll also discuss trials and tribulations of small-scale local farmers, and what makes them valuable to our communities. Goldie will also weigh in on the future of micro-farms like his that raise grass and grain-fed, free range cattle.
This presentation explains how many Ohio families—especially renters, seniors, single parents, and low-energy users—are being unfairly impacted by Duke Energy’s current billing practices. Despite using less electricity, low-usage households are often charged nearly the same or more fees as high-energy users due to fixed rider fees, distribution charges, smart-meter penalties, and billing system errors.A local technology expert reviewed hundreds of bills across Southwest Ohio and found that more than 60% of some customer bills come from fees rather than actual energy usage, leading to shutoffs and financial hardship for already vulnerable communities. Weak oversight by state regulators has allowed these issues to persist.
The presentation proposes a Conditional Billing model as a fair, practical solution. This approach would create usage-based rate tiers so low-energy households are not forced to subsidize high-energy users, reduce or eliminate excessive smart-meter opt-out fees, require regular independent audits of billing software, and improve transparency so customers can understand and verify their bills. The goal is a win-win outcome: Duke Energy remains financially stable while families pay only for what they actually use.
The presentation calls on Duke leadership, PUCO, lawmakers, and community members to work together to implement these changes and ensure energy affordability, fairness, and accountability for all.
Speaker Bio
Dustin Goldie is the owner of Goldie Beef farms located in Clarksville, Ohio. His farm is known as Goldie Beef North, he runs the farm alongside his father, Rick. His Brother operates Goldie Beef South in Stanford, Kentucky, along with his Uncle Jeff, operating Goldie Beef East in Wilmington, Ohio. Goldie Beef focuses primarily on delivering custom processed, farm-raised beef, and hay production.
Holding a master’s degree and principal license, Dusty also teaches in the Little Miami School District. He has been in education as an educator and administrator for over 23 years. He currently works with at-risk students, overseeing the Panther Success Academy. The program gives students an alternative pathway to graduation and helps with job placement for the students.
Michelle’s work extends beyond corporate strategy into civic engagement and community leadership.
She serves as an elected Councilwoman in Woodlawn, Ohio; an appointed Advisory Council Member for the Hamilton County’s Department of Economic Community Support; and a Trustee on the Board of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. She has been featured on TEDx stages discussing how managing bias and restoring energy through empathy can transform organizational dynamics.
Her book, Be Brown Brave: Guide to Supporting Women of ALL Color in the Workplace, helps senior leaders identify and overcome unconscious barriers, strengthen collaboration, and build high-performing teams with equity at the core. In every space she enters—from boardrooms to community forums—Michelle champions the idea that true empowerment begins when individuals and organizations commit to inclusion as a foundational value.
Her commitment to equitable opportunity aligns with EMPOWERU’s mission to build confident decision-makers and leaders who improve the quality of life, and she is honored to bring her insights to your community