Associations

[gizmom]

How many of you folks are involved in your local, state or national cattle associations. Our local Cattlemen's association has basically disappeared in the past couple of years. Truth is I can't remember if they even had a meeting in 2014. I personally think that the associations have a lot to offer us. We stay so busy with the day to day operation of our cattle business there is no way without NCBA we could stay current on legislation that impacts our industry. This is true as well with our breed association, we have to try to keep up with what is going on with our breed of cattle. Our son and his wife just completed their two year commitment representing our district through the young farmer and rancher program. What a great program for our young producers.

Sorry for rambling but I was watching Cattleman to Cattleman this morning and it got me wondering just how many of the folks that talk cattle all the time are involved. We are members, but I can't say we are active, we have been to two NCBA conventions and will go again but not this year. I would highly recommend going if the opportunity presents itself. The cattleman college program is worth the trip. We are also members of our state association, as well as the Alabama association. Alabama BCIA presents some exceptional educational programs throughout the year. I am sure Florida and other states do as well, for us we have found the programs in Alabama are closer to us usually around Auburn (3 hours) than the Florida programs that are in Gainsville (6 hours).

Next week we are heading to Denver for the National Western another event that is fun, and I love seeing the cattle in the yards.

Gizmom

 

[M5farm]

I joined he Florida cattlemans association this year. They do have meetings here. I have not gone to one yet.

 

[dun]

State and national Red Angus Associations. The MO cattlemans association is mostly active in northern MO.

 

[Williamsv]

My husband and I are members of GA Cattlemen's Association and our local chapter which is very active. We enjoy the supper meetings and always have an interesting informative speaker.

 

[tom4018]

We are members of the county and state associations. Never attended a state meeting but this year it is close by and will consider. We are active in the county association, my daughter is the secretary and I am on the sale committee, rarely miss any meetings. Also Angus members.

 

[gizmom]

M5

Hopefully you will enjoy the programs as much as we have over the years.

Williams's I love it when they have the smoked steaks!

I bet MO has some great programs.

M5 we are Alabama fans, but are looking forward to the game Monday, I have to agree with you the Ducks are impressive, I think they will be hard to beat!

Secretary of an association is a lot of work so is sale committee, I know the folks in your association appreciate you for sure!

Gizmom

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

We are very active in our Missouri Simmental Association, and I am the junior advisor. We try to have a yearly sale, usually in the fall, to promote the Missouri genetics and invite people from other states to join us. It takes a bunch of people to run an organization like that. Sometimes we struggle, but I think we make a difference. We put together a tour a few years ago that was great. I hope we continue to try to do things like that.
We are also active in the Missouri Cattlemen's Association, here locally. We have a very active local chapter, where we sell a bunch of rib eye sandwiches during big events for fund raisers. Dun, you need to come down our way, we have a meeting every month, and get to eat good food! :lol: But there is not enough time to make them all. We have lots of guest speakers come in and talk with the group, and they are great about sponsoring the local youth for projects and contests.
We belong and support the American Simmental Association. We are very active in the junior program with the AJSA.

 

[fitz]

Fire Sweep, your family Christmas photo showed nicely in the Register.

 

[bigbull338]

im a member of my breed assoc.

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Fire Sweep, your family Christmas photo showed nicely in the Register.

Thank you.
I was just bummed when it got out late... I was under the impression it was going to be out before Christmas...

 

[Rafter S]

I belong to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. I've been to several of the Ranch Gatherings they sponsor, but that's about the extent of my involvement. I'd like to go to one of the conventions some time.

 

[cow pollinater]

I'm a member of my county and state associations as well as NCBA. I also follow a few breed publications. I think it's worthwhile if for no other reason than the flow of information.

 

[M5farm]

Gizmom I won't hold you being a bama fan against You. L o l I look forward to meetings this year. They have ask to join for years just never did.

 

[Katpau]

I am on the board of my county Livestock Assoc. I am Treasurer and have been the Membership person since 2006. I had joined the Organization back in the early 90’s, but I pretty much paid my dues and took advantage of the activities that interested me without doing anything more to help. I never gave much thought in those days to all the work that went on to keep the Association going. It was first started in 1931 and has been active ever since. In about 2004 my husband was asked to be on the Board and I went with him to the meetings. I am actually the one who started the cattle herd and has made it my obsession, but Paul was approached most likely because he worked for the Dept. of Environmental Quality, at the time, and it was thought that it would be good to have a cattlemen with influence in environmental areas. We have both since retired from outside jobs and ranching is now our main occupation. Paul has continued to be on the board and represents the Livestock Assoc. at Watershed Council meetings (Where he is now President of the council) and anything else water related such as ODA programs. After several years attending meetings I was asked to do Membership by the person who was doing it at the time. I took over not really knowing what I was getting into. It was quite a job at first and had not been done properly for some time. With some effort I have increased paying membership by about 70%. When the Treasurer decided to step down I was asked to take over that position. I had been a licensed CPA at one time, so it was a good fit for me. In spite of the fact that I was coming to the meetings and doing much of the work, I was not asked to be on the board for some time. It was a male dominated Association, and unfortunately it did not even seem to occur to them that it might be preferable to appoint a women that was already at the meetings over a male that only bothered to attend a few meetings per year. When we had several meetings where decisions could not be voted on because of lack of a quorum, I suggested they consider putting me on the board. No one seemed to be opposed, it just had not occurred to them. Things have changed a bit since then and we now have 4 women out of 20 board members. I am also a member of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Assoc. the NCBA, and AAA, but not active.

 

[inyati13]

Vice-President of Robertson County Chapter of KY Cattle Association. They have a hard time getting volunteers so I got drafted. Member KY Cattle Association. Member ASA.

A shame there is not better participation in the County Chapter. The UK Extension agent administers the meetings and is a very dedicated young lady who is part of a well known Harrson County, KY cattle operation that sells PB Simmentals and Gelbvieh Cattle. She is young and motivated. She aspires to upgrade the cattle vocation in our small county.

 

[kenny thomas]

I am the President of Lee Co Livestock Association. Board meets monthly and the association members meet every quarter. We try to have something special going on for the quartly meetings. Annual meeting usually is a steak dinner and real good speakers. Members get discounts at some of the business' here. We help the Extension service with some of their programs also and the Ag agent is an advisor on our board and helps us a lot.

 

[gizmom]

I sure hate that our local chapter isn't doing anything, which brings up a question. What can we do to get folks coming to meetings? Are the young folks not attending because they just don't have the time or do they feel if they need information it is just a click away?

Gizmom

 

[kenny thomas]

I sure hate that our local chapter isn't doing anything, which brings up a question. What can we do to get folks coming to meetings? Are the young folks not attending because they just don't have the time or do they feel if they need information it is just a click away?

Gizmom

We are a young association, young in time we have been an association not young in members age. We have only around 60 members and their families. We have the same problems getting people to get involved. I am open for any ideas.

 

[M5farm]

I do belong to some professional business associations and I have found that the younger generations are not involved because they don't think they will be accepted because their business is small and usually the leaders are very successful and they feel overlooked. The best thing I have found is grassroots door to door invitations and giving younger people leadership roles. I did not join the cattleman assn because I'm a small producer and all o f the leadership have have large herds. I finally decided that it really didn't matter and joined anyway.

 

[Nesikep]

We haven't joined the provincial one because of the incredible trouble we've had with neighbors who are members.. Around here it's definitely a nepotistic clique/posse that gives a rats arse about other people. Think of the wild west.. shoot first, ask questions later.. the most well connected guy wins, and there's PLENTY of them..