Officers Address Cattlemen in Opening General Session
Members encouraged to step up commitment to improve beef demand and defense against industry detractors.
by Troy Smith for Angus Productions Inc.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (Jan. 27, 2010) — The 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas, drew near record attendance from beef producers involved in meetings of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the American National CattleWomen (ANCW) and the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). A majority of the nearly 5,700 convention registrants assembled Wednesday afternoon for the opening general session, hearing reports from respective officers of the three organizations. Consistent in their remarks was the call for commitment toward efforts to improve beef demand and defense against industry detractors.
Massachusetts dairy producer Lucinda Williams reported on her year as chairman of the CBB, which administers the dollar-a-head beef checkoff. Williams said CBB representatives responsible for directing checkoff funds toward beef promotion, research and education must be responsive to producers while listening to consumers. She said checkoff-funded programs must respond to consumers’ desire for more information on which to base purchasing choices. But she warned against relying on the consumer's “common sense,” considering the increased amount of misinformation they receive about beef production practices and food safety.
Nebraska’s Kristi Lage commented on her year at the helm of the ANCW, highlighting major projects including the National Beef Cook-Off and the selection of five students comprising the team of National Beef Ambassadors. Lage challenged the audience to take a cue from those young people and seek opportunities to be proactive spokespersons on behalf of the industry.
NCBA President and Michigan Angus producer Gary Voogt said convention attendees have a big job to do on behalf of NCBA’s 30,000 members and the 750,000 producers who contribute to the beef checkoff. He noted that beef demand has sagged to 1998 levels and stressed the need to bolster beef’s market share, as well as the continuing need to resist “big government” and misguided measures that threaten to overtax and over-regulate beef producers.
“I challenge you to do two things. First, attend the committee meetings and get the work done,” Voogt said. “And I urge you to support the Governance Task Force recommendations for consummating the marriage of the Beef Industry Council and NCBA.”
Voogt said proposed changes to association structure would make the organization more “nimble” and help assure its position as a definitive voice for the industry, in the U.S. and around the world.
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