Wyo producer elected NCBA president

Tampa, Fla. – On Feb. 9, Cody dairy and beef producer Scott George was officially elected to the serve as the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president.

“It is a great honor to be elected to lead NCBA for the next year. The opportunities for U.S. cattlemen and women are boundless,” said George. “NCBA represents such diversity in the cattle industry. It takes all of us working toward the goal of being successful and providing consumers with the world’s safest, highest-quality supply of beef.”

National leadership

George was elected to serve as president for the 2013 year.

“I am looking forward to seeing what this year will bring for the cattle industry,” said George. “There will always be challenges, from the drought, which deeply affected so much of cattle country, to educating our elected officials and consumers about our industry, to continuing to ensure that beef remains an affordable, nutritious choice for families to put on their dinner tables. But like the challenges we’ve faced in our past, we will overcome hurdles, we will succeed and we will move our industry forward.”

Serving with George include President-Elect Bob McCann of Victoria, Texas and Vice President Don Pemberton of Hopkinsville, Ky. Richard Gebhart of northeastern Oklahoma was elected chairman of the NCBA Federation Division, and Cevin Jones of Idaho is the Federation Division’s vice chair.

Other Wyoming producers elected to positions within the organization include NCBA’s new Policy Division chairman Phillip Ellis of Chugwater and Dave True, who continues as treasurer.

“Those three gentlemen are part of a team of nine key leadership positions in the national organization,” commented Wyoming Stock Growers Association Executive Vice President Jim Magagna. “We have a tremendous voice for Wyoming and the West.”

“We are very proud to have such outstanding men represent Wyoming and the livestock industry at the national level. They are stellar examples of the caliber of producers we have in Wyoming.” Magagna continued, “It is, to me, one of the strongest leadership teams that I have seen in NCBA.”

Magagna noted that it has been since the early day of NCBA’s predecessor, the American National Cattlemen’s Association, since the organization’s national president was from Wyoming.

Florida convention

During the four-day convention on Feb. 6-9, over 6,500 cattlemen and women attended. Wyoming had a strong contingent at the event, with close to 30 producers there.

“It was certainly good for Wyoming to have that type of leadership there,” commented Magagna. “It was a good convention. The good news was there were no big controversies.”

For policies adopted at the convention, Magagna marked a several policies that would be beneficial to Wyoming.

“There were policies relative to one we supported from Montana addressing the opening up of more CRP lands to grazing, given the drought we are in,” said Magagna. “It could have some benefit to Wyoming.”

While no new policies were presented in the federal lands committee, interim policies put in place at last July’s convention became permanent policies.

“There was a policy adopted on the beef check-off, and there has been a lot of talk by broad-based groups, including NCBA, Farm Bureau, Farmer’s Union and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, about some potential changes to the beef check-off legislation,” explained Magagna. “This was just guidance to NCBA to not lose focus and to keep any changes consistent with the beef industry-wide long range plan.”

NCBA members also voted on new and expiring policy issues, including resolutions on cattle health and well being; food safety; border security and immigration; cattle marketing and trade; federal lands ranching and more.

Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.