ISSUES AND POLICY
Why It’s Important
By Scott George, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president
I
T WAS AN HONOR TO ACCEPT THE GAVEL in February from J.D. Alexan- der in Tampa, and I am both
honored and humbled by the op- portunity to serve as president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef As- sociation (NCBA). Growing up in my family’s op-
eration and seeing the hard work of my parents, brothers and sisters — and now seeing the work of the next generations who are return- ing to the farm — is really what drives me. There’s really no other way to
learn the life lessons we learn on the farm, that children gain when they grow up the way we have. Those experiences have helped shape who we are as people. Those experi- ences make the opportunity to be president of this organization so important and humbling for me. Being in the dairy and beef busi-
ness in Cody, Wyo., has defi ned the lives of my family, and it has provided us with a good life that is transitioning to the third gen- eration. But it isn’t without a lot of hard work. Anyone who has ever built a business and helped it grow can relate to how diffi cult it can be sometimes. But, when it gets diffi cult, you
just put your head down and keep going. That’s what your team is
80 The Cattleman April 2013
doing at NCBA and in your state cattlemen’s associations. They are protecting our future from regu- lations that threaten our way of life. Last year’s attempt by the De- partment of Labor to keep children from working on family farms and ranches hit particularly close to
We can’t control the weather or the market, but we can be prepared for the challenges they present.
home. That effort, and the fact that by working together we were able to defeat it, emphasized the impor- tance of having a strong association to represent our industry. We know we face some chal-
lenges as an industry, and weather and government and activists aren’t making things any easier. That’s why we’re here and we have staff members and volunteer leaders across this country at every level
committed to working on your be- half to defend your business and pave the way toward a better future for this industry that we depend on for our livelihood. Most of our work doesn’t end
just because the day is done. It ends when the work is fi nished. That same commitment to getting the job done holds true with our national, state and local cattlemen’s associa- tions, which are working to protect our interests. It’s critical that we stand together and help strengthen those groups. During the year ahead we’re all
going to be faced with challenges and opportunities. We can’t control the weather or the market, but we can be prepared for the challenges they present. Some of those deci- sions are being made now as farm- ers make planting decisions and cattlemen and -women make their breeding decisions. In February, our members made policy decisions and set the direction and priorities for the year ahead. As NCBA presi- dent it is my honor to have the op- portunity to help implement those decisions. I pledge to you that I will do my best to serve you during the year ahead and make sure that your voice is represented wherever decisions about the future of our industry are being made.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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