CATTLE RAISERS COMMUNITY
Of things that concern cattle raisers…
MEMBER NOTES
The Useful Information We Share at Ranch Gatherings By Claude Koontz, Association Promotion Committee chair
T
HE TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN Cattle Raisers Association
(TSCRA) Ranch Gathering sea- son is in full swing. We have
hosted 8 events, with many more on the schedule across the state. For those members who have not attended a Ranch Gathering, our focus is 2-fold. First, we want to “bring TSCRA to its members,” and second, we aim to demonstrate the value of TSCRA membership to prospective members. We accomplish these goals in several ways. We ask
a member of TSCRA’s Government and Public Affairs offi ce in Austin to provide an update on the issues fac- ing our members from the state and federal standpoints. These issues could involve water rights, mineral rights, eminent domain, Country-Of-Origin Labeling (COOL), or the anti-meat movement, to name a few. Our Austin team asks local, state, or federal elected
offi cials to address the group, when the offi cials are available. During our gathering in Floresville last week, Jason Skaggs, who directs the Austin offi ce, asked State Representative John Kuempel to share some insights with our group. The breadth of issues presented, combined with the
depth of knowledge that each member of our Govern- ment and Public Affairs team clearly possesses, always impresses our members and just as importantly, drives home the value of TSCRA membership to our prospec- tive members. Issues such as water rights and eminent domain affect everyone, whether a prospective member owns 50 head of cattle or 5,000, or if he or she owns no cattle but is a landowner. A second focus is law enforcement. We typically ask several Special Rangers from the area to attend each
12 The Cattleman May 2016
ranch gathering. There is rarely a person in attendance who has not been victimized by ranch theft. A Special Ranger will address the group to provide an update on theft activity in the area, a review of pertinent cases on which he is working, and tips to prevent ranch theft. Members and prospective members alike recognize
the value of this unique law enforcement group of 30 TSCRA Special Rangers, and their specifi c charge to protect the property of ranch owners in Texas and Oklahoma. The Special Rangers investigate approxi- mately 1,000 agricultural crime cases and recover an average of $5 million in stolen cattle and assets for ranchers, annually. Every member defi nes the value of his or her TSCRA
membership differently. For some, having an experienced advocate in Austin and Washington to advance issues important to landowners and cattle raisers is key. For others, having a reliable and seasoned law enforcement offi cer work by their side when property is stolen proves TSCRA’s primary value. However, TSCRA’s value encompasses “the whole pie”
for most – legislative advocacy, law enforcement, educa- tional programs, access to the latest ranching informa- tion and The Cattleman magazine, to name just a few. Finally, we cannot forget TSCRA’s social aspect — the
opportunities to catch up with one’s ranching friends that the Convention, Summer Meeting and Policy Con- ference provide should not be overlooked. We hope that you, as TSCRA members, are fi nding
value in our ranch gathering presentations. We try to be mindful of what our members want to hear, as well as presenting a solid value proposition to prospective members. I look forward to seeing you at a future ranch gathering. Bring a prospective member!
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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