Todd Wilkinson , NCBA President

Grassroots Outreach Makes All the Difference

When I update cattle producers in different parts of the country on what NCBA is doing in Washington , D . C , I am frequently asked , “ How can I help ?” The answer is by speaking up and joining our grassroots outreach efforts . Unlike so many other advocacy organizations in Washington , NCBA speaks for individual cattle producers , not companies or other interests . That is something I ’ m certainly proud of and I hope you are also proud to be part of this association that puts producers first .

At the first meeting of the National Stock Growers Convention in January 1898 — an event that would eventually lead to the formation of NCBA — a Pueblo rancher named G . F . Patrick told the crowd how individual cattle producers might be ignored by policymakers and special interests , but when producers unite their voice it ’ s powerful : “ Singly , he is but one man with a few thousand dollars ; combined , he is a multitude with a million at his back , and with the business aggression , experience and ability of an army standing to support him .”

That same point holds true 125 years later . Today , we face a new array of challenges , but the grassroots outreach of our members makes all the difference on Capitol Hill . This year , thousands of cattle producers have made their voices heard on a range of policy issues by joining NCBA ’ s grassroots campaigns . While NCBA works every day to represent you on Capitol Hill and in federal agencies , hearing directly from a producer can make the difference and move a policymaker to our side .

Since the start of 2023 , cattle producers have sent 14,236 messages to their representatives in Congress representing 49 of 50 states . This spring , 1,950 cattle producers wrote to urge the U . S . Senate to pass a resolution to overturn President Biden ’ s Waters of the United States ( WOTUS ) rule and the resolution passed in a bipartisan vote . When the Bureau of Land Management proposed new rules that would upend grazing on public lands , 813 cattle producers from across the U . S . wrote letters and showed the agency that farmers and ranchers — in the West and beyond — were united against the rule . As animal rights activists have attacked the Beef Checkoff , 2,556 cattle producers spoke up to show policymakers that real farmers and ranchers support the Checkoff . When Rep . Victoria Spartz , an Indiana Congresswoman , introduced an amendment that attacked the Beef Checkoff , producers bombarded Capitol Hill with 1,028 letters opposing the measure . These letters make a powerful difference because they show policymakers that their constituents — real producers — care about the issues being debated on Capitol Hill .

Even more impactful than writing to Congress is meeting with members of Congress and their staff in person . NCBA members traveled to D . C . this spring for the Legislative Conference , which gives producers a chance to talk directly with their representatives and share their perspective as constituents . This year , we talked about our support for the Beef Checkoff and pushed back on false claims being made by animal rights activists .

Even more exciting is the opportunity to prepare younger producers to take on greater roles as spokespeople for the cattle industry . For the first time since 2019 , we were able to hold the Young Cattlemen ’ s Conference ( YCC ). This trip brings more than 70 cattle producers from all across the country together for the chance to visit other operations , tour processors and retailers , and see what D . C . advocacy is like firsthand . At the end of the trip , YCC attendees go to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress and once again share their grassroots perspective as individual producers and constituents .

NCBA has been a political force to be reckoned with for the past 125 years but remaining a strong voice for cattle producers for the next 125 requires investing in the next generation . Walking around the Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans , members of FFA , 4-H , Block and Bridle , and collegiate cattlemen ’ s chapters from colleges and universities across the U . S . were in every room excited to learn about production practices and policy alike . NCBA is also supporting students who are founding and leading Collegiate Cattlemen ’ s Associations by providing industry speakers and sharing information on internship and scholarship opportunities . These students are tomorrow ’ s cattle industry leaders , and I am so glad they are connected with our association .

Our industry has no shortage of challenges , but together we will rise to address every issue . Like G . F . Patrick said at our first meeting in 1898 , our power comes from our grassroots members uniting together in this association . Thank you for being a proud member of NCBA . Together , we will protect the future of the cattle industry for the next generation .

4 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN DIRECTIONS 2023