Letter from the CEO
Letter from the CEO
Colin Woodall
A Clear Vision in Fascinating Times
I chose the word fascinating because it best describes the state of the cattle and beef business today. Interesting doesn’ t do enough to describe what we are seeing, and challenging is just too negative. We are seeing this industry experience a combination of big wins, tremendous opportunities and historic prices in addition to the everpresent challenges. Through it all, we remain focused on NCBA’ s mission,“ To be the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U. S. cattle and beef industry.”
Since our founding in 1898, there have been any number of times this association could have blown apart. The strength that comes from being a grassroots organization directed and led by its members is why we are still here and successful today. The heart of NCBA is our member-directed policy making process. Each year during CattleCon and the Summer Business Meeting, NCBA’ s policy committees meet to discuss and debate industry issues and to determine our stance on everything from taxes to trade. NCBA’ s Board of Directors then has the chance to weigh in on the policy committees’ work before ultimately sending every action out to the entire NCBA membership for a vote. If you’ re a member, you just got your ballot last month. In each step of the process, it is the voice of the cattle producer member that influences and determines where NCBA goes.
The opportunity for debate and dissension is critical to the success of our policy process. We have members in all 50 states, but cattle production in Hawaii looks a little different from what it does in Ohio. All NCBA members aren’ t going to agree on every issue we tackle, but we must have the chance to debate and develop a policy we can work from. Our policy process allows that to happen. Even after the debate, there won’ t be total agreement, but as you look at our policy book, I would bet we all agree on more than 90 % of it. Our policy serves us well, as demonstrated with all of the wins we secured in the One Big Beautiful Bill this summer. Had we not been prepared and firm in our policy, we would have lost this huge opportunity.
Cattle producers direct this association more than just twice a year at the industry meetings. In fact, it happens almost daily. As CEO, I am accountable to all of you for my actions in implementing the direction you set for NCBA. Each Monday morning, I am on the phone with NCBA President Buck Wehrbein to share information, updates on issues and to talk strategy. I’ ve done this weekly call with every president I’ ve served under. It gives them a weekly opportunity to evaluate my performance. Those Monday calls are rarely the only time we talk because something is always happening that the president needs to know about.
Every Tuesday morning, the entire NCBA officer team has a call to talk about issues, budgets, personnel and execution of NCBA’ s Strategic Plan and policy priorities. Sometimes they are just with me, but many times we bring other members of NCBA’ s staff in to brief the officers and talk through our strategy. Much like our policy committees, the officers don’ t always agree, but they debate each other, make a decision and support the decision as we leave the call. Again, my performance, and the performance of the whole staff team, is evaluated by the officers each week.
DIRECTIONS 2025
Another layer of transparency and accountability comes through NCBA’ s Executive Committee that meets each month. Four times a year they meet in person, and the other months they meet by video conference. Just like the officers, policy committee members and Board of Directors, the voting members of the Executive Committee are cattle producers. Each meeting gives them the chance to discuss and debate the direction we are taking. Later this month, they will all be in Denver to finalize the next NCBA Strategic Plan that the Board will vote on during CattleCon in Nashville. In addition, our partner organizations such as the state cattlemen’ s associations and state beef councils provide input, feedback, advice and counsel on the work we are doing. When it comes to multiple levels of transparency and accountability, few do it better than NCBA.
Collectively, your NCBA volunteer leaders and staff have a lot to do this fall. We remain focused on protecting you against New World screwworm. We are working daily with our state partners, USDA, the White House and Congress to make sure we have the resources we need for this fight. While New World screwworms aren’ t unique to cattle, the cattle industry is definitely leading the fight. Our work with the Trump administration will increase as more officials are confirmed by the Senate and put to work. The Endangered Species Act reform, protecting the rights of grazing permittees on federal lands, rolling back onerous and obstructive environmental rules, and helping President Trump finish key trade deals are high priorities. As Congress begins to look at the 2026 mid-term elections, we will accelerate our Political Action Campaign( PAC) fundraising to help protect our friends in Congress and work to get more friends elected. There is never a shortage of work at NCBA.
Every day, NCBA is working for you and, as you read above, we have nothing to hide and are proud of the way we conduct business. That is the sign of a healthy organization built on grassroots direction, transparency and accountability. These are fascinating times, and fascinating times require cattle producer leadership and engagement to seize opportunities and work to protect our way of life. Thanks for being a member and be sure to ask your neighbors if they are too.
NATIONAL CATTLEMEN 5