National Cattlemen ’ s Beef Association
FEBRUARY 2024 | Vol . 40 , No . 4 | NCBA . org
MANAGING A LEGACY RANCH WITH THE ALLURE OF THE WEST
Mark Eisele is no stranger to navigating the intricate , dynamic challenges and opportunities that define modern ranching . There is no better person to take the helm of NCBA at a time of immense pressure on agriculture from the federal government than the person who has dealt with those same pressures throughout his life . Eisele understands the delicate balance that is protecting private property rights and maintaining access to public lands while more people want to experience the beauty of the West .
For Eisele , success means “ never quite getting there .” Although many would argue leading the nation ’ s oldest and largest national beef cattle association is the pinnacle of achievement , Eisele said that ’ s what has made ranching fun over the years : always trying to “ get there ”, while always understanding there will always be more to do .
“ We talk a lot about continuous improvement in our industry and , as producers , we all focus on that , no matter how incremental the improvement is . And the same goes for ( NCBA ) – there ’ s always work to be done to protect our freedom to operate and propel our industry forward ,” Eisele said .
Eisele grew up on his family ’ s ranch and worked as a hired hand on the century-old King Ranch in Wyoming as a teenager . He attended the University of Wyoming and received his agricultural engineering degree , but knew ranching was his long-term goal . Without a clear path for full-time work on his family ’ s operation , he continued his work on the King Ranch and slowly built his own herd . His years of hard work and contributions to the ranch ’ s cow herd and diverse business interests earned him a partnership in the ranch and , eventually , the opportunity to purchase the ranch from the King family . Mark and his wife , Trudy , and their family proudly carry on the ranching tradition .
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POLICY SCORECARD | PG . 12
Through NCBA ’ s grassroots policy process , movement was made on these issues in Washington , D . C .
CAREERS IN CATTLE | PG . 14
Three professionals share their advice and perspective on diverse careers in the industry .
SEATED WITH GLOBAL LEADERS | PG . 16
A global conference with leaders from many nations is also the place where NCBA ’ s voice matters .