From the President
Todd Wilkinson
OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE
As I write this column , winter meeting season is in full swing , and I ’ ve had the opportunity to speak to state cattlemen ’ s groups across the country . The new year often comes with a renewed sense of optimism and that has certainly been on display for several sectors of our industry . Calf prices are at record levels and profit margins are strong ; there ’ s continued demand for the highquality product we produce , and there ’ s optimism around young producers entering the business .
These meetings also reaffirm for me that our national and state organizations are the sword and the shield . Associations shield us from government overreach and activist attacks which have become all too common in the past several years . Yet , what motivates me is that we ’ re the tip of the sword . We don ’ t bow to pressure . We focus on creating opportunities for years to come and doing what ’ s right for our families , our communities and the consumers who purchase our product .
Part of NCBA ’ s role , and an important part of our success , is the ability to identify and develop leaders while also preparing them to meet industry challenges head on . NCBA ’ s flagship program for leadership development is the Young Cattlemen ’ s Conference ( YCC ). Participants of this program experience nine days of intensive leadership training and a four-city tour , which showcases every facet of the beef industry . They are also exposed to the policy process and learn how young leaders can engage and make a positive impact when working with decision makers at every level of government .
NCBA , as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff , also hosts the Masters of Beef Advocacy program and the Trailblazers top advocate program . These Checkoff-funded advocacy programs are also intensive leadership development endeavors focusing on helping emerging and current young leaders to better communicate with consumers while also developing skills for correcting misinformation about beef and beef production practices .
These leadership programs give young producers a chance to build their network . They are encouraged to come together to work toward common sense solutions . It ’ s vital our producers from every sector of our industry work together as public interest in our way of life increases .
The cow-calf sector offers a good opportunity for young producers to enter the industry or grow their businesses in the next couple of years . With tight cattle supplies and continued pressure from drought , profits to cow-calf operations are expected to reach levels near $ 500 per head in 2024 . Herd rebuilding is going to take a few years , but this process will put the cow-calf producer in a sound position with better rates of return as we head into the new year .
Looking toward 2024 , I ’ m optimistic it will be a year of growth not only for our industry but for our associations . I ’ d like to invite you all to attend CattleCon in Orlando , Florida , Jan . 31-Feb . 2 . I can ’ t think of a better way to escape the winter , reconnect with old friends , meet new acquaintances , and most importantly , deal with the business of the beef industry . It is your participation that makes this event and our organization successful .
CattleCon is the place to share ideas , find out what is happening on operations across the country , and move our industry forward . What I enjoy most about this week is the opportunity to network with people because no other event brings the industry together like CattleCon .
Thank you for being a member of NCBA and helping shape the future of our industry , and I look forward to visiting with you during CattleCon24 !
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