National Cattlemen March 2025 | Page 5

From the President

Buck Wehrbein

I am truly honored to serve as your new NCBA president . Your trust in me to lead this organization is humbling , and I thank you for that . As I step into this role , I do so with confidence , not because of anything I can accomplish alone , but because of the incredible people I stand alongside .

Your NCBA officer team is exceptional , and I am beyond impressed by their dedication , intelligence and leadership . The same can be said for our board and , of course , our outstanding staff . Most importantly , I recognize the true strength of this association lies in its members . You are the backbone of our industry , the driving force behind our advocacy , and the reason we continue to grow and evolve . Your engagement , insights and commitment to our shared mission , to serve the cattle and beef industry by improving the business climate , growing beef demand , and increasing the world ’ s access to U . S . beef , are what make this association so effective . As we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead , I want you to know that your voices matter and we are doing everything we can to represent your interests . I encourage you to stay involved , share your perspectives , and work alongside us to shape the future of our industry .

I ’ ve been asked several times about my leadership style as I step into this role . While I ’ ve never been accused of having much style , I have spent a lot of time thinking about leadership and its importance in guiding our work . Here ’ s what I believe in . I believe in honest conversations , in pushing each other to think critically , and in learning from how we engage with one another . But above all , I believe in listening and , more importantly , truly hearing you . I will be honest . I will treat every member of this association with respect . I very much look forward to meeting you and working with you in the coming year .

We are stepping into a year full of unknowns . When I first considered what this year might bring , I thought , “ Maybe it ’ ll be a quiet one .” That lasted about five minutes . From emerging threats like the New World screwworm to shifts in policy and leadership appointments , it ’ s clear that we will have no shortage of things to tackle .

Looking ahead , I urge all of us to invest in the next generation of industry leaders . We need to encourage young producers to get involved in our association , just as past mentors have done for many of us . Programs like the Young Cattlemen ’ s Conference are invaluable , and I can tell you firsthand that the talent and preparedness of today ’ s young professionals is remarkable . They bring fresh perspectives , and it ’ s our job to ensure they have the opportunity to lead . You ’ ll hear me reference a commitment to young producers quite a bit in the coming year .

NCBA is also laser-focused on securing tax relief provisions and pushing back on regulatory overreach in the year ahead . And we can ’ t forget about our consumer . We heard it time and again from economic and market research experts during our annual convention a month ago ; consumer demand is strong , and we need to keep it that way , and we will because we produce the best beef in the world .

As I embark on this year of service , I look forward to visiting as many of you as possible and working together to advance this great industry . NCBA is in a position of strength , and we can be proud of that , while also working together to improve upon it .

God bless , and happy trails .