CALF_News_Oct_Nov_2018

36 CALF News • October | November 2018 • www.calfnews.net NCBA President Kevin Kester OCA President Weston Givens has a laugh with Allen Jackson of Micro Beef Technologies. By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION CONVENTION 66 Years of Working to Improve the Beef Business POLICY, PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION. The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) tackled those subjects and more during its 66th annual convention in Norman this summer. From trade wars to DNA test- ing and hedging against a drought, the convention covered a lot of territory. OCA celebrated both its six-plus decades of conventions as well as the Sooner State’s Route 66 heritage. The association trade show included numer- ous exhibits of products and services to help producers and their families raise their cattle and families, and even have a little fun. OCA President Weston Givens of Arnett encouraged the several hundred ranchers, their families and reps from allied industries to “get your kicks on Route 66.” Policy Headlining two days of speakers and instruction was National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Kevin Kester, a fifth-generation rancher from Paso Robles, Calif.While noting his family’s ranch is between the “Left Coast’s” Los Angeles and San Francisco, he’s proud of the California beef industry. “We ranch in the central coast of Cali- fornia in southern Monterey County,” he told CALF News.“We’ve been ranching there since the 1860s. We’re primarily a cow-calf and stocker operation. In recent decades, we’ve developed wine grape vineyards to diversify in ag.” Even though California has 40 million people and just as many or more vehicles on the road, Kester pointed out that the state also has some 600,000 beef cows and 35 million grazing acres. “Out of 100 million acres in California, one-third is still in grazing,” he said. With what he termed as “wacky ideas” often coming out of the Califor- nia Legislature, the state’s beef producers manage to get things done to help agriculture.“Sacramento [legislature in the state capital] is on the liberal side,” he said.“But even being in the minority in California and the national level, Cali- fornia cattlemen still have a ‘white hat’ perception. “We still have good will to offer solutions to problems. We still have enough effectiveness that we can push back against wacky proposals and stay in business.” Kester has been involved in NCBA policy making about 15 years. Many problems that producers and feeders faced over a decade ago are still in play now. At the top of the list is trade. “I hear it from coast to coast, prob- lems with trade,” he explained.“We wonder what the President will tweet out and how it will affect our trade issues. NAFTA, China, issues with the European Union, and trade with Japan [and other trans-Pacific countries] are important. We’re not yet engaging with Japan, and it’s needed.” NAFTA was nearer to completion in early September, and Senate and House Farm Bill conferees were meeting in Washington to finalize the important