CALF_News_June_July_2018

36 CALF News • June | July 2018 • www.calfnews.net center, they work to maintain wildlife. “They may like their cattle, but they dang sure like their quail,” Diess said. The grazing specialists advised produc- ers to follow an age-old tradition of grass management –“take half and leave half ” – to help get the most out of our land. The School for Successful Ranching featured many other sessions to help producers improve their cattle opera- tions. For more on these sessions, visit www.tscra.org. New TSCRA officers Bobby McKnight Jr., who ranches at Fort Davis, Texas, was elected TSCRA president. He replaced Richard Thorpe III of Winters, who finished his two- year term as head cowboy. Other new TSCRA officers are First Vice President Hughes Abell of Austin and Second Vice President Arthur Uhl of San Antonio. “TSCRA has played a critical role in preserving the strength and stabil- ity of the Texas cattle industry and the property rights of landowners for the past 141 years,” Thorpe said.“It is a great honor to have served as president of this great organization.” McKnight said Thorpe “has con- tinually exhibited tremendous passion, dedication and commitment to TSCRA, and more important, to the cattle raisers and landowners of Texas, Oklahoma and beyond. On behalf of the entire TSCRA Board of Directors and membership, I would like to sincerely thank Richard Thorpe for his service to the association.” During the Cattle Raisers convention TSCRA Executive Vice President and CEO Eldon White announced his plans to retire. Jason Skaggs, TSCRA execu- tive director of government and public affairs, will succeed him. White will step aside in September. White joined TSCRA as execu- tive vice president and CEO in 2007. Throughout his 11-year tenure he has been a valuable asset to the association and cattle industry. “I cannot praise Eldon enough for the tremendous job he has done as the chief TSCRA HEARS UPDATE ON SHAKY FARM BILL “My honeymoon period is about to come to a screeching halt,” predicted Mike Con- away, House Agriculture Committee chairman, during a TSCRA general session. He was right. His goal to obtain a bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill blew up after he and other Ag Committee Republicans crafted a bill that includes provisions requiring some recipients of food stamps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to work or participate in job training programs at least 20 hours per week. Conaway, of Midland, Texas, has said the provision applies to able-bodied people between the ages of 18 and 59, who aren’t not caring for children under the age of 6. “We’re not taking anybody out of SNAP,” he told the TSCRA convention crowd. “We think SNAP is a good bridge between unemployment and a job.” The bill passed out of the Ag Committee without a single vote from a Democrat. It is before the full House of Representatives and is sure to face heavy resistance. But Conaway stands by his beliefs, contending that SNAP is a pathway to a better life for many. “Some don’t understand the value of work. There is dignity in work,” he said. “It’s [SNAP] a ladder of success to get out of poverty.” On another controversial subject – trade – Conaway said he was “scared” that Ameri- can farmers and livestock producers will see reduced markets if negotiations on NAFTA and other trade agreements don’t go well. “The president is a master negotiator,” he noted. “We trust you to get it right, but don’t screw it up.”  CATTLE RAISERS CONVENTION Continued from page 35 executive for our association,” McKnight said.“Eldon’s leadership has brought about very positive changes to TSCRA, and his expertise has been beneficial for cattle raisers not just in Texas, but across the entire country.” LEFT: Richard Thorpe III, outgoing TSCRA president, noted that the Cattle Raisers has been a vital voice for regional ranchers more than 140 years. RIGHT: New TSCRA President Bobby McKnight was among many who promoted support of TSCRA and its important PAC. “It has been a tremendous honor to be a part of this esteemed association, and while it is a difficult choice to retire, I know I leave TSCRA well positioned for continued success and in extremely capable hands,”White said. 