President's Letter

by Don Quincey

Join the Conversation

“Join the conversation!” That seems to be a tagline that many social media experts are encouraging these days. They might be talking about Facebook, Twitter or Google +, but it’s not a bad daily mantra for us as cattlemen either. Often times we are in conversations with each other about challenges and struggles when perhaps our breath might be better spent joining the conversation of someone that doesn’t know our industry as well.

Recently the Florida Cattlemen’s Association Executive board not only joined the conversation, but started the conversation by being the first state affiliate to make a 100% board PAC contribution. That means every FCA Executive Board voting member made a $100 contribution. That’s a message loud and clear. It says we support the good work that NCBA does on our behalf and we want to lead by example. Just as we have a better collective voice on the state level in Tallahassee as a large 4,000 strong membership group, so goes the way in Washington, D.C. Our bargaining power in Washington D.C. is greater as members and supporters of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. Sometimes, joining the conversation, quite frankly, is putting your money where your mouth is.

Have you heard of the Food Dialogues? It’s a web site run by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA). They are a coalition of more than 50 national, regional and state agricultural groups and their partners, marking the first time such a wide range of groups are collaborating to lead a dialogue about how food is raised. The web site, www.fooddialogues.com, allows consumers to ask questions and carry on a dialogue about modern agriculture. This site is abuzz with activity. USFRA says, “We are inviting people who don’t always agree with us in addition to all types of farmers including organic and small farmers as well as agribusiness partners to be part of the discussion.” Why not join them.

And then there is the red-hot topic of animal identification and traceability. If you were at the FCA quarterly meeting in December, you were most likely part of that lively conversation. Regardless of your position on this issue, you should have a seat at the table. As Florida producers who raise cattle in different conditions and who have different concerns and challenges than Midwest producers, we definitely need to join the conversation and continue the conversation to make sure our best interests are met.

In four short months a new opportunity will be unveiled at the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention in Marco. It’s called the Cowman’s Club and for now, that’s all we can say, but it’s yet another way our FCA leadership has developed a solid foundation for us to be a continued part of the future conversation. More to come….