The Headquarters' Range: January 2026

As the Legislature gavels in this January, I’m reminded how much of our success in Tallahassee comes down to relationships—earned over time, strengthened with trust, and put to work when it matters most. A wise politico once said “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” The Florida COW PAC is a key reason Florida cattlemen have a strong, steady voice in the Capitol.

COW PAC support helps us build and maintain bipartisan connections with committee leaders, freshman members, and agency partners. Those relationships open doors for honest conversations about the issues that shape our operations every day—private property rights, water policy, animal health, disaster response, research dollars, working-lands conservation, and more. When bills move quickly (and they often do), having those lines of communication already in place makes the difference between being heard and being overlooked.

Your PAC dollars don’t “buy” outcomes—they build credibility. They allow us to host briefings, get decision-makers out on ranches, and explain how good policy looks on the ground, not just on paper. That’s how we safeguard the future of Florida’s cattle industry.

COW PAC is supported solely by individual contributions – neither your association’s assets or your dues go into this effort. Since its inception in 2000, we have raised over $2,500,000 for this endeavor. By law, we cannot use this fund for any Federal campaigns. We try to keep a “rainy day fund” in case any emergency political issues threatening our industry emerge, but almost all funds are donated to Florida Legislative and Executive Branch races. Our success rate of donating to winning candidates is well over 90%, in fact in the 2024 elections 78 of 79 candidates supported by COW PAC were victorious. We regularly cross party lines, supporting those who support us. It is no coincidence that you are so well received in the Capitol when we have our annual “Boots on the Hill” legislative visits and quarterly meeting.

When we started our PAC in 2000, the Legislature (120 House members, 40 Senators) had a grand total of 12 people who grew up on a farm, or worked in an agricultural profession. As Florida’s population grows by over 1,000 people a day, you would expect that representation to shrink even more. However, the 2024 Legislature has 19, and if we are successful in the 2026 elections, that number will increase to at least 25. We work together with other agricultural entities and associations to recruit and elect folks that are a part of our agricultural family.

If you already support the COW PAC, thank you. If you haven’t yet, please consider contributing by direct donation, purchasing a PAC Tie, attending the Fun N Gun, or bidding at the annual PAC Bull sale in June. You’ll find giving information in this issue and on our website, or you can contact the FCA office and we’ll make it easy. Together, we’ll keep Florida’s cattlemen at the table—and in the conversation—when it counts.

-Sam Ard

Director of Governmental Affairs