CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN COMMON GOALS: CCA MEMBERS WORK IN VARIOUS WAYS TO REACH SAME DESTINATION

by CCA Second Vice President Mike McCluskey

Since the first of the year, I have had the opportunity to travel a bit to several county meetings. It has been great meeting new people and catching up with others. What amazes me is the diversity of locations and people and the different ways we all go about accomplishing the same goal: To be good stewards of the land and our livestock, to produce quality beef to feed the world and to constantly strive to improve.

All the meetings are different. Some small meetings to update the membership and large events that include the entire community. But they all are accomplishing the same thing. Each of these groups approach their strategies in a simila but somewhat different way. They review of the past year, a look ahead, recognition of accomplishments and fellowship. Fellowship is not exclusive to ranchers but it is strong in the industry. When disaster strikes, no matter our differences, we all come together, figure out how to help and get it done.

A recent example of this was in Humboldt County. A freak snowstorm came in and had cattle stranded in inaccessible locations without access to feed. Cattlemen, cattlewomen, local politicians, the sheriff and members of the community came together with a plan. That plan was to drop hay by helicopter to the stranded cattle. They contacted CDFA and the Coast Guard, got them on board and made it happen. That’s fellowship and that is a prime example of the people in our industry. We are resilient and we overcome obstacles that seem to be constantly put in our paths.

That brings me to the future, which is now. Our government and various other organizations are constantly putting more obstacles in our path. Be it in the form of legislation, regulation, or taxation. This year is no different, a lot of legislation coming out of Sacramento that is going to put those obstacles in our path. Legislation on water rights, climate change, methane emissions from our cattle and much more. Generally more regulation comes with another cost to our operations, both monetary and productivity. As diverse a group that we are, CCA is a place where we can express our different opinions and come together with a plan to protect our industry, our heritage and our ranches.

I can’t say I have enjoyed speaking at these events, but I will get there. What I have enjoyed is listening to all the differing opinions on different topics. Hopefully, using that knowledge when asked to give direction to your CCA staff.

I look forward to getting out to more events and county meetings to hear from more of you. It is an honor to serve the industry that has supported myself and my family for many years. I look forward to many more successful years for the cattle industry in California. It is going to take all of us to come together to fight for what we love doing and I know we can be successful.

Hopefully we will meet somewhere down the road but if not feel free to contact myself or any other CCA officer. Or call the office in Sacramento with any concerns you may have. We will do our very best to help.

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