UCA President invites all ranchers to the table

2022-2023 UCA PRESIDENT 2022-2023 UCA PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES ALL PRODUCERS TO ENCOURAGES ALL PRODUCERS TO TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE TAKE A SEAT AT THE TABLE

said the overarching problem he sees facing Utah’s cattlemen and women is one that ranchers in the west have been fighting over for decades – water.

“Growth in the Intermountain West is through the roof and our natural resources are stretched too thin and food producers seem to be the only ones asking, ‘How are we going to do this?!’” He emphasized. “We are the ones that know if we lose water, not only can’t we recreate or water our lawns, but we can’t grow food – not crops or cattle. And if we can’t do that then the ground in this great state is virtually useless.”

As a long-time dues paying member of the Utah Cattlemen’s Association, Crozier said he firmly believes the escalating issue of water use and public consumption is one that all ranchers should be alarmed by and willing to join forces over. It’s one of the key issues that got him more integrally involved as a UCA member.

“The public doesn’t equate food to natural resources. They think food is just always going to be there and if we use land and water for something else, we can just get food from somewhere else,” Crozier said. “That is where we have to get involved and work to swing the pendulum in our favor.”

The fact of the matter, he says, is that whether or not a cattle producer or land owner in Utah is a member of UCA or not, they are directly reaping the benefits of the work UCA is putting in on Capitol Hill – both in Salt Lake City and in Washington, D.C.

As a businessman who understands the vitality of generating revenue to get things accomplished, Crozier says the level of success UCA can achieve starts with membership dues dollars. He challenges cattlemen and women across the Beehive State to follow the state philosophy of working together to initiate change for the betterment of an industry they all love and depend upon.

One example Crozier shares is the cost of UCA being involved with the National Public Lands Council (PLC). PLC is a vital organization for all ranchers whose livelihood depend on public lands grazing permits – yet some of them are still not dues-paying PLC members.

“Utah’s livestock producers, both cattlemen and sheep producers, pay roughly $25,000 a year for our state to belong to the Public Lands Council and keep that Washington, D.C., staff working on issues that impact us here at home,” he said. “If all public lands ranchers paid their fair share of PLC dues, it would cost just pennies per AUM rather than letting a few diligent PLC members foot the bill for all permittees.”

As Crozier embarks on the beginning of his two-year term as president of the Utah Cattlemen’s Association he said his main priority for his tenure is to grow not only the dues revenue of UCA but also the participation level. There is a popular quote that says decions are made by the people who show up and Crozier reminds his fellow ranchers of that theory often.

“If you can’t get involved because of understandable home and work restraints, start by simply paying your dues. We all have to put our heads together and our dollars together to combat the challenges headed our way,” Crozier said. “But when you can get involved and participate, please do. I’m not just talking about UCA, I am talking about your local water board, I am talking about your school board, I am talking about anything that has the potential to impact you or the things and people you care about. If you don’t speak up and voice your opinions to help drive the discussion, someone else always will.”