UCA exists to keep your family ranching

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

UCA working to continue traditions for future generations

By Utah Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Brent Tanner

In the year 1870, Utah livestock producers joined together to form the Utah Livestock Growers Association. This created the first livestock association in Utah banding together producers for the purpose of protecting the interests of the livestock industry. In 1890 when the sheep producers decided to create their own organization the association underwent some changes and became the Utah Horse and Cattle Growers Association. It continued with that title until February of 1956 when the current name, Utah Cattlemen’s Association (UCA) was adopted. For over 150 years, cattle producers in Utah have joined together to work on industry issues. Throughout the history of livestock production in Utah, producers have seen the value of coming together to protect and defend our industry.

So, what is the value of joining the cattle industry trade association? A simple Google search tells why most trade organizations exist. Industry trade associations play an important role in providing networking opportunities, giving a voice to the industry, providing input to policy makers and providing relevant tools to members.

In my years working for UCA, I have seen each of those association values at work. Throughout our state, many dedicated volunteers have supported the industry and served in leadership or committee capacities. That service has brought together ranchers from all areas of the state, even across the nation and formed not only working relationships, but also a brotherhood and sisterhood of friends that are often much like family.

In the UCA office boardroom portraits hang of all the past presidents of the association beginning with the first president, Howard Egan in 1870 and progressing around the room to our current 2022 president, Daniel Crozier. Forty-one dedicated leaders have served as president over that timeframe as well as hundreds of other leaders who have served as vice presidents or committee leaders. These are all dedicated ranchers, men and women who gave their time and talents to better the industry they love. I am humbled every time I look at the walls of that room by their dedication and leadership. I have a great respect for the leaders on that wall.

The association is a valuable tool for providing relevant information and training for producers. At the association, we don’t know all the answers, but generally we can find someone who can help. The association is like a clearing house of industry information. Not only information, but education and marketing tools. This seedstock publication, as well as the monthly newsletter, provides an opportunity for producers to find new products and connect with seedstock producers to help improve their ranch and genetics.

The leadership of the association spends countless hours attending meetings and communicating with decision makers and policy makers. The role of the association is to be a collective voice for the industry. Some may say that they don’t always agree with the association. That is the case when many different people come together. I like to say that 10 different people in different locations can look at the same sunset and each have a different view or opinion of that one sunset. It all depends on the angle we view the world how we see things. When all those opinions come together it doesn’t take long to agree that the sunset exists, it is just that we view things differently. That is the value of an association coming together to discuss industry issues. We each see things through our own set of glasses, but when we see the picture from other angles, we might just be enlightened or educated to things we didn’t know existed. There may be reasoning for why industry is doing something, or why certain policies are adopted. Those policies and association directions are all generated through the membership process of coming together to make the best decisions for the industry.

I invite you as cattle producers in Utah to become more involved in the cattlemen’s association. If you are not a dues paying member, please join and help support the industry efforts. You can join online at www.utahcattlemen.org. If you have a passion and willingness to serve, we invite you to join the dedicated volunteers who tackle industry issues on our behalf every day. We always welcome cattlemen and women to join our meetings and join your voices with others who set the industry policies.

For over 150 years the combined efforts of association leaders and members have laid the policy groundwork making it so we can continue operating the ranches that we love to work on today. Here’s to another 150 successful years of cattle ranching in Utah and the groundwork that we are laying for future generations.