Editorial - Cowboy Politics
By: Karen EmilsonManitoba was recently muscled out of a position on the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association executive. Marlin Beever let his name stand for a two-year term as Vice President of the CCA. The next natural step would be into the President’s chair. In the 68-year history of the CCA, Manitoba has had only one President and that was Ross Mitchell from 1970-71.
The reason Marlin was defeated had nothing to do with ability, but rather due to “cowboy politics.” He lost to Saskatchewan’s Neil Jahnke by a close margin.
I’ve heard people say, “It’s all political,” or “politics were involved,” and until now, I’ve never fully understood what that meant.
If anyone was ever deserving of a position on the CCA Executive – it is Marline. This Rivers-area producer has worked tirelessly on behalf of cattlemen for nearly ten years. He is a former President of the MCPA, and has held esteemed position within the CCA, including Chairman of the Finance Committee. He has also served as the CCA’s representative to the National Safety Nets committee and the Beef Industry Development Fund – two crucial and complicated programs.
To say that our board is disappointed that he did not win, is a gross understatement. Marlin was our best shot. Since he refuses to talk behind the backs of his national counterparts, I can only speculate on the reasons for his loss. I believe that unless our necks get redder and we start playing political games, we’ll never see a Manitoban in the President’s seat again.
I hope the fact that our province has always been the “poor cousin” around the board table didn’t sway the vote. Admittedly, we have not always contributed our fair share financially to national programs. But in our defense, things have improved since our Check-off collection method changed in 1996.
Of the larger beef producing provinces, Manitoba is the only province legally ready to begin collecting National Check-off. Also, producers here are far more knowledgeable and compliant regarding National Identification than anywhere else. Suddenly, it looks as if the plodding turtle is going to win the national race. Ironically, it’s Marlin who has guided us towards the finish line.
During our last board meeting, held just shortly after Marlin’s defeat, director/treasurer Garry Hill summed up the feelings of the entire board when he interrupted the meeting to say, “When they didn’t elect you, they made a huge mistake, and the industry will likely suffer because of it. In the time I’ve been on the board, we’ve never had a more dedicated director, on who sincerely has the Canadian cattle industry’s best interests at heart.”
Naively, I believe that cattlemen were too straightforward and honest to become political. I also thought that the old cowboy hat kept political motivation and self-interest from seeping into their brains and clouding their better judgement. Silly me.
But one thing I do know for sure is that every action creates a reaction and, in this case, it’s very much like kicking a dog. Do it once, and it’ll never completely trust you again.
