OCA News & Views

from Ohio Cattleman 2021 Expo Issue

Mycotoxin Effects in Beef Cattle

President • Aaron Arnett 614-947-9931, aaronarnett16@gmail.com Vice President • Kyle Walls 740-485-7775, kylemwalls@gmail.com Treasurer • Linde Sutherly 937-875-0670, linde@lindeslivestockphotos.com Past President • Sasha Rittenhouse 937-215-1415, hotcattle@hotmail.com

OCA Directors

Tom Karr Director At-Large Pomeroy • Term expires 2021 740-597-9900, tom@karrcontracting.com Bill Tom Director At-Large Washington C.H. • Term expires 2023 937-694-5378, btom@uproducers.com J.L. Draganic Director At-Large Wakeman • Term expires 2022 440-821-6576, paintcreekcattle@gmail.com Jaymes Maciejewski District 1 New Bavaria• Term expires 2023 309-222-0850, jaymes.maciejewski@gmail.com Kelvin Egner District 2 Shelby • Term expires 2021 419-295-6089, kjegner@hotmail.com John Ferguson District 3 Chardon • Term expires 2022 440-478-0782, john@fergusonshowcattle.com Mark Goecke District 4 Spencerville • Term expires 2023 419-233-3101, goeckefarms@gmail.com Frank Phelps District 5 Belle Center • Term expires 2021 937-539-1442, frankph@watchtv.net Pam Haley District 6 West Salem • Term expires 2022 419-853-4657, phaley@haley-farms.com Brad Thornburg District 7 Barnesville • Term expires 2023 740-310-9196, thornburgcattle@yahoo.com Linde Sutherly District 8 New Carlisle • Term expires 2021 937-875-0670, linde@lindeslivestockphotos.com Jim Jepsen District 9 Amanda • Term expires 2022 614-560-5919, jepsen.drfarms@gmail.com Sarah Ison District 10 Moscow • Term expires 2023 513-314-5382, sarah.ison01@gmail.com Lindsey Hall District 11 Hillsboro • Term expires 2021 937-763-8115, lindseycgrimes@gmail.com Luke Vollborn • District 12 Bidwell • Term expires 2022 740-441-5740, vollborncattle@yahoo.com

By Aaron Arnett, OCA President

BUSY START TO 2021 & LOOKING AHEAD

If you are anything like our area of Ohio, you have already experienced a significant dose of winter, more so than we have seen in the past several years. While most of us are happy to trade mud for frozen ground, the cold temperatures have also caused an increase in snowfall and feed consumption by our livestock. The good news is spring is just around the corner and we are excited to help welcome it with the 2021 Ohio Beef Expo. As many of you know, the Ohio Beef Expo is the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s signature event that has grown into one of the largest celebrations of beef industry in the Midwest during its 30+ year history.

While the Expo won’t look entirely the same this year as in the past, our team has been working hard to prepare a highly successful event conducted in a safe manner, aligned with state and local regulations. There will be something for everyone interested in beef cattle to see, learn, and participate in as we represent all facets of the industry with the trade show, breed shows and sales, and competitive youth events. One of the things I have always enjoyed about Ohio’s beef industry is the diversity in types of cattle operations and cattle people across our state. This variety has always been apparent at the Ohio Beef Expo and we look forward to showcasing it once again during this year’s event in Columbus. Please look for event details and schedules throughout this edition of the Ohio Cattleman magazine, on our website at ohiobeefexpo.com and through our social media platforms.

We hit the ground running in 2021 with active OCA staff, board committees and other volunteers working on a variety of interests to protect and cultivate the long-term sustainability of Ohio’s beef cattle industry. As I write this column, several of our board members have just participated in NCBA’s Winter Business Meeting where they represented Ohio in several policy committee meetings including Live Cattle Marketing, Cattle Health and Well Being, Property Rights and Environmental Management, International Trade, Ag & Food Policy and several others. I am very proud of the skill sets and industry experience represented on the OCA board and thank each member for their contributions in representing our state’s best interests in this NCBA meeting.

Recently I attended the OCA BEST sanctioned show held in Marion County. Like the other BEST shows, I was impressed at the record turnout of young exhibitors and their families who chose to spend their time and resources at our shows, competing at a high level during a challenging time. We know that families have a choice about where they invest their time and youth development resources and we are sincerely appreciative for the overwhelming participation in BEST shows. Thank you!

As we look to ahead to warmer temperatures and green grass, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, our board of directors, and our talented staff with any questions, feedback, or suggestions for the betterment. We enjoy hearing from you and hope to see you soon.