OCA News & Views

President • Tom Karr 740-591-9900, tom@karrcontracting.com Vice President • Bill Tom 937-694-5378, btom@uproducers.com Treasurer • Linde Sutherly 937-875-0670, linde@lindeslivestockphotos.com Past President • Aaron Arnett 614-947-9931, aaronarnett16@gmail.com

OCA Directors

Tom Karr Director At-Large Pomeroy • Term expires 2024 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 Andy Lohr District 2 Bucyrus • Term expires 2024 419-569-3613, andylohr61@gmail.com John Ferguson District 3 Chardon • Term expires 2024 440-478-0782, john@fergusonshowcattle.com Mark Goecke District 4 Spencerville • Term expires 2023 419-233-3101, goeckefarms@gmail.com Jason Dagger District 5 Cable• Term expires 2024 937-604-8820, jason.dagger@rwe.com 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 2024 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 2024 937-763-8115, lindseycgrimes@gmail.com Luke Vollborn • District 12 Bidwell • Term expires 2022 740-441-5740, vollborncattle@yahoo.com

Home from Houston

By Tom Karr, OCA President

We have just returned from the 2022 Cattle Convention in Houston, TX. The experiences of attending every NCBA convention are always exciting and very informative. I would encourage everyone that is in any way connected to the cattle industry to become a member of the NCBA, and add to your bucket list to attend the convention in New Orleans next Feb. The work they do for us is far reaching and essential to the progress of our industry. It is well worth the membership fee to signal to our lawmakers the size and unity of the beef family. If you watch any news or read any beef industry publications, there is no shortage of villains who are working hard to eliminate all kinds of animal husbandry – an issue discussed during this year’s convention. We seem to be their biggest and most vulnerable adversary as they peak the interest of all their followers by using key words and phrases such as “methane emission” by way of cow farts, probably their best fish hook to attract attention, and cow belching which runs a close second. They don’t read or understand the great story of how we use all of our magnificent little “factories” (our cows) to convert grass, otherwise inedible or should I say non-productive as a human food source, into protein to feed the world. U.S. beef is actually highly sought after around the world. China, one of our newest trading partners, is realizing how their consumers are craving our beef and how essential it has become as a source of protein missing from their traditional diet. Beef trade with China has become possible with the help of NCBA’s staff who work to add value to every head of cattle in the U.S., well over $400/ hd. NCBA’s next targeted trading partner is the United Kingdom. I was surprised to learn we have not been sharing our beef with our British ancestors because they were a member of the European Union (EU). This includes the French and Italian aristocratic counterparts of our friends here in the U.S., which aspire to the same lofty goals of ridding the planet of our little “factories.” As the Brits cut ties to the EU with Brexit, they are now allowed to freely trade for our beef products. All these things and more are discussed in great detail during the convention. Along with these important discussions, there are a vast array of any and all products related to cattle production showcased during the three day event. This includes hay and forage equipment as well as many new technologies such as individual animal IDs that you can track on your cell phone, or any internet connected device, to show you the exact location of every animal and their daily travel as they graze, seek water and shade or even a visit to your neighbor’s better grass or macho bull. It’s all there with lessons to be learned by visiting with the 6 to 7 thousand beef producers from every state in the union and several foreign countries. I find it so interesting to hear their stories and challenges about geography, weather patterns and local politics that differ from our state. Even so, they still share a common passion for improving the industry and proving that beef farmsers are the ultimate conservationists. As caretakers of our land, we actively execute sustainable practices for the preservation of our planet, not selfishly, but for all inhabitants including our adversaries. And, of course, there were lots of political conversations with other attendees. The most interesting for me was a rancher from Wyoming who referred to our current White House leadership as “All hat, no cowboy.”