OCA Officers
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 NEWS & VIEWS
Impacts of leadership By Aaron Arnett, Past OCA President
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 OPEN - District 1 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
6 | Ohio Cattleman | Winter Issue 2022
As I pen my last column as president of OCA for these past two years, I would like to start by saying thank you for the support provided me from my fellow board members, especially the executive committee, with whom I have worked closely on a number of issues. I also want to thank the OCA staff for their hard work seven days a week to execute the many programs and endeavors of OCA. This pandemic has changed our world forever and leading OCA through these difficult times took teamwork and ingenuity of many leaders who were resolute in continuing the programs and opportunities for our members. The COVID-era certainly brought forth several logistical challenges that caused us to pivot to alternative plans on short notice. One of the most notable was the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Ohio Beef Expo in Columbus just a week before the event. I hope this never happens again and that no future leadership of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association must face this difficult hurdle. However, I applaud the tremendous leadership of our staff and board, as well as the breed representatives for adjusting with creativity to market seedstock on web-based platforms and move shows to alternate locations. The disruption in cattle markets and beef supply chain issues also needed addressed as many OCA members were, and continue to be, negatively affected by reduced prices for their high-quality cattle. With adversity also comes opportunity, and I am pleased that we enacted the Live Cattle Marketing Committee and engaged in vigorous discussions about short and long-term policy issues that serve the best interests of OCA members. It is my hope that this committee continues to meet on a regular basis to explore all possible opportunities for Ohio’s beef producers to capture the greatest value for our product. Ohio is fortunate to have several unique facets of the beef industry significantly represented in our state. Our geography has always afforded Ohio significant commercial cow/calf production, especially in the Eastern region and rich feed resources for cattle feeding, most notably in the western region of the state. We are fortunate to have several seedstock producers in Ohio who have served their breeds on a national level with elite genetics and a positive reputation. Many of these leaders have served on the national boards of directors and continue to represent Ohio to the highest standard. I am proud of the strong role OCA plays with 4-H, FFA and Ohio’s cattle families to sponsor the development of young people in our state. The BEST program was one of the first of its kind and continues to serve as the standard in the industry for points-based cattle show circuits. With these vast interests represented in our industry it is easy to try to align ourselves with one segment or another and it is okay to advocate for the segment that represents your family and business interests. My challenge to OCA and its members is to band together and celebrate the cattle diversity that exists within our state. We have so much to learn from each other and can accomplish more in unity as an organization and a collective beef cattle industry. My vision for OCA’s membership is to see commercial producers attending BEST shows to learn about the incredible youth program and BEST participants attending producer tours to learn about commercial cattle production in our state. Some of this is happening now and I hope more can happen in the future. I want to thank my family for supporting me in this journey with OCA and especially my wife Jill who took care of many farm and family details while I served as president. This organization has some tremendous leaders, too numerous to mention by name, who have done the hard work it takes to make programs successful. We need more and new volunteers to help OCA sustain a strong cattle industry in Ohio. If you feel motivated to do more and can give of your time, please reach out to any OCA board or staff member to learn about the opportunities.
