Talking Strategy

old friends are the best friends

By OCA’s Former Executive Director Jerome Rosa

Six years ago, I had the opportunity to become your Executive Director at the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. Ray Sessler was the OCA President at the time and after I was hired, I spent countless hours with Ray discussing our goals for OCA and strategizing about how we could strategize to accomplish these goals. Ray and his beautiful wife, Bonnie, have both become great friends of mine and I will forever be grateful of their hospitality and support over these past few years. The historical accomplishments of this association are many for Oregon ranchers and Oregon’s cattle industry, but when I came on board there was of course more work to be done, just as there is today and into the future.

One of my first assignments as director was to hit the road running and introduce myself to the membership and industry leaders across the state. During my first year in the position, I drove over 35,000 miles while crisscrossing from the Oregon’s high desert, coastal region, many areas of the valley and the great north eastern and south eastern cattle country in this state. One of the first questions I received from members, was why I would want a job where nearly two thousand members would feel like they were my boss? The second most common question was, how was I planning to deal with the liberal state legislature and many agency heads which leaned blue and did not see eye to eye with our ideology? The answer to both was, and still is, because I have passion for protecting and preserving Oregon’s agriculture and cattle industry and to do that, I had to be willing to work on the battle ground.

Some of the reasons I applied for this position after 25 years of being self-employed are as follows:

Passion: After serving as the President of the Oregon Beef Council, President of the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association and after being chosen by Governor Kulongoski to serve on the State Board of Agriculture, I realized that

2016 - Rosa with Senator Hansell (L) and Rep. Greg Barreto (R) after HB 4040 passed in the senate with a 17-11 vote. HB 4040 gave support to ODFW’s decision to delist wolves and aided in the ability to use the Oregon Wolf Plan as it was intended. Rep. Barreto sponsored this very important bill to support ranchers.

2018 - On Capitol Hill with several past OCA presidents such as Nathan Jackson, John O’Keeffe and current National PLC President Bob Skinner. Photo taken during the Public Lands Council annual conference in Washington D.C.

“I realized that there was a real need for a person who had “skin in the game” and had a passion, on behalf of farmers and ranchers, who would be willing to work on legislative issues and who would be willing to have a presence and an open source door of communication with the state’s lawmakers – I realized I could be that person, I realized I had a desire to be that person who would do what it takes to get results.”

2015- Rosa with Ray Sessler and John O’keeffe at Annual Convention. Sessler was the OCA president during the Executive Director hiring process and O’Keefe became president at this convention in 2015.

2018 - KATU interviews Rosa regarding the pardon of the Hammonds and what it means for the community of Oregon’s cattle industry and public lands.

there was a real need for a person who had “skin in the game” and had a passion, on behalf of farmers and ranchers, who would be willing to work on legislative issues and who would be willing to have a presence and an open source door of communication with the state’s lawmakers – I realized I could be that person, I realized I had a desire to be that person who would do what it takes to get results.

Fight: My entire life I have been willing to fight for and help the agricultural community. Before I became director for OCA, I was frustrated by seeing the leaders in ag becoming more and more willing to give in and compromise instead of fighting for the people with boots on the ground. I can say, through the years in this position, I have always done my best to fight for the rights and needs of Oregon farmers and ranchers.

Timing: Much to my surprise, when I originally mentioned the “crazy idea” of applying for this position to my wife and son (who had recently graduated from college) they were both incredibly supportive of my plan. In fact, my son was willing to run the family dairy and ranch if I were hired along with my fantastic wife, Carole. I could not have asked for a better support team through these years.

So, with the support and encouragement of my wife, I threw my hat in the ring and the rest is history. We have had many achievements and some short comings during my time with OCA, but myself and the leaders of this association have always had passion, conviction and we have fought till the end to accomplish the best outcomes for the membership.

On July 13, I officially became the Executive Director of the Arizona Cattle Growers Association and by the time you are reading this, my wife and I have sold the cows and we have moved to a new state. This change has been a rewarding move for myself and my wife because we will get to see our children and grandchildren every day in Arizona. I am extremely proud of to have been a part of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association and please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or assistance. Oregon Cattlemen will always be a part of my family. Also, if you find yourself in Arizona, please stop by and say hello.

There is an old saying, “old friends are the best friends” and that is true for all the wonderful people I have met and worked with during my time at OCA. Thanks again for the opportunity to serve, it has been a pleasure working together! •