Cattle producers and friends of the industry are invited to attend the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit and Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraiser on December 9 and 10. The events will be held at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center in Ames. Interested attendees may register online at www.iacattlemen.org or call 515-296-2266.

Cattlemen’s Night Out PAC Fundraiser will provide update on issues

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Iowa Cattlemen’s Association is reminding friends of the industry about the upcoming ICA annual meeting, political action committee fundraiser, and leadership summit. ICA will also honor several outstanding cattlemen with awards. (Photo: Lynn_Bystrom/Thinkstock)

The Cattlemen’s Night Out PAC fundraiser on Friday, December 9 at 5:30 will feature a New York Strip Steak dinner and update on federal agriculture policy. The speaker will be Jacqui Fatka, an Iowa native and policy editor for Feedstuffs and Farm Futures. Fatka will provide valuable insight on environmental regulations including WOTUS, international trade agreements and immigration. Tickets for the dinner are $50 and proceeds will go towards candidates who support agriculture.

Cattle Industry Leadership Summit will focus on how to advocate

Saturday, December 10 from 8:30 to 5:00 will be the inaugural Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit. This free event is similar to past Iowa Cattle Industry Conventions. Complimentary lunch will be served, featuring the 2016 Iowa’s Best Burger from the Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair.

Alan Feirer, of Group Dynamic, will be the keynote speaker, focusing on communication and collaboration strategies. Breakout sessions will build upon that theme and include ways county cattlemen’s organizations can work more closely with the state organization. There will also be a breakout session devoted to social media and advocating for agriculture. December 10 will also include the annual meeting of the Iowa Beef Industry Council, the panel that oversees the beef checkoff in Iowa.

Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will also hold policy meetings

Throughout the day on December 10 the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will hold their policy committee meetings and annual meeting. These meetings are open to any members of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and will determine the priorities for the association for 2017.

Anticipated policy topics include the USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program, market volatility, foreign animal disease preparedness, protecting Iowa’s fence law, the green and gold tag preconditioning programs, and specific uses for the new state beef checkoff, if the referendum passes. Members who would like to provide their input should plan to attend.

A “State of the Cattle Industry” panel discussion is featured

A “State of the Industry” panel will hold court in the afternoon. It will dissect the current challenges Iowa’s cattle industry is facing and provide an outlook into the future. Dr. Phil Reemtsma, current ICA president and veterinarian from DeWitt, will join Cassie Fish, market analyst, and John Hinners, from the US Meat Export Federation in the panel discussion.

Iowa Cattle Industry Awards will honor several producers

Cattlemen and women from across the state will be honored with a variety of awards throughout the day. Check the list to see if you perhaps know any of the award winners. The list includes:

-Iowa Commercial Producer of the Year: Lyle and Linda Kenobbie, Greenville

-Hall of Fame: Kent Pruismann, Rock Valley

-Environmental Stewardship Award: AJ & Kellie Blair, Dayton

-Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Feedyard Award: Rock River Feeders, Kent Prusimann, Rock Valley

-Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Cow-Calf Award: Mosher Angus Farms, Liscomb

-Iowa Beef Quality Assurance Educator Award: Dr. Beth Doran, Orange City

In addition, six retiring Iowa Cattlemen’s directors will be honored:

-Richard Nelson, Emmetsburg

-Tom Hiler, Rockwell City

-David Rueber, Luxembourg

-Brian Wilson, Monroe

-Ed Lehman, Summit Livestock

-Ed Greiman, Garner

ICA president-elect Mike Cline of Elgin will be sworn in as the new Iowa Cattlemen’s Association president. The Allamakee, Black Hawk, Howard, Sioux & Union County Cattlemen’s Associations will be honored for their membership recruitment efforts. For more information or to register, visit www.iacattlemen.org or call 515-296-2266.