Cattle producers and friends of the industry are invited to attend the Iowa Cattle Industry Leadership Summit and Annual Meeting Dec. 7-8. The event will be held at the CPMI Center in Ames, Iowa. Interested attendees may register online at iacattlemen.org or call 515-296-2266.

The summit will bring together the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Beef Industry Council and Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation to celebrate the past year’s successes and work toward improving Iowa’s beef industry for the future.

The event begins Dec. 7 with registration at 9 a.m. and a keynote at 10 a.m. Speakers throughout the day will cover beef exports, the economic impact of Iowa’s beef industry and future opportunities for beef industry growth. Attendees will hear from leaders of successful county cattlemen’s organizations and past ICA presidents.

Lunch will be served by The Smokin’ Hereford, winner of the 2017 Iowa’s Best Burger contest. The ICA policy meetings will also be held that day, and the day will be capped off with the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation banquet and auction.

Dec. 8 will begin with a continental breakfast and keynote, followed by the Iowa Beef Industry Council annual meeting and Iowa Cattlemen’s Association annual meeting.

There is no cost to attend the leadership summit, but RSVPs are appreciated. Visit iacattlemen.org for more information and to RSVP.

Full agenda for ICA annual conference

Dec.7

• Registration runs from 9 to 10 a.m.

• General sessions begin at 10 a.m., featuring these presentations and speakers:

“Factors Contributing to Beef Export Success” by Keith Belk, Colorado State University. This will be a discussion of global trends in consumption patterns and economic traits that affect the ability of U.S. beef producers to export successfully, and technical barriers to trade that still need to be overcome. Information presented will be informative and helpful as ICA engages in grassroots policy development.

“Economic Importance of Iowa Beef Industry and Future Opportunities for Growth” by Dan Loy and Lee Schulz, Iowa Beef Center. They’ll discuss the breadth, depth and economic contribution of Iowa’s beef industry. The information can be used to determine where the most fruitful efforts may be spent in encouraging growth, and where those efforts may be less productive without external developments.

• Lunch by The Smokin’ Hereford, home of Iowa’s Best Burger in 2017

• ICA policy committee meetings. ICA’s grassroots policy development culminates at the Leadership Summit and Annual Meeting. All ICA members are encouraged to participate in policy committee meetings on Dec. 7. New policy will be considered and expiring policy will be reviewed for reinstatement. Input from across ICA's membership is vital to setting the direction and priorities of ICA for the upcoming year.

• ICA general sessions:

“Past Presidents Panel” with David Trowbridge, moderator and incoming president; Ed Greiman, 2013-14; Kent Pruismann, 2009-10; Glenn Rowe, 1998; and Gene Wiese, 1991. ICA presidents from the past three decades will share experiences and discuss what the cattle industry was like back then, and offer advice on current hot topics.

“County Cattlemen Stories of Success” by Scott Cherne, Clayton County president; Tim Hastert, Shelby County membership coordinator; and Connie Smith, Fremont County president. County cattlemen leaders and board members, this is a session you don’t want to miss. Trying to revive your board or looking for ideas to become more active in your community? Clayton, Fremont and Shelby County Cattlemen will share how they give back to their members and local community through county events and activities they participate in. They’ll also share ideas on membership recruitment and retention.

• Social hour runs from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation banquet and auction gets underway after the social. The foundation works to increase public understanding of Iowa’s beef industry and assist in providing educational and job opportunities for Iowa’s young people in the beef cattle business through youth education programs and scholarship opportunities.

Dec. 8

• Continental breakfast starts at 8 a.m., followed by the keynote at 8:30 a.m.:

“Are you from Mexico?” by Matt Rush, inspirational farm boy. In these current times, the disconnect between the American supplier and the average American consumer could make the Grand Canyon look like an irrigation ditch. The most important questions are: Where did the disconnect come from, and how do we fix it?

• IBIC and ICA 2017 annual meetings:

Iowa Beef Industry Council is funded by the $1-per-head beef checkoff, invested in beef promotion, consumer information, research, industry information and foreign market development to increase beef demand. The meeting will include an election of executive committee members.

Iowa Cattlemen’s Association policy committees will present recommendations for all members to vote on. Resolutions approved by a majority vote of members attending become the official policy of ICA. ICA will also honor retiring board members and swear in the new president.

• The 2017 ICA annual meeting will wrap up with a 12:30 p.m. lunch social. ICA represents nearly 10,000 beef-producing families and associated companies dedicated to the future of Iowa’s beef industry. ICA’s mission is “Grow Iowa’s beef business through advocacy, leadership and education.”

Source: Iowa Cattlemen’s Association