Colorado Cattlemen Celebrate 150 Years with Optimism

During the month of June I had the opportunity to join the Colorado Cattlemen's Association (CCA) in Grand Junction, Colorado, as they celebrated 150 years of being the nation's oldest state cattlemen's organization.

What struck me the most while attending, was the optimism surrounding, not only the past 150 years, but the next 150 years of the organization. While many challenges continue to face those in the beef and agriculture industry as a whole, cattlemen and women continue to have faith in the future of the industry. Not only have I seen this at CCA's Annual Convention, but I saw it during the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention earlier this year in Nashville, as well as during the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Legislative Conference in D.C.

“I think optimism is really the hallmark of those of us involved in the cattle industry, and is one of the reasons why I believe CCA is celebrating their 150-year anniversary this year,” Todd Inglee, president of CCA, said during a speech to those in attendance. “If you think back to our founding fathers in 1867, I believe that they caught lightning in a bottle, and it’s up to us to keep that bottle lit as we pass that on to the next generation.”

That optimism that helped found CCA in 1867- nine years before Colorado even became a state- is what draws me so closely to the whole agriculture industry. It's the driving force that makes me proud to share the stories of those involved in agriculture and the beef industry.

I took a minute to ask some advice of two of the past CCA presidents for those just starting to get involved in the industry, and here's what they said:

"Be involved- both locally in your local communities; get involved with your committees and local government as well," CCA Past President Frank Daley, who served from 2014-15, suggested for those new to the industry. Daley also encourages newcomers to the industry to tell their story because "the public gets farther and farther removed from ag production, and, even if it’s just visiting with someone on an airplane or in the grocery store, don’t be bashful. Tell people who you are, what you do."

CCA Past President Tom Compton, who served CCA at the turn of the century, said that folks new to the industry should "learn as much as you possibly can. A great source of knowledge are the folks out there that have already made mistakes and found that there’s a way to avoid those mistakes or actually benefit from those mistakes and improve their operation."

I couldn't agree more with their advice. So, with optimism, I am also looking forward to the future of the industry as my generation helps shape that future.