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Executive Director’s Report

published: February 5th 2010
by: Bill Hyman
source: ICA Of Texas

The NCBA Winter Convention is now in the history books and we can get back to business. The Trade Show at the San Antonio Convention Center was informative with many new and improved products being displayed. For Texans trying to survive a two year drought, we were relegated to being just tire kickers and not interested buyers, but it was fun to look. The new concept for the future governance of NCBA was the main topic of several meetings. Several state groups, including ICA, voiced concern about the new plan. As a result of these concerns significant changes were adopted by the Governance Task Force at the meeting prior to the final version being adopted. The new governance structure proposes to have a smaller board of directors and a “house of delegates” type of general assembly. Many of the cattle producer state affiliates worked to make sure the membership would retain veto power over actions of the board of directors. We did not get everything we asked for but we did gain some concessions. In the end ICA voted against the concept because ICA has always asked for more separation of the NCBA Policy Division and the Federations of State Beef Councils. All in all, it was like a family meeting where not everyone agreed with the details but going forward we will seek to work together in for the benefit of the livestock industry.
    ICA received the NCBA Outstanding State Affiliate Award for our membership growth and member retention. By winning this award we received a one year, free use of a New Holland round hay baler. We are still working out the details but we will use the baler to help our members during the next year.
    The Cattlemen’s Beef Board also met in conjunction with the conference and our three delegates spent much of their time in meetings working to improve our Beef Checkoff programs. ICA should be proud of Chuck Kiker, Robert Bruner and Richard Hodge for taking the time to participate as CBB Directors and vigorously representing cow calf producers across Texas. A special thanks to each of our ICA Directors and officers who attended the meetings and represented our members. The many hours spent researching the issues and programs is a thankless task but because of their diligence ICA remains involved and focused.