DENVER – On Feb. 5, the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show concluded with the NCBA board of directors and membership meetings. Bill Donald, third generation Melville, Mont., rancher, was elected to succeed Steve Foglesong as NCBA president.

“It is a great honor to be elected to lead NCBA for the next year,” Donald said. There is tremendous opportunity out there for US cattlemen and women, and we plan to make every opportunity a reality. We’re a diverse outfit. NCBA represents the entire industry – from packers to cow-calf producers and everyone in between – but to be profitable it takes all of us working on the same issues.”


J.D. Alexander, Pilger, Neb., was elected as NCBA president-elect, and Scott George, Cody, Wyo., is the new NCBA vice president. David Dick, Sedalia, Mo., was elected chairman of the NCBA Federation Division, and Craig Uden, Cozad, Neb., was elected federation vice chairman. The new NCBA Policy Division chairman is Bob McCann of Victoria, Texas, and Don Pemberton of Hopkinsville, Ky., is the new policy vice chairman.

More than 5,600 US cattlemen and women attended the industry’s convention Despite a blizzard that hit many regions of the US earlier this week and freezing temperatures in Denver.

“It was as cold as 25 below zero this week. Kansas City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, O’Hare and many other airports were shut down, trying to keep cattlemen from attending,” said Marvin Kokes, NCBA vice president of association marketing. “But the education, engagement and entertainment of the 2011 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show proved to overpower what the snow and the cold could dish out.”

NCBA members also voted on new and expiring policy issues, including resolutions on cattle health and well being; food safety; immigration; cattle marketing and trade; federal lands ranching and more.

During the annual board meeting, NCBA members approved a beef industry statement of principles. The statement was developed as a part of a check-off funded issues management project and include the following principles: preserving the environment; protecting our livestock; providing quality food for consumers; enhancing food safety; investing in our communities; embracing innovation; and creating a sustainable future.

“We’ve had a tremendous convention this year, and I’m excited for what’s to come for this organization,” Donald said. “The challenges – from dealing with weather extremes like we’ve experienced this week to educating elected officials and consumers about our industry – aren’t going away. But like the challenges we’ve faced in our past, we will put our differences aside; we will succeed; we will move our industry forward.”