New CEO Idaho Cattle Association

 The Idaho Cattle Association serves more than a thousand members and has a main objective to meet the needs of Idaho's cattle producers. That’s a big responsibility these days with beef ranchers strongly challenged by the economy. But good news may be headed their way.

 Tom McDonnell has been appointed as the new executive vice president of the Idaho Cattle Association. McDonnell became the association's chief operating officer on April 1, moving to Boise, from Chugwater, Wyo., where he owned a purebred cow-calf operation and also served as a consultant to the American Sheep Industry Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture and several universities.

 No pun intended, but the new CEO is very bullish on the future of beef.  “I think it’s an exciting time for agriculture. As I look at the economy and everything going on in global economics, agriculture looks like one of the very few bright spots. Everybody still has to eat. I have a lot of optimism about the next 20 years in ag and I have a lot of optimism about the Idaho beef industry. I see a tremendous growth in exports over the next 5-10 years.”