Young Cattlemen's Conference Provides Amazing Opportunities

Last week I caught up with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Young Cattlemen Conference Chair Keith Nantz at the Oregon Cattlemen’s Mid-year meeting in June. He had recently returned from the YCC event and shares
Nantz: “I just got back from the Young Cattlemen’s Conference we toured in Denver up to Chicago and then back to D.C. We had 61 individuals from around the country that came together to learn about the industry from gate to plate all the way to the policy side. One incredible group of individuals from across the country. Learned a ton about — from the very beginning all the through the process. We toured JBS kill plant, toured some feed yards, went to the Chicago Merchantile Exchange and learned about risk management and then went to D.C. had a a big impact on our legislators on some really, really important issues coming up in Congress.“
In fact, the House passed a bill repealing Country of Origin Labeling last week and Nantz said that many of the YCC members visited with their Congressmen and women specifically about COOl. He encourages young producers to consider participating in a future YCC.
Nantz: “It is hard to explain how impactful it is and the network you build — when you come into the YCC and don’t know anybody and then when it is time to leave — you don’t want to leave because you’ve made some friends for a lifetime. It is really hard to express that but Nathan Jackson just went this year as the Oregon delegate and he said the same thing when we got done. It is hard to even fathom the impact it will make on your life and the industry when you get involved.”