I’ve always felt, no matter what business a person is in, they need to belong to a supporting organization with common interests. It doesn’t have to be the largest or the smallest organization, but it should be one for all age groups and especially one they feel comfortable with.
For those in the agriculture business, it is really important to belong to and support an organization to stay in the know. In today’s world it seems prices, policies and restrictions are always moving fast one way or the other.
Those involved in animal production – mainly cattle and sheep – certainly need to be a member of a livestock organization. Find an organization that aligns with your values and beliefs, and get your family involved as well.
Here at the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, we belong to many national, state and county ag and livestock organizations for two purposes. One, for the Roundup to support our readers and second, for the ranch to support ag organizations which assist with livestock, private and federal lands and water regulations issues.
On the national front, with livestock and farming, there are so many issues today it is hard to stay informed. It is good to have ag organizations in Washington, D.C. to lobby for us and to keep us informed.
With all of the pressing issues today, I think it’s important to have someone at the table to share our opinions and listen to others.
One of the bigger issues with agriculture, especially in Western states, is private lands rights. Many agree there has been more pressure coming from recreationists to go where they want, and some have a disregard for private lands. They don’t understand the laws of their backyards also apply to ranchers’ and farmers’ land – our backyards are just bigger.
Illegal meat coming into the U.S. from Brazil to Central America where the U.S. is fighting the New World screwworm, bringing in labor from other countries and allowing other countries to purchase land in America, are just a few of the issues agriculture faces today. All of these come back to affect local farmers and ranchers. It takes a strong organization to be involved in these issues.
If you are in agriculture and belong to ag organizations, I thank you for helping to keep these organizations strong. If you have served on boards or have been an officer of an ag organization, I thank you for your time and your time away from your operations and families.
If you are an executive officer, staff or volunteer in an ag organization, thank you for your long hours of lobbying, dealing with issues, reviewing court decisions and assisting those on the ground. Thank you for helping to keep us informed on pressing issues so we are always in the know and can sustain our operations at home.
Dennis Sun is the publisher of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, a weekly agriculture newspaper available online and in print. To subscribe, visit www.wylr.net or call 800-967-1647.
