In recognition of their efforts to have more beef producers engaged in national issues by joining the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), three NCBA state affiliates were awarded a year's use of a New Holland round baler or tractor in a program jointly sponsored by New Holland and the NCBA.
Three NCBA state affiliates, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Georgia Cattlemen's Association and Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association, were awarded their choice of a one-year lease of a New Holland BR7090 round baler or T6.175 tractor for increasing membership and participation in the NCBA during the association's 2012 fall membership drive. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association had the greatest membership increase during this period. Georgia Cattlemen's Association and Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association were chosen from the NCBA state affiliates who had an increase in membership of more than 15 percent.
Each of the winning state affiliates can use the tractor or round baler lease for their group's fundraising or scholarships efforts, or as an incentive to further increase membership. Winners were announced at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Tampa, Fla.
Three additional New Holland tractor or round baler leases will be awarded during the NCBA's annual Washington, D.C. Legislative Conference in April to the NCBA state affiliates with the most success in gaining members during the NCBA's current membership drive.
New Holland has been a sponsor of this program, designed to increase participation in the NCBA at the grassroots state level, for the past eight years. "New Holland is proud to support the state and national membership efforts," says Michael Cornman, Dairy and Livestock Marketing Segment Leader. "We know that it is smart for all of us to work together to strengthen our great industry and provide opportunities for future generations of farmers and ranchers. We are honored to work with NCBA on this important effort."
As the country's oldest and largest organization representing the cattle industry, the NCBA has a strong voice in Washington, D.C. as a representative of America's beef producers. According to NCBA Policy Division Chair Don Pemberton, NCBA's strong membership base ensures the voices of cattle producers are heard. Pemberton added that even though NCBA already has a strong membership base and many legislative and regulatory victories under its belt, the organization can become even stronger by increasing its membership.