Full House Cattlemen and CattleWomen flock to Biggest Little City for 108th annual convention by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande
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attlemen and cattlewomen made their yearly trip to Reno, Nev., for the 108th Annual California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) and California CattleWomen’s (CCW) Convention and California Cattle Industry Tradeshow held Dec. 4 - Dec. 6, 2024. While members from across the state have been going to Reno, for years to attend the convention, this year’s event welcomed a new location at the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR) for the week’s festivities. As members made their way to the GSR, the California Cattle Industry Tradeshow opened an hour early for Young Cattlemen’s Committee (YCC) members to network, walk around and visit the various booths. This year, there were a record number of YCC members in attendance with 175 young cattlemen registered. Following the networking in the Tradeshow, YCC members headed on over to the Chute Side Conversation sponsored by the California Beef Cattle Improvement Association (CBCIA) where they heard from beef industry advocates, Tucker Brown of the R.A. Brown Ranch of Throckmorton, Texas; Allison Fender, Fender, Santa Ysabel of Flying F Ranch; and from CCA President Steve Arnold, Arnold, Santa Margarita. CCA General Session speakers included Patrick Linnell, director of cattle market research and analysis for CattleFax, who spoke in the first general session on Wednesday. Thursday’s two general sessions featured Trail Boss Sponsor, Strong Financial Network, LLC mother and son duo Jennifer and Gabe Strong, Colin Woodall, chief executive officer for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and 20 California Cattleman January 2025
Jess Pryles, owner of the Hardcore Carnivore Brand, a professional chef, cookbook author, TV personality and meat scientist whose speaking session was sponsored by the California Cattle Council. In Wednesday’s first general session, longtime CCA member and past president, Myron Openshaw, Openshaw, Oroville, was recognized for his years of service, leadership and dedication to the Association. To commemorate Openshaw’s involvement, CCA’s Executive Vice President Billy Gatlin revealed the addition of the inaugural “Myron Openshaw Bloody Mary Bar” to the annual conventions breakfast in the tradeshow on Thursday morning. Wraith Scarlett and Randolph Insurance Services (WSR), (WSR), the exclusive insurance broker of CCA was also recognized. WSR’s Jim Vann, Vann, Woodland, and Matt Griffith, Griffith, Williams, joined Gatlin on stage as he shared with the crowd that WSR has given CCA $450,000 since 2015 and how beneficial CCA’s relationship is with WSR, thanking both Vann and Griffith for all that they do to help ranchers and the association. Upon the conclusion of the general session, members headed over to the tradeshow for the evening welcome party. Here, members could snack on appetizers, catch up with old friends, and listen to tunes from country western musician Dave Stamey as they visited the array of businesses in the tradeshow. Bright and early Thursday morning at breakfast in the tradeshow, Openshaw was first in line for the “Myron Openshaw Bloody Mary Bar” with a smile on his face. Thursday’s ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 22