DUES DOLLARS AT WORK MEMBERSHIP ADOPTS NEW POLICY, SLATES NEW OFFICERS AT VIRTUAL CONVENTION With COVID-19 gathering restrictions precluding an in-person gathering of California’s cattlemen in Reno, Nev., this year, CCA held its 104th Annual Convention online via the Zoom platform on December 3 and 4. While the online setting necessitated some deviations from the usual format of CCA’s annual meeting, more than 150 member households took the time to participate in the convention, and the business of the association was well-executed. Among the most significant actions taken at annual convention was the installation of new officers. 2020 marked the end of Mark Lacey’s Lacey’s two-year term as CCA President, during which Lacey deftly steered CCA through multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a historically catastrophic wildfire season. Lacey is succeeded by Mariposa County cattle rancher Anthony (Tony) Toso, Toso, who was promoted from CCA First Vice President and is well-suited to lead the Association over the next two years. After six years of service as CCA Treasurer, Rob von der Lieth also departs the CCA officer team, and is succeeded in that role by Ventura County rancher Beverly Bigger. Bigger. Siskiyou County rancher Greg Kuck also concluded his two-year term as a CCA Second Vice President. Both Kuck and Lacey expressed disappointment that the pandemic prevented them from traveling the state to meet with ranchers during what would normally be CCA’s fall and spring “tour meetings,” but expressed an interest in visiting CCA’s local affiliates once the pandemic is behind us. CCA thanks Lacey, Kuck and von der Lieth for their years of extraordinary service. The cattle industry leaders will get a proper “send-off ” at next year’s Convention, when California’s cattlemen can once again gather in person to celebrate their achievements. Steve Arnold of San Luis Obispo County now moves up as CCA First Vice President. Trevor Freitas, Freitas, who has served as Chair of CCA’s Feeder Council and Rick Roberti of Plumas-Sierra Cattlemen’s Association will serve as CCA Second Vice Presidents. John Hammon of Tulare County has one year remaining in his term as a CCA Second Vice President. Among Toso’s first acts as CCA President was appointing his replacement as chair of CCA’s Fire Subcommittee. Toso has appointed San Luis Obispo County rancher Anthony Stornetta, Stornetta, who brings to the Subcommittee his dual expertise as a rancher and as a Battalion Chief with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Stornetta has a wealth of experience in applying prescribed fire, background that will be invaluable to the association as CCA focuses throughout the 2021-22 legislative session on priorities like expanding prescribed burns and utilizing cattle grazing as a fine fuels treatment on state-owned lands. CCA members also tackled the policy of the Association in streamlined virtual policy committees 10 California Cattleman January 2021
and Friday’s virtual Board of Directors meeting. With a Foothill Abortion vaccine now commercially available through Hygieia Biological Laboratories—capping years of efforts by CCA, the Livestock Memorial Research Fund, and researchers at the University of California, Davis and University of Nevada, Reno—CCA’s Cattle Health & Well-Being Committee removed two policies from the book calling for the development and marketing of such a vaccine. Members also adopted a series of new policies and staff directives at this year’s annual convention. Below are the operative provisions of those new policies and directives (with “whereas” clauses omitted); you can view CCA’s full policy book at www.calcattlemen.org/cca-policy. AG & FOOD POLICY DROUGHT MONITOR COMMITTEE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Cattlemen’s Association work with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to establish a committee of range beef cattle producers to work with the Drought Monitor program to develop a system to refine their determinations. ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN PRODUCTS—Staff Directive BE IT DIRECTED, that the California Cattlemen’s Association work with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to support federal legislation requiring that imitation beef products be labeled as “imitation” and ensure that the Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture have the authority to enforce such labeling provisions. PROPERTY RIGHTS & ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOREST/RANGELAND FUELS REDUCTION BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Cattlemen’s Association work with appropriate state and federal agencies and organizations to promote the reduction of these fuels and subsequent use to generate electrical energy. LOCAL CONTACT LIST FOR CAL FIRE BE IT DIRECTED, that the California Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) work with local associations to develop a contact list of willing members that could provide information to fire officials on access, terrain, and general geography in their locale, and BE IT FURTHUR DIRECTED, that CCA update this list annually and provide it to CAL FIRE and USDA Farm Service Agency.