GCA President’s Report, By Rodney Hilley

It’s simply amazing how fast time flies by, isn’t it? Here it is the fall season, and we are left wondering: Where did the time go? I know that most of you can remember just a few short weeks ago when we were wondering when we would get some beneficial rain; and now many producers in my area can’t cut their hay because of the rain. I guess that’s the hay business!

By this time, we have completed two of the scheduled four Cattlemen’s Connections, with the most recent one being held in Moultrie. While I realize that this is a new process for many, it is a way that GCA is attempting to reach more members and recruit more producers to be members. So far, they have been very successful and the purpose behind them is being accomplished. The next quarterly event will be held on Nov. 18 in the Middle Georgia area. Watch the magazine and social media for more information. As of right now, our membership total is up by almost 300 members from the same time last year, and we are reaching for our goal of 5,500 members. With your help, we can do it. If you know of a neighbor or friend who might be interested, please contact them and see. Most of the time, it only takes someone asking them to join. Once they do, hopefully they will see the value in being a member and will want to stay a member. Keep in mind that they don’t have to own cattle to be a member; they just have to be interested in our association.

We recently had the Feed the Dawgs event in Athens, where we fed steaks to the UGA football team and coaches on Tuesday before the opening game against Oregon. This was a great event, and it was also very well received by all the coaches and players. They really appreciated us being there! If you are a football fan, you had to appreciate the effect that those steaks had against Oregon; they were totally dominated in every area by the UGA football team. That BEEF is very powerful!

Don’t forget the Georgia National Fair in October. GCA and the Beef Board will have a booth at the fair, and your help is very much needed! This event is geared more toward the consumers and educating them about BEEF and its wonderful value. Anyone, including you, is asked to come help man the booth and help out. If you don’t know the answer to a question, someone will find out for you.

Also, don’t forget the new requirements for being named to a GCA committee this year. This change was adopted by the membership at the convention in Savannah back in February. It requires each local association to submit a list of people who are willing to serve on these committees; the names are submitted to the nominating committee, who will pick the individuals to serve. This gives you and your local association the ability to serve and help your association to be even better. GCA honestly needs and wants your participation, so please let your local association know if you are interested.

If you have any questions, concerns or ideas, please let me or one of the Board of Directors know. As I said earlier, if you have neighbors or friends who aren’t GCA members, please explain the benefits of being a member and ask them to join!

Until next time, Rodney Hilley