From the ground up Digging into the grassroots of the matter

Grassroots. We use that term often in reference to the ICA. Yet sometimes we have to remind ourselves how valuable a grassroots process truly is and how much effort it requires from producers around our state. According to my dictionary, grassroots organizations use collective action from the local level to affect change at the state, regional, or national level. There is an inherent expectation of effort and commitment from membership that is specific to grassroots organizations.

Collective action at the local level makes up the foundation of this natural progression. We have several active local cattle associations in Idaho and I encourage you to attend your next local meeting! Or, if your local group has lapsed over recent years, step up and help reinvigorate it. Invite your neighbors and be sure to include the new and the young producers in your area to participate. Engaged and active locals indicate a healthy grassroots organization.

BY KIM BURTON BRACKETT ICA President

to participate in one of our committees! ICA committees meet quarterly (twice virtually and twice in-person during the year) to discuss updates on relevant matters and to hear from committee members about local concerns. These committees then bring forward resolutions at annual convention for consideration by membership.

Finally, as an ICA member, it’s important that you (the individual) attend and vote during the membership meeting at Annual Convention on the resolutions that guide our association’s work. Let’s have a good healthy discussion on the issue and let our membership vote. That participation and robust conversation is what strengthens our association. ICA leadership and staff stand firm on that established policy throughout the year, and decisions are firmly rooted in the resolutions that our membership has passed. If we have policy in opposition to a specific issue, we stay in opposition regardless of the popularity of that topic. Conversely, if we do not have policy on a stated topic, we typically remain neutral. (Exceptions are made when a new issue arises; in those situations, the Executive Committee or Board of Directors provides interim guidance.)

You may wonder what it looks like for the local leaders to contribute at the state level. In the simplest form, local associations may submit policy resolutions to ICA for consideration at our annual meeting. If there is a concern or issue that is relevant to your local cattle association, check with your District’s board representatives to find out if ICA has existing policy. If so, does it address the issue or would your local membership like to consider amending that policy? If there is not existing policy, draft a resolution and submit it to ICA 45 days prior to annual convention. At the state level, ICA members are encouraged

Across the United States, association involvement is on the decline. One reason is the amount of time and commitment required by members in grassroots associations. It takes time to participate at a local level, to submit resolutions and follow through on the policy process at a state level. Time is a precious resource and not every producer chooses to spend it engaged in cattle association work. But the question is, who else will volunteer to advocate for policy that is in the best interest of cattle producers across Idaho, if not us? I am reminded of a quote from Ivan Scheier, a leading thinker on volunteerism and association work: “Volunteering is doing more than you have to because you want to, for a cause you consider good.”