Page 4 - WCA July Ketch Pen 2020

Letter from the President
Sam Ledgerwood
As I write this on June 15th, we are getting some rain. June has been a little damp in my area, creating a challenge for haying, but it did make trailing the cattle to our Forest Service permit June 9th and 10th easier. I hope other areas are getting some much-needed rain as well.
These are challenging times to conduct business, but thankfully we have technology to help us continue to get things done. Our May meeting was via conference call. We received a report from the EVP search committee. There were several highly qualified and motivated candidates apply for the position. By the time you read this we will have interviewed candidates and hopefully hired a new EVP. When that takes place, we will be getting said EVP around the state to meet you and hear your concerns. I realize summer is usually a slow time for meetings and many events have had to be canceled but please call the office and let us know of any events or meetings happening in your county that we might be able to attend.
In May the Executive Committee received a letter of resignation from 1st Vice President Jim Hutton. On behalf of the WCA, I would like to wish Jim well and thank him for the many hours and miles of service he gave to our organization. I know we have members who would be a great asset to the whole organiza- tion. That being said, we are asking our members to volunteer to step up and be a part of the Executive Committee. If you would like to volunteer please contact Tyler Cox, nominating commit- tee chairman.
Frequent communication with Mark Streuli, interim EVP, on many issues has kept the board members and myself busy. We continue to try to keep our membership updated on the CARES Act rules. Dave Duncan, Tom Davis, (Farm Bureau), and Sa- mee Charriere (Wolf Advisory Group) continue to work on wolf issues. These days it seems to be a year-round issue rather than a seasonal issue. Many producers around the state are being
affected, but more so in the NE.
I applaud the work of the local
sheriff departments and county
commissioners in their efforts
to help their producers. We will
continue to do our best to help all
producers. While wolves, water
rights, and brand continue to be
our top three issues, we are also working on markets, NRCS programs, fire, (looks like a challenging season ahead), public lands, private property rights and many other issues affecting our members.
At this time, the July NCBA summer business meeting in Den- ver is happening. I must say the NCBA has been a great help working through the CARES Act rules and trying to understand these crazy markets. Having national contacts has served your leadership well in helping us work through these many issues. With Ethan Lane and Collin Woodall both working for NCBA now, Kaitlyn Glover has moved into Ethan’s position at PLC and is working hard to continue to help all public lands producers. Mark Streuli and I have been in contact with Kaitlyn and Ethan on several issues including but not limited to delisting wolves, NRCS programs, CARES Act, opening up more public lands and CRP for drought relief for our producers.
The current pandemic has caused problems both economically and mentally for everyone in our state as well as the country.
I continue to hear of many state and local county fairs being canceled. I am concerned for our youth; I hope we can use our knowledge and contacts to help them cope with their challenges.
In closing I would like to thank Mark, Bev and Dillon for the great work they are doing in the office. Also to all the WCA membership for the support you continue to give me.
4 KETCH PEN - July 2020