FEBRUARY 2025 | Vol. 41, No. 4 | NCBA. org

Born and raised on a small farm in eastern Nebraska, 2025 NCBA President, Buck Wehrbein, was raised around cattle, hogs and chickens, with both sides of his family steeped in a strong agricultural tradition. Wehrbein credits these formative years with instilling in him a passion for cattle and a deep respect for the agricultural way of life.

However, like many young producers today, Wehrbein’ s family farm didn’ t have a clear path for full-time employment. He worked in construction for a short time before he and his wife, Sandy, moved to Amarillo, Texas, where he started working in feedyards, a path that would shape his future.

Now, more than four decades later, he is set to take the helm of NCBA as president of the association. Though he may have new responsibilities, his focus has never wavered from the importance of cattle care and its role in ensuring a high-quality product for the consumer and a deep appreciation for all the people he’ s met along the way.

“ I can’ t imagine having done anything but this for these last 45 years. I’ ve enjoyed every day, and I think being part of the cattle business was a natural fit for me. These markets can tear your head off and these animals can make you drink your bath water but that’ s just part of the deal,” he said.“ Checking cattle has never gotten old for me. One of the cool things about working at a feedlot is, in a position like mine, I can always come out here and look at livestock and get away. Well, with cell phones you don’ t get away, but kind of.”

His journey to leadership and advocacy began in 1992 as the Texas Cattle Feeders Association’ s( TCFA) nominee to participate in NCBA’ s Young Cattlemen’ s Conference which led to a position

National Cattlemen’ s Beef Association

BUCK WEHRBEIN: A LIFE STEEPED IN CATTLE AND COMMUNITY

on TCFA’ s board of directors. That opportunity, combined with mentorship from industry veterans, shaped Wehrbein’ s understanding of association work and the importance of collaboration. He remains a passionate advocate for the cattle business, the role of associations, and opening doors for young producers interested in leadership.

Reflecting on his path, Wehrbein shared,“ Everybody needs someone to encourage them to get involved. For me, it was people like Jay O’ Brien, Charlie Ball, Richard McDonald, Ross Wilson and others who saw the potential in me and guided me along the way.”

After moving back to Nebraska, Wehrbein took the reins at Mead Cattle Company, where he has overseen operations for

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VALUE OF A MENTOR | PG. 8

Cody Glenn and Kelley Sheiss had leaders who changed the course of their careers in the cattle industry.

ESAP REGION WINNERS | PG. 10

These regional winners exemplify outstanding stewardship practices and cattle care.

POLICY SCORECARD | PG. 14

Looking back at 2024, reflect on the progress NCBA made in Washington, D. C., to defend cattle producers.

The National Cattlemen is the official publication of NCBA and is distributed the first week of every month to all NCBA members. Each issue focuses on NCBA industry news as well as features on current topics that are relevant to the beef industry.

• Frequency: 11 issues per year, excluding October( Directions)

• Circulation: 23,000 +

• Pass-through readership: 45,000

• Audience: NCBA producer members, corporate members, state affiliates, members of Congress, veterans and industry stakeholders

2025

2025 Production Schedule and Editorial Features

Edition Editorial Features Materials Deadline Print Date April Elevating Producers’ Expertise 3-11 3-20

December Building & Preserving Legacy 11-11 11-20

FOSTERING A CULTURE OF GROWTH FOR FUTURE CATTLE PRODUCERS

In the ever-evolving landscape in high school where he found of the cattle industry, mentorship mentorship from his FFA adviser is a cornerstone for growth and and, later, from a professor at Jones innovation. As seasoned farmers College where he received his and ranchers pass their knowledge associate degree. Glenn graduated and skills to the next generation, from Mississippi State University they not only help preserve valuable( MSU) and began his career as the traditions but also foster a culture of beef unit manager for MSU. His time continuous learning and adaptation. at MSU and at Town Creek Farm has

“ When I was just starting out given Glenn the chance to teach and in this business, I was mentored advise students and interns. by some great people who were“ At Jones College, Dr. Tim Ishee knowledgeable and passionate invested into his students and was a about the cattle business. I know great communicator. He has been a what those relationships did part of many people’ s lives who’ ve for me and my family, and it’ s Kelley Sheiss raises show cattle in Indiana with her family. gone on to do big things. He had a important that we take time to small, personal Simmental operation open doors for people. Helping create career opportunities and and was well connected across the country, so I learned a lot from paths for leadership is something that ensures the viability of him about genetics and reproduction. Even after I went on to MSU, this industry, which is why NCBA invests time in development he called me up and took me along with him to Wyoming where programs like the Young Cattlemen’ s Conference and works so we spent a month artificially inseminating cows,” Glenn reflected. closely with our affiliate partners. I’ m excited about the future Lessons Learned of this industry and what we can do together,” said NCBA

Whether being mentored or mentoring others, growth occurs

President-Elect Buck Wehrbein. on both sides of the relationship. From leadership and soft Mentors help new producers navigate the challenges of today’ s skills to hard skills like financial planning, genetics, nutrition and

agricultural climate. Here are the perspectives of two producers much more, incoming cattle producers have a lot to gain from who gained knowledge and confidence from the people who experienced producers who have made mistakes, learned from mentored them. them, and can transfer that knowledge.

Kelley Sheiss didn’ t grow up with“ Dr. Cash taught me to never give an agricultural background. In fact, up and follow my aspirations. He her first connection to livestock taught me to connect with people was stumbling upon a 4-H show because the power of relationships with her father, which inspired her is important. To this day, he still to pursue an animal science degree reaches out to me, and he is still a at Pennsylvania State University. champion and supporter of mine,”

Now Sheiss, her husband, and her Sheiss said. son raise cattle in Indiana, and she For Sheiss, Dr. Cash impressed is the immediate past president of upon her the need to build bridges the Indiana Beef Cattle Association in the cattle industry because it’ s

( IBCA). Sheiss has had many a small, tight-knit community that mentors, but one of the first who wants to help each other succeed. shaped the direction of her career Sheiss has built many friendships was her college professor, adviser and mentorships that have helped and an Angus breeder, Dr. Erskine in her role today leading Indiana

Cash. cattlemen and women and caring

“ Dr. Cash saw something in me that for her own herd.

I didn’ t see, not being an agriculture Glenn believes the best way to or cattle person myself. I was Kelley Sheiss supports the future of the beef industry lead people is when they know you challenged with finding my way in through service with Indiana Beef Cattle Assocation. genuinely want to help them get the industry and figuring out where better. to go, so he put me on a path and

“ It can’ t just be for the sake of you helped me connect with my peers,” Sheiss reflected.“ Actually, one getting something done or what you can get out of a relationship.

of those peers ended up being my husband!”

If they believe you’ re trying to help them, you can lead people very Cody Glenn lives in West Point, Mississippi, where he manages effectively,” he added.

Town Creek Farm, a seedstock Brangus operation breeding bulls Glenn has seen numerous students through MSU’ s beef unit and and females for commercial and purebred breeders around the interns at Town Creek Farm who are gaining hands-on experience world. Glenn grew up in Alabama amongst beef, dairy and horse to carry with them into potential careers. He has noticed the farms, but didn’ t have a direct connection to farm or ranch work biggest challenges young producers consistently face are capital as a career following his education. However, Glenn joined FFA and business sense.

8 FEBRUARY 2025 www. NCBA. org

2024 POLICY SCORECARD HOW DID WE DO?

ADVANCE NCBA’ S FARM BILL PRIORITIES Secure reauthorization of the animal health provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and advocate for expanded funding of the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank( NAVVCB) to protect against Foot and Mouth Disease( FMD).

Expand access to risk management and disaster relief programs within the Farm Bill, to support financial stability for producers.

Protect and fund EQIP, CSP, and other voluntary conservation programs that incentivize science based, active management of our natural resources.

Defend against the addition of a livestock title.

DEFEND AGAINST POLICIES THAT HURT CATTLE PRODUCERS

Defend the U. S. cattle industry against radical animal activist groups that want to end cattle production, including the Beef Checkoff.

Preserve family farms and ranches for future generations by advocating for essential tax relief for cattle producers.

Ensure that all labeling requirements for fake meat products are fair and accurate.

Protect producers from burdensome emissions reporting requirements.

NATIONAL CATTLEMEN’ S BEEF ASSOCIATION CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY

Preserve existing permitting standards for beef producers under the Clean Water Act.

Combat overly restrictive Packers & Stockyards rules to ensure producers have the freedom to market their cattle however they want without the fear of frivolous litigation.

Fight against misguided Endangered Species Act rules and any expansion of bureaucratic red tape under the National Environmental Policy Act( NEPA).

Push for further hours-of-service flexibility and continue delaying ELD requirements for livestock haulers.

Work with USDA to implement reforms to the“ Product of the USA” label that promotes voluntary, verified, and trade-compliant labeling that returns more value to producers.

Push to expand market access for U. S. beef exports and fight for equivalent animal health and food safety standards for imported beef.( The Biden administration failed to expand market access for U. S. beef, while approving imports from Brazil and Paraguay.)

ACCOMPLISHED

IN PROGRESS

INCOMPLETE

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