The following are excerpted from the Hereford World article introducing the candidates for the American Hereford Association board: (see whole article here)
Why are you running for the Board?
I was approached by several friends and people I respect in the industry and was asked to run. I am incredibly flattered to be considered and am willing to serve any way I can. My family has had some incredible experiences as a result of our participation in the AHA. God has gifted me with leadership and other abilities which I am more than willing to use to give back to an organization that means a lot to me and my family.
What are some goals or ideas you have for the Association?
- Improve our collective understanding of the scientific improvements the industry has available to it and incorporate them into what the Association is doing.
- Continue to improve/work on the user interface for our computerized registration system.
- Help find ways to better educate our members and the public.
- Improve access into the CHB program for all producers.
- -Make Hereford beef a household word.
- Maintain and support our youth programs, because the youth are our future and without them the Association cannot grow.
What is the biggest issue the AHA will face in the next five to 10 years? How does the Board prepare to face that issue?
I believe the biggest challenge we face is consumer understanding and perceptions of Herefords, beef and the beef industry. Consumer trends, press and the internet are continually shaping the lay public’s perception of beef and our industry and, thus, our market. While we may not agree with what is being promoted, we still need to maintain an active dialog and educate the public about our side of the story.
The board should:
-Acknowledge that we live in an information age and that managing information is critical to managing consumer perceptions. This means embracing technology and using it to further our cause. Webinars, a continually improving website, Youtube and even VINE are modalities we can use to mold consumer perceptions of what beef and our breed are all about.
-Educate both our members and the general public as best we can, because we need both to progress as a breed.
-We will need to address issues as (or even before) they arise. Whether it be the next food safety issue, the trend toward locally grown products, genetic defects or some other yet to be reported concern, we need to recognize and acknowledge and work as a board and a community to address them.
-Recognize that all of us who run Hereford cattle are ambassadors for our breed. Instead of emphasizing our differences, I would like to focus on what we have in common – a great organization and a great breed. This is one thing I hope members from all regions can agree on, and I hope to help foster this attitude if I am elected.
