President’s Report – January 2022

I would like to start by apologizing for not wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. By the time you receive this issue of the Florida Cattlemen’s Magazine, I will have missed Christmas, and maybe even New Years.  Sitting down and writing these messages each month it’s hard to think of anything other than where we’ve been, or what we have accomplished.  With that said, I hope all of you have gotten to spend time giving thanks to the Good Lord for how blessed we are. Blessed to be able to gather together, family, friends, good food, maybe some hunting, and of course more good food. Being thankful for the family and friends we have and being thankful for the time we had with the ones that are no longer here with us. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

This last month things have been a little crazy. From going to County Meetings, Political Fundraisers, listening sessions with congressmen and congresswomen, meetings with Water Management Districts, Legislative Committee weekly conference calls, Adams Ranch Bull Sale (where I had a minute to visit with FCLA Class VIII), followed by spending three days in Wichita, Kansas at a US CattleTrace Symposium, where our very own Ken Griner was elected as the new Chairman of US CattleTrace.  I just want each of you to know how proud I am in serving you all in this great industry.

If you missed December Quarterly, you missed a lot!We had a very active Legislative, Executive Board, Committees, Past Presidents and Board meetings.  So much information and direction for us coming out of each meeting.

I need to brag on my Local County Associations for a minute. Thank you, Manatee and Sarasota County Cattlemen’s Associations, for stepping up to the plate and hitting a homerun with our Thursday evening Steak Dinner. It was definitely a class act.  Great food, entertainment and atmosphere.  There are so many Thank You’s I would like to make, starting with Jimmy Keen (Manatee County Cattlemen’s President) and Norm Stockton (Sarasota County Cattlemen’s President). Big Thanks to Jim Strickland and Blackbeard Ranch for Hosting this great event.  Thank You Brian and Cassidy Jones, the whole Blackbeard’s Crew, Longino Ranch Crew, and each member from both associations that worked so hard on setting up, cooking, and cleaning up afterwards. Last and certainly not least, I would like to thank all our sponsors; Mabry Carlton Ranch, Hawkins Ranch, Carol Hawkins, B&B Custom Cabinetry, 2J Farms Chuck & Peggy Johnston, John & Glenn Peachey, Bartell Cattle Co., Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, West Florida Overhead Doors, Myakka Ranch & Farm Supply, Westway Feed, Arcadia Stockyard, Corteva, Zoetis, W&W Supply, Purina, Smith’s Ranch & Garden, Alltech, BI, Merck, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Everglades Farm Equipment, Southern Welding & Equipment Repair, Keen Farm, Triangle Ranch, Sweet Pro Southeast Dist LLC, Blackbeard’s Ranch, Florida Conservation Group, AJM Conservation and Cattle, Strickland Ranch, Diamond R Fertilizer, and Fender’s Auto Parts.

This was the Dinner and Party of the Year! I am so humbled and honored, I cannot thank you all enough for the hard work you’ve put into making this event happen, and a huge thanks to the sponsors for stepping out and up to support such an amazing event. THIS was truly Riding Together!