Cattlemen’s 76th Annual Convention and Trade Show Announces Featured Speakers and Programming

 
The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA) will host the 76^th Annual Convention and Trade Show December 10-11, 2024, at the Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center in Pierre, South Dakota.
                       
The SDCA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show provides a forum for members and non-members to network with fellow cattlemen, craft the policy that will guide the SDCA staff and leadership in the coming year and learn more about the latest industry happenings.
 
The first day of Convention, December 10^th, will feature the Cattlemen’s Land and Legacy event that focuses on conservation and working lands. Attendees will be inspired while also gaining insight into concepts and practices that can be implemented on any operation. The Cattlemen’s Land and Legacy welcomes Mark Eisele, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association as the featured keynote. Eisele lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where his family runs Red and Black Angus cow-calf pairs, retains yearlings, and operate a custom haying operation on the historic King Ranch. The ranch runs cattle on both private and public lands with state and federal grazing leases. Eisele’s commitment to conservation was recognized in 2015 when King Ranch received the Wyoming Leopold Conservation Award. 
 
The Land & Legacy event will also recognize the 2024 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award recipients, Barry and Eli Little of Blioux River Ranch in Castlewood, South Dakota. To conclude the Cattlemen’s Land and Legacy event, Dallas Mount of Ranch Management Consultants will host a two-hour Ranching for Profit workshop designed to give producers resources and practical concepts that can be applied directly to their operation and improve business. The Ranching for Profit workshop is possible thanks to the South Dakota Grasslands Initiative and the South Dakota Grasslands Coalition.
 
The SDCA policy committee meetings will also take place on day one of the Convention. Committee’s will feature speakers and other programming on hot topics impacting cattle producers. The committees will also address new and existing policies and make recommendations to the full membership on policy that will govern the organization in the year to come. Between meetings and educational sessions, don’t miss the wide variety of vendors at the Cattle Industry Trade Show and the Best of Beef Happy Hour, sponsored by First National Bank of Sioux Falls.
 
To conclude day one of convention, the SDCA invites the public to attend the Merck Roping Contest and the SDCA’s President Auction. Test your skills at the second annual Merck Roping Contest. The SDCA encourages attendees, vendors, and the public to bring a rope and show off your skills for a chance to win cash, prizes, and bragging rights. The contest includes two dummy roping events including the King of the Reach and the Team Roping. Contest registration is $10 per person, per event. The President’s Auction will feature something for everyone! For those who can’t attend in person, the auction will be hosted online by DVAuction. Funds raised through the President’s Auction offset expenses for the SDCA’s Board of Directors when the travel on behalf of the SDCA to national events.
 
Day two of the Convention and Trade Show will kick off with the Checkoff Breakfast. Hear updates from the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, as well as some of the contractors on the state and national level that put beef checkoff dollars to work for producers. Hear from the Federation of State Beef Councils and Beef Logic about the initiatives and projects that drive demand for beef!
 
Also on day two, attendees will hear from CattleFax, the global leader in beef industry research and analysis.  Holden Ramey who joined the CattleFax team in 2022, will share market insights and the forecast for the year to come. Ramey grew up on his family’s farm and ranch in Northeast Colorado where he remains active on both the commercial and registered cattle sides. In the spring of 2022, with a focus on margin analysis and risk management in the cattle feeding sector, Ramey received a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Colorado State.
 
At SDCA’s annual business meeting, SDCA members will hear association updates, conduct business, and vote on proposed bylaw amendments. After the lunch recess, the annual policy business meeting will take place. Members of SDCA will vote on association policy and elect a new slate of officers for 2025.
 
The keynote luncheon will feature speaker Neil Fulton. A native of Miller, South Dakota, Fulton has been serving South Dakotans through various leadership roles in both the private and public sector roles for decades. Today he is focused on nurturing the next generation of leaders as Dean of the Knutson School of Law at the University of South Dakota. Dean Fulton will discuss the importance of civic engagement and how to influence decision-makers and consider becoming decision-makers in today’s climate
 
The Cattlemen’s Education Series builds on the keynote address, featuring a panel of various leaders from state associations, local governments, and community organizations to discuss the importance of working to influence decision makers, but also consider becoming decision makers. What it takes to serve, why it’s important, and what leaders need to hear to make decisions that impact the industry.
 
The Convention finale, the Cattlemen’s Banquet, will be held the evening of December 11^th, where the first annual SDCA Leadership Academy class will be announced. The SDCA will also present the awards for the Cattleman of the Year and the Friend of SDCA. Following the banquet, is live entertainment by native South Dakotan, singer/songwriter Cody Henson Hullinger. Cody has been fortunate enough to open or support such bands and acts, such as: Casey Donahew, Kip More, Florida Georgia Line, Lo-Cash, Chancey Williams, Dustin Evans, and many more.

Register today and learn more about the 76^th Annual Convention and Trade Show by visiting sdcattlemens.org, click on the ‘Special Events & Awards’ tab, and then click on ‘Annual Convention and Trade Show’ or contact the SDCA.