Policy

SDCA Policy

Policy Made By Cattlemen, For Cattlemen

At the heart of our policy process is a simple principle: Cattlemen and women lead the way. Every policy we take to Pierre and to our national partners begins with the voices, ideas, and real world experience of the producers SDCA represents. Our policy committees are established by the Board of Directors and led by appointed chairpersons. These committees serve as the structured pathway for ideas to become official positions of the association.

Any current member, affiliate, or council may bring forward policy proposals, and every submission is given full consideration. Policy committees report to the Resolution Committee and then present to the membership at the annual business meeting for consideration and approval. 

Policies adopted by our membership guide our advocacy for five years. As those terms expire, committees revisit each resolution to determine whether it should be renewed, updated, or sunset, ensuring our positions always reflect the priorities of producers and the needs of our industry.

 2026 Policy

SDCA Policy Committees



Ag & Food Policy

Chair: Troy Hadrick
This committee considers policy to ensure cattle producers are being represented and needs areaddressed in state and federal laws and regulations.

Cattle Health & Well-Being

Chair: Broc Mauch, DVM
The Cattle Health & Well-Being Committee considers issues that impact the health and care of cattle.

Live Cattle Marketing

Chair: Britton Blair
This committee develops policy to ensure live cattle marketing, grading, and transportation issues are addressed in an effective manner, allowing the beef industry to maximize profitability while consistently meeting consumer needs and increasing market share. 

Tax & Credit

Chair: Austin Havlik
The Tax & Credit Committee develops policy on issues related to taxes, banking and credit.

International Markets

Chair: Drew Edleman
This committee ensures that international marketing initiatives and trade policy are integrated, provides direction and support for USMEF activities, and coordinates with the U.S. market and global market to maximize opportunities.

PREM

Chair: Devin Stephens
The Property Rights & Environmental Management (PREM) Committee develops policy to ensure property rights and environment issues are identified and managed effectively and efficiently.

Federal Lands

Chair: Carl Sanders
The Federal Lands Committee considers policy using historical means and new data to ensure a viable and working cattle industry on federal lands. 

How SDCA Forms Policy



SDCA’s policy process begins and ends with individual members.

As a grassroots organization, South Dakota cattle producers drive the direction of SDCA’s advocacy in Pierre and Washington, D.C.

Members shape that work by submitting policy resolutions individually or through their county associations. Those resolutions are brought forward at the Annual Convention, where policy committees review and debate each proposal.

Approved resolutions move through the formal resolutions process and then come before the full membership for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

Any policy adopted by the membership becomes official SDCA policy for five years. After that time, policies are reviewed to ensure they remain relevant. This process allows members to reaffirm, amend, or sunset them as needed.

This grassroots structure ensures that cattle producers from every sector and every corner of South Dakota have a voice in guiding SDCA’s priorities.

South Dakota Legislative Session


SDCA: Your Boots on the Ground

During South Dakota’s Legislative Session, SDCA is in Pierre every day, actively engaging at the Capitol and building strong working relationships with lawmakers and state agencies. Our team relies on the SDCA Policy Book, created and approved by our producer members, to guide every conversation and ensure our advocacy reflects the priorities of South Dakota cattle producers. We are committed to being fact based, transparent, and consistent, providing lawmakers with credible information and real world perspective as they shape legislation.

From committee hearings to daily discussions in the Capitol halls, SDCA is on the ground representing producers with clarity, integrity, and purpose.

Legislative Resources