Update on NCBA's $2 Million Checkoff Cash Advance...

[Faster horses]

I didn't know they had Matthew McC speaking for Beef, but then I've
been out of the loop for several days without internet or phone.
All I can say is WOW. He was People Magazine's 2005 Most Sexiest Man Alive. He owns a ranch in Texas.

He's known as an all-around nice guy. I watched him on Oprah once where he had his dog with him--he talked about his family and
comes across as a regular person. He usually has some humor in his
movies. The movie, "We are Marshall" was based on a true story
and is a classic in my opinion.

The Beef Council did a good job getting Mattew McC as a spokesman
for Beef. I'll bet there aren't many who don't know who he is and
everyone I know, thinks he's a great actor.

Good job, Beef Council!!! Now I'll have to watch/listen for the ads!

[Oldtimer]

[mrj]

Well, don't we all feel more secure, having 'the law' on this website checking out Mr. McC???

And a list of movies, to boot! I do truly fell out of step, not having heard of any of them. Guess my reading interferes with my education!

I do want to see "The Help" now that I've read the book, so that will probably be my movie of the decade unless a young friend gets another one produced and shown locally.

Thanks for the info FH. I'll try to watch for your favorite. Unless it has too much violence in it. I just don't go for even the predictable old shoot 'em up westerns due to boredom with violence. Maybe that has something to do with raising three sons??? Not that they ever got beyond fairly mild scuffles.

mrj

[Faster horses]

Nope, no violence in "We are Marshall". Just a true story about a
college football team that was killed in a plane crash along with
the coach. They had to find a new coach and a new team. That's
the story...watch it to see what develops. I think I shall go get it
to watch it again~and it takes a good movie for me to watch
it all the way through the first time...it has to be excellent
for me to want to watch it again.

If you want a lot of humor, watch "Failure to Launch". Matthew
McC lives with his parents and they can't get him to move out.
It's hilarous.

[mrj]

When reviewing the previous page posts, I noticed that Tommy believes I've ducked his question of "why is there a Federation" of State Beef Councils. Not so, I've posted that several times, but he missed it, maybe because it was not on this particular thread.

When the beef checkoff was voluntary, there was an national organization of representatives of the state beef councils or equivalent organization which managed that voluntary checkoff. It was within the National Livestock and Meat Board.

When cattle producers decided that beef needed to be separate from NLMB, that group became to Federation of State Beef Councils and shared office space and staff with NCBA to be more efficient, just as the CBB originally did. It was a 'political' move by groups opposed to the Policy side of NCBA which caused the move of CBB to separate offices, apparently. Who knows how much that has cost in money lost to programs that would help sell more beef, or help improve the quality of beef???? It would take more money away from programs if the Federation were to "stand alone" like some want.

There is NO possible way for the Federation to "empower NCBA". They vote separately via coded voting cards. Federation does not vote on Policy issues. Policy members do not vote on Federation matters.

Tommy, I'd sure like to know how you determined that "the Federation is made up mostly, if not all, of NCBA people.....the CBB is 50% NCBA people, which I know it is...more than half.....gives NCBA control of where and how the checkoff 'tax dollars' are spent...". Shoudln't you be able to show us a valid source of such 'information'?

Federation members are named by their STATE beef councils, and can be from any organization in SD and probably in any state where there is enough interest. I have personally known Federation members who were NOT members of NCBA!

OT's quoted 'story' about bellyaching over various issues with the checkoff Federation is totally off base when claiming "Fed and policy divisions were 'blurring the lines' putting Fed in a policy role...." is totally NOT true. Federation directors CANNOT vote on Policy issues! Policy members CANNOT vote on Federation matters! Whether they are in the same room, or not, makes no difference. It doesn't happen. My suspicion is the article is quoting R-CALF or USCA griping about their version of checkoff ills. Not always an accurate source, btw.

The sad thing is, none of this hysteria would have happened had not some small groups decided they wanted more power for their organization.

The reason for the 'no new organizations' clause in the checkoff Act and Order was to prevent a new bureaucracy forming simply to live off the Beef Checkoff. That a so called cattlemens' organization (brought to life by livestock marketing organizations, and STILL largely sustained by their sale barn fund raisers) got it's nose out of joint and felt 'left out' is sad.

But what is saddest of all is that NONE of that would have happened if cattle producers who wondered what the checkoff is doing would simply find out for themselves exactly what is being done with their money! There is so much going on, to benefit us in so many ways, that it is definitely difficult to keep up with it. But just try it. You might even find that there IS a lot of good things going on with our Beef Checkoff!!! Check the websites, check your state Beef Council, ask the neighbor who serves on one of the boards. Go to the meetings. They are open to ALL cattle producers. It ususally is difficult to get volunteers. You might even be surprised to find yourself on a beef council board if you offer to help!!!

mrj

[~SH~]