Membership Myth Busters > Nebraska Cattlemen > Nebraska Cattlemen Magazine

The best part of the Member Services job is the time we spend with members and prospective members. However, there are a number of misperceptions around the country about what Nebraska Cattlemen members represent. Following are some reoccurring myths that the staff hears constantly, as well as the “busted” myth.

Myth #1: Nebraska Cattlemen only represents big producers. As Tables 1 and 2 show, the majority of cow-calf, farmer/stockman and seedstock producers are 100 head or smaller. The Feedlot Council is divided equally between lots smaller than 4,000 head and lots 4,001 head or larger.

Myth #2: Nebraska Cattlemen is all feeders. They do not represent grassroots producers. As Table 3 shows, the Feedlot Council is less than 10 percent of Nebraska Cattlemen members.

Myth #3: Nebraska Cattlemen is run by the packers. Members in the four producer councils – Cow/Calf, Farmer/Stockman, Seedstock and Feedlot – are the only members who have a vote. Each membership has one vote. If you are a cow-calf producer member with 75 cows, your vote counts the same as a feedlot with 15,000 head and one membership. There are no packers with a vote.

Myth #4: Feeders decide the policy at Nebraska Cattlemen. Policy is established when a resolution comes forward in either a council or a policy committee. Once the appropriate policy committee adopts the policy, it is approved by the membership at the Annual Business Meeting. The NC Board of Directors can adopt interim policy between membership meetings, but it must be ratified by the membership at the next meeting. One council does not work alone, staff do not determine policy and there is no policy handed down from the “mountain.”

The things that make Nebraska Cattlemen great are its diverse members, their different perspectives and the consensus building that must and does take place. If you are feeling left out, take a hard look at what you are doing. Are you engaged in the process? Are you taking the time to be involved? It is your business and your future. Don’t find yourself so busy hauling water that you don’t take time to fix the windmill. Ask others to become members, discuss policy issues with your local affiliate, come to the Regional Roundups and conventions and be an active member. Melody Benjamin, working out of the Alliance office, is NC’s director of Member Services.

TABLE 1

Number of Head per Member

COW/CALF FARMER/STOCKMAN SEEDSTOCK

1-100 head 52% 58% 77%

101-500 head 38% 31% 20%

501+ 10% 11% 3%

______________________________________________________________________

100% 100% 100%

TABLE 2

Number of Head per Member

FEEDLOT

1-4,000 head 50%