Executive Vice President’s Perspective

Random Thoughts at the Close of the Year

By Michael Kelsey

    December is a unique time of year. I can remember in my childhood that the first 24 days always seemed to take an eternity to pass. Now they seem to fly. Not only has my sense of time changed, but so have my responsibilities. As a child, I tried to open presents during those first 24 days … now I try to keep children from opening presents. Christmas is a joyous season, don’t you agree?

Looking back on 2006, NC members can be proud of all the successes that were achieved. We are pulling together a list of those accomplishments that will be available the first of year, so be looking for those. They can serve as great membership recruitment talking points.

Speaking of membership, NC achieved 502 new members in our 2006 membership year! That accomplishment speaks highly of the great work that NC is doing. Special thanks to all the folks who recruited new members as well. Unity in a common goal is a powerful force. “The voice of one cattleman cannot possibly be as effective as the voices of many, like the thousands, serious about their business, who belong to the Nebraska Cattlemen.”

With election season long over, 22 freshman senators are moving into their office at the state capitol. NC made a special effort to meet with candidates during the election season to share NC policy and determine their agendas as a potential senator. We were able to meet individually with 32 of the 47 candidates. Knowing our elected officials on a first-name basis is crucially important.

NC tried something new this year that appeared to be a big hit. Around the middle of October, NC pulled together a two-page white paper explaining the initiatives, referendums and constitutional amendments that would appear on the November state ballot. Quite a few members utilized this information before voting. Due to the great response, NC plans to make that information an “election tradition.”

Back to the legislature, one of NC’s top priorities this session will be elimination of the state estate tax. An article discussing this important issue appeared in the October issue of the Nebraska Cattleman. We have already spoken with several senators about sponsoring the bill and have been assured by Governor Heinemann that he will sign the bill when it reaches his desk. A point of clarification: NC is not challenging the state inheritance tax at this time. County governments depend upon this revenue source, although difficult to budget, for local services and programs.

Ethanol has emerged as the most talked about issue this past year and will continue to hold that title for a while. I especially like the thoughts shared by Governor Heinemann at an evening producer meeting in late October. He summarized that Nebraska’s growing ethanol industry must be accompanied by a growing livestock industry, specifically cattle feeding. At NC’s Cattle, Corn and Ethanol Summit in November, participants learned that more research and information is needed to utilize distiller’s grains for cow-calf producers. All this excitement is still buffered with many questions regarding corn price trends, renewable energy standards, available corn acres and water, just to name a few. You can bet that NC will remain on the forefront of this important issue.

Finally, allow me to close these random thoughts with one of gratitude. Tonya and I have been with NC for two years now. Wow, does time fly! I have come to appreciate the passion that NC members have for their business, colleagues, cattle and industry. I am proud to work with you and consider it an honor to carry your water on a daily basis. From the Kelsey household to yours, have a safe and merry holiday season!

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23    Michael Kelsey is NC executive vice president. He can be reached at mkelsey@necattlemen.org.