CSU, Chico Ag Students Get Involved in Beef Industry

California State University, Chico Young Cattlemen’s Association were in Sparks, NV, Nov. 19-21 for the annual California Cattlemen’s Convention. This year CSU, Chico sent 25 students to the convention, more than any other California school. Throughout the three-day convention students attended sessions on industry issues, luncheons with industry members and meetings with young cattlemen members from other schools, including Cal Poly SLO, Fresno and UC Davis.

California is the fourth-largest cattle-producing state in the nation, and CSU, Chico YCA President Jolene Moxon believes the state convention is a great networking opportunity for students looking for future employment. “YCA is part of the work force behind convention. We provide minute-takers, votes and interns. We help CCA staff with registration and directing members to meetings,” said Moxon. “I enjoy taking part in the policy making process that is conducted at CCA that affects cattle producers.”

In addition to the networking opportunities, YCA provides leadership training for its members. A senior animal science major, Moxon served as secretary of the state association in 2008. “As state secretary I was able to meet many new people; I enjoyed traveling and learning how to lobby politicians for CCA policies,” stated Moxon. The interview and selection process for new state offers occurred during the California Cattlemen’s Convention, and junior animal science major Casey Miller follows Moxon as the CSU, Chico representative for 2009.

California Cattlemen’s Association further encourages student involvement in its convention by offering a number of internship opportunities. Six CSU, Chico agriculture students, including Spencer Cooper, Megan Dunn, Alicia Fryrear, Danee McMahan, and Breanne Ramos, served as interns during the convention. The interns helped in all areas of the convention, serving as the face of the Young Cattlemen’s Association.

The California Cattlemen’s Association is a nonprofit trade association representing California’s ranchers and beef producers in legislative and regulatory affairs. Noticing that young adults and college students are the future of the California cattle industry, the CCA decided to give them a voice, and so began the Young Cattlemen’s Association. The YCA helps young ranchers-in-the-making learn about the issues facing the cattle industry, helps them build relationships with other young cattlemen, and promotes education, leadership and career enhancement.