By Patrick Cavanaugh
Colin Woodall is vice president of government affairs for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association and he noted that It was just really great to see the number of hats and boots that were on capital hill last week at the big annual NCBA legislative confer
ence last week in Washington D.C.
“We really did cover both the house and senate, talking to members of congress, talking to their staff about a whole host of issues,” Woodall said. “The NCBA members made a big impression on Washington D.C.”
“What really drove home the impact that our industry has on this town, was the reception that we had one night with all the hill staff and members of congress,” said Woodall. “We had over 2,600 hill staffers, and members of congress that came through to join us. It shows that we have a tremendous amount of influence here in Washington,” he added.
“It was great to have NCBA members from across the country because the legislators have an interest in what we’re talking about, they have an interest in what we’re trying to achieve, and more importantly they just want to learn more about our industry and to talk to cattle producers who every other day of the week are back home getting a little manure on their boots.
One big understanding that the legislators have for the cattlemen is that they take care of their natural resources.
‘”They understand that the best steward for the land, the water, the air, and the welfare of these animals are America’s cattle producers. That was very clear in the message that we were able to deliver, and the response that we got,” said Woodall. “Also I think it was made very clear in the conversations that we had with the new administrator of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, who came to visit with our members. It was interesting, because he got two standing ovations from our membership, and that has never happened before,” he said.
Woodall said, “It’s rare that anybody in agriculture actually likes an administrator of the EPA, much less willing to stand up and give them two standing ovations, but that’s exactly what happened.”
“Basically because the message was delivered back to our members by the administrator that we didn’t have to live in fear anymore of the EPA. That they were here to work with us as partners, and I think that was a message that we really wanted to hear, and we were excited to hear,” said Woodall.
