Outstanding County Affiliate Program

If you have questions or need further detail call Jamie King. It’s not too early to start working on your application. We had some fabulous submissions last year.

In addition to County Affiliate Awards, the OCA also recognizes other individuals at the Annual Meeting & Banquet in January. Award nominations for Beef Excellence, Young Cattlemen of the Year, Beef Industry Service, Seedstock Producer of the Year and Commercial Producer of the Year are due October 31, 2007.

Fairfield County Named Outstanding Affiliate for 2006
By Katy Wuthrick, OCA/OBC Industry Relations Intern
Writen for Ohio Cattleman Magazine

Since 1988, the beef industry has been promoted in Fairfield County through the Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association. Their continued involvement from the county level to the national level and their ‘whatever it takes’ attitude toward promoting the beef industry has made them, for the second year in a row, the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s Outstanding County Affiliate.

Leading the Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association is President Tim Gold. Gold served as director of the association for four years prior to his term as president. Jake Wolfinger serves as vice president, OCA district representative and is currently the FCCA president-elect.

“While the county losses 3,000 to 5,000 acres per year to urban development, we are not losing any cattle numbers,” wrote Dee Jepsen, treasurer, in their Outstanding Affiliate Application.

At 110 members strong, communication is an important factor in keeping their association in sync. In 2006 they produced a FCCA Beef Producers Directory, in an effort to keep all segments of the beef industry connected. The directory has contact information for all FCCA members as well as farms and companies involved in the beef industry. In 2006 they also improved their communication with the addition of a Web site.

Janice Wolfinger, public relations and membership secretary, along with the technological help of Lisa Burnworth, a director of Fairfield County, have designed, activated and updated the Fairfield County Web site.

They utilize the Web site in many different ways: keeping their members and the public informed of upcoming events, posting scholarship applications, thanking buyers and supporters of their programs and much more.

“It is important to utilize the talent we have,” Janice said about starting the Web site. They try to use everyone’s natural talent within the association in the best way they can to the betterment and promotion of the industry.

“Oftentimes it’s our diversity that makes FCCA an exciting organization to be connected to,” Jepsen said.

It is key to have the scholarships posted on the Web site. With the younger generation accessing the Internet in their everyday lives it allows more youth to be informed of the opportunities and increases the accessibility of the forms, Janice said.

Their most successful fundraiser is the Steak Trailer at the county fair.

“The Steak Trailer brings in $8,000 to $9,000 and that money we give back to the youth and county in a lot of ways,” Gold said.

With the money they earn, the FCCA sets a minimum price for each beef project sold in their junior fair sale. They give a food ticket to the Steak Trailer to every Bred, Born and Raised buyer, in addition to donations, promotions and scholarships.

Another way they create revenue while serving the youth is by hosting an Annual Steer and Heifer show which attracts youth from across the state.

“It is not a sanctioned show, it is just for fun giving kids more experience in the show ring,” Gold said.

The 2006 show was held on Oct. 21 with 84 calves shown. This show helps to get the FCCA name out to the other county cattlemen and to the public.

With the success of the Steer and Heifer Show along with the Steak Trailer, they have added another scholarship, making a total of four scholarships given to the youth of Fairfield County through FCCA. Each of the four Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Scholarships are $500. Two are for high school students, one is designated for a college student and the fourth scholarship is a floater depending on if the county has more high school or college aged kids that year eligible to apply, Gold said.

Also in support of their youth the FCCA was the leading supporter of 4-H market steers at the 2006 county fair purchasing eight steers, totaling more than $3,000 in premiums. They have established a Youth Carcass Contest and County Born, Bred and Raised classes for 4-H youth as well as continued to donate trophies, banners and letter jackets.

“It is important to be supportive of the youth as well as keep the adults involved,” Gold said.

They try to keep the adults interested by hosting educational meetings. Educational opportunities during 2006 included: nutrition seminars, a carcass evaluation contest, Ohio Beef Heifer Development Short Course, Summer Membership Roundup and, as an edifying perk, the Web site helps to inform the members of up-to-date facts and happenings linked through academic and industry sites.

“We want the adult members to get something out of each seminar,” Gold said.

For the County Carcass Contest they arrange for an Ohio State Extension Specialist to come and judge the contest. Anyone can enter for a fee of $15, which goes back to Extension to cover any expenses.

Not only has FCCA been on top of the game promoting beef around Fairfield County they have also done their share statewide including: volunteering at the Ohio Beef Expo Membership Booth, State Fair OCA Food Pavilion, attending the OCA Fall Roundup and Alisha Hammond, their county beef queen, has attended several parades and promotional events.

Fairfield County would like to give credit to Stan Smith and the Extension office for all of their support and teamwork, Jake Wolfinger said.

For the second year in a row the Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association has been the OCA Outstanding County Affiliate. They hope to continue to embrace new programs and stick with the ones which have been successful in an effort to have another great year of promoting and supporting the beef industry.

Crawford County receives runner-up as Outstanding County Affiliate

Crawford County Cattlemen’s Association was named the second place Outstanding County Affiliate for 2006.

Their President, Bryan Lohr, believes it is the philanthropy aspect and all the good they do for the youth of the county that keeps their members coming back.

“We’ve got a real good group who works well together,” Lohr said.

Working in conjunction with Lohr to keep the CCCA organized is Vice President Andy Stirm, Secretary Jason Sutherland, Treasurer Eric Hiler and Membership Chairman Kathryn Sautter.

The food booth at their county fair rakes in the most revenue. Each year the participation from many different members helps to spread out the huge responsibility. Keeping involved within the county and state they sponsor a grazing management class, a farm tour and had many members represent Crawford County at OCA’s Fall Round-up.

The proceeds from activities such as the food booth go back to the county in the forms of sponsorships and donations. For example the Crawford County Cattlemen’s sponsors a County Born and Bred show. They give every young person who exhibits in this class an extra $50 added to their sale price.

Crawford County continues to grow and become more involved as they have already volunteered to host OCA’s summer round-up in 2008.

Byran Lohr credits the input from Glen Feichtner, past OCA Board Member, and Andy Lohr, District 2 Director, for pushing them to become involved as a county in as many events as possible.

Stark County receives honors as a top county affiliate

Kris and Becky Vincent along with others from Stark County chartered their Cattlemen’s Association five years ago. They called other beef producers and held a meeting to see if there was a need for this type of organization in Stark County. Since then they have become active in many ways in the county and throughout the state. This hard work and desire to promote the beef industry has earned Stark County the third place Outstanding County Affiliate Award.

“Speakers help people to keep coming back,” Kris said.

To keep the adults involved, they have vets and spokesmen from PBS give educational programs on many topics from AI to synchronization programs.

“Our mission statement is to promote the beef industry in our county,” Kris said, “In doing this we focus on youth, the community and clinics for the members.”

Along with traditional cattlemen’s events such as farm tours, educational speakers and youth awards, Stark County Cattlemen’s also has a few unique events. Six times a year the county directors and their wives get together and go out-to-eat and evaluate a restaurant in Stark County. The restaurant is evaluated on several categories such as; cleanliness, service, taste and atmosphere. They then tally their results and choose a winner. Last year’s winner was Longhorn Steakhouse. As the winner they have numerous opportunities to work with the Stark County Cattlemen’s to promote themselves and the beef industry.

With 95 percent of their members show oriented, it is hard for them to increase beef production in Stark County so their main focus is to promote the beef industry. With just under 60 members they continue to schedule events and create new activities. They are planning an innovative activity for the coming year, a reverse auction. They hope this activity brings people together for a social gathering to support the beef industry and a chance to win $1,500.