The 146th Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo concluded Sunday, marking a successful close to the three-day industry event that featured a full slate of keynote addresses, awards, nominations and educational programming.
Near 4,000 attendees joined the 2023 event held March 24-26 in downtown Fort Worth. Three general sessions focused on beef demand, global trade implications and market outlooks while keynote speaker Dana Perino discussed her rural Wyoming upbringing and life inside the White House. Additionally, the event hosted the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s annual meeting, where important business for the largest livestock association in the Southwest is conducted, including:
- The election of two new board of directors, Bill Cawley and Lloyd French IV
- The election of three new executive committee members, David Crow, Joe Leathers and Cody Webb
- Announcement of 2023 Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award Recipient, Meredith Ellis of G Bar C Ranch
- Recognition of the 2023 Outstanding County Extension Agent – Beef, David Groschke
The TSCRA annual meeting also brought Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) to the stage where convention attendees heard important updates from an advocate working on the frontlines in Washington, D.C.
“For years, Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo has been a must-attend experience as our association’s annual membership meeting,” said TSCRA President Arthur Uhl. “This year was no different. We hosted a prestigious lineup of high-ranking and notable speakers on topics that impact our members directly. Sure, the conference is about the cattle industry, but it’s also about wildlife, the environment, private property rights and so much more, all of which were addressed in Fort Worth this past week.”
Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo also hosted fundraisers for various TSCRA entities, raising $107,500 in donations for the TSCRA Special Ranger Foundation, and $78,800 for TSCRA youth-specific programs.
This year’s event was packed with hours of educational sessions, a live demonstration area, multiple student opportunities and competitions, as well as a vast expo with more than 250 exhibitor booths for attendees to visit.
“Thanks to all the cattle raisers, landowners and businesses who gave their time and support in making this event a success,” said Uhl. “Our team of volunteer leadership and staff put together an outstanding program showcasing ideas, innovation and people that drive the industry forward. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Fort Worth next year for the 2024 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo, March 22-24, 2024.”
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association executive committee met to elect leadership at the 2023 Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo. Two TSCRA members were newly elected to serve on the TSCRA board of directors:
- Bill Cawley, Crockett
- Lloyd French IV, Houston
The association also added three members to its executive committee. These individuals include:
- David Crow, Corpus Christi
- Joe Leathers, Guthrie
- Cody Webb, Barnhart
“Membership is the lifeblood of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association,” says Arthur Uhl, association president. “Each year we are proud to add new directors to our board which helps guide the direction of the association. We are proud of the representation and look forward to accomplishing great things in 2023.”
Robertson County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent recognized by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced David Groschke, a Robertson County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent, as the 2023 Outstanding County Extension Agent – Beef.
The award, which was created to recognize Texas’ most dedicated and effective local educators in cattle production, is presented annually at Cattle Raisers Convention & Expo.
Arthur Uhl, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s president, noted the important role county extension agents play in educating cattle producers to improve the industry and better natural resource stewardship.
“Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agents are instrumental to the beef cattle industry,” Uhl said. “David Groschke is an exemplary example of this, having dedicated his career to supporting and educating beef producers. We’re thankful for his efforts implementing first-class beef and range programming events reaching hundreds of producers in Texas.”
Groschke has led in-depth programming focusing on range health, beef cattle economics, marketing and beef cattle management throughout Robertson County. Community engagement led by Groschke ensures his programming is relevant and timely to all cattle producers, and creative outreach efforts leveraging in-person events, newsletters and media outreach expand the reach of these efforts.
G Bar C Ranch honored as 2023 Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award recipient
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association today recognized Meredith Ellis of G Bar C Ranch as the winner of the Texas Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award, recognizing exceptional stewardship and innovation of the Rosston-based cattle operation.
This award is presented as a joint effort between Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Texas Section Society for Range Management and Texas Grazing Land Coalition. As the 2023 winner, Ellis will compete among other outstanding ranchers for the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Foundation Environmental Stewardship Award Program.
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association President Arthur Uhl said this is one of the most esteemed honors a rancher can receive, and it is extremely competitive.
“Ranching practices implemented by Meredith speak volumes to her dedication to sustainable use of the land,” said Uhl. “Her ranching philosophies embrace livestock production as a tool to maintain native species habitat, biodiversity, and water resources. Meredith is an outstanding example of stewardship, and we’re proud to present her with this award.”
Ellis raises Angus cattle across the more than 3,000-acre ranch located between the Western Cross Timbers and Grand Prairies ecoregions. The ranch strategically rotates the herd through their 58 fenced pastures to reduce the potential need for artificial inputs. To do their part in enhancing water quality, G Bar C Ranch grazes in a way that maintains effective flow of vegetation filters to prevent erosion. The operation is exceptionally diverse, with 23 different ecological sites, including Wheat Creek flowing through the ranch which deposits into the Trinity River, providing nearly half of Texans’ water needs.
