MSGA holds MidYear Meeting in Havre

Press release

The Montana Stockgrowers Association wrapped up the 139th MidYear Meeting Thursday, June 15, in Havre.

The event hosted more than 130 attendees who gathered for three days of education, policy, fellowship and fun.

The MidYear Meeting is one of two meetings that is held to set association policy that guides the Association through the year. Interim policy set at MidYear will be voted on again at Annual Convention in December for it to become official MSGA policy. While the main focus of the meeting is for the setting of interim policy, MSGA also uses the meeting as a networking opportunity for the MSGA membership. 

Members of the association voted to support interim policy encouraging the BLM to recognize managed grazing of domestic livestock as a sustainable use for a healthy rangeland. The interim policy also opposes BLM’s current proposed rule on conservation leasing. 

Other topics discussed during policy meetings included animal health, traceability, water law, and national and state beef checkoff concepts. 

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Todd Wilkinson opened the event June 13, and discussed the work NCBA has done in the last year including foreign animal disease prevention and the USDA traceability rule. 

The Goggins Ranch of McAllister was announced as the 2023 Montana Environmental Stewardship Program winner for their work in sustainability. Each year, the ESAP award recognizes a Montana ranch that exemplifies environmental stewardship and demonstrates a commitment toward improved sustainability within the beef industry.

The evening followed with the Sunset After Party Banquet where the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation held an auction and raffle. Proceeds raised by MSF help ensure the future of Montana’s cattle industry through producer and public education, and promotion of MSGA programs. 

Thursday morning started as Montana State University Vice President, Dean and Director College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station Sreekala Bajwa shared updates on MSU’s College of Agriculture animal and range sciences programs.

Northern Agricultural Research Center Superintendent and head of the Department of Research Centers Darrin Boss also spoke and answered questions regarding the research being done by MSU. 

  The MidYear Meeting ended with MSGA members listening to JR Vezain, professional bareback rider and six-time Wrangler National Rodeo Finals qualifier, who shared his story about breaking his back in a rodeo accident and how he has continued to make strides of recovery.  

For more information on MSGA or the MidYear Meeting, visit https://www.mtbeef.org .