PRESS RELEASE: Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2010
FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information, contact ICON Executive Director Destry Brown, 308-458-2244,
or ICON president David Wright, 402-929-0339, or Communications Director Linda Wuebben, 402-357-3778.

Don’t Neglect Your Right To Vote!
Beef Council Election Nov. 1 thru 15

The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) wants to remind livestock producers of Nebraska that the Nebraska Beef Council (NBC) is holding an election to seat four directors. The election runs November 1 -15. It is very important that producers understand how the candidates believe your money should be spent and that you vote.

"If you believe you should have received a ballot and did not, please call Lisa Brass with the Nebraska Beef Council at 1-800-421-5326. She will check your eligibility status and send you a ballot. If you have family or partners who have a shared interest in your herd, they qualify to receive ballots too."

Nebraska is the only state which gets to elect their State Beef Council Directors. As a Nebraska producer, this is a great opportunity which producers from other states do not have. Other States have their directors appointed by either their respective Governor or their Dept. of Ag director. They only represent the Ag industry segments or industry organizations that nominated them they do not go through an election process.
There is a lot of confusion about the Beef Checkoff program and a lot of questions concerning the integrity of the organizations

responsible with handling the money. Nebraska livestock producers have a great opportunity to make their voice heard.
Nebraska is divided into 9 districts and the producers in each district elect a director to sit on the NBC. If you are at least 18 years of age, are a registered voter, have sold cattle and paid into the checkoff in 2009 or 2010, and you reside in a district that is holding an election this year then you are eligible to vote. There are also provisions for others who share ownership of the cattle.
Ballots will be sent out in the mail around November 1st. The ballot will need to be filled out and mailed back to the Buffalo County Extension Office. They are the third party entity in charge of counting ballots. It needs to be postmarked by November 15th.
If you believe you should have received a ballot and did not, please call Lisa Brass with the Nebraska Beef Council at 1-800-421-5326. She will check your eligibility status and send you a ballot. If you have family or partners who have a shared interest in your herd they qualify too. You will have to call the Nebraska Beef Council and request a ballot for them. To find out what district you live in and to see if your district is holding an election, you can call the NBC, or ICON's Executive Director Destry Brown. He will be happy to help you.
"This director is responsible to you, and should answer to you, the producers, who elected him/her," said Executive Director Destry Brown. "His/Her loyalty should be to you, the Nebraska producer, and not to any Local, State or National organization. Fellow producers in other States just have to talk about what is wrong. Many feel like they have no representation. You can have a say in who represents you. Exercise your right to

For more information concerning the workshop or to become a member of ICON, call Destry Brown, Executive Director, at 308-458-2244 or visit our website at www.independentcattlemen.com

 

Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska
"Solid as a windmill. Always working for the independent producer."