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The National Cattlemen's Foundation

To contribute to the North Dakota Disaster Relief efforts,
click here.

Click here for more information regarding
Bright Futures Scholarships

Upcoming dates to know...

July 14-18, 2009 – 2009 Cattle Industry Summer Conference
January 27-30, 2010 - 2010 Cattle Industry Annual Convention

Our Mission

The National Cattlemen's Foundation is advancing the future of the beef industry with passion and urgency.

We do this by:

Educating people of all ages and interest about the beef industry
Providing scholarship opportunities to inspire young people to pursue careers in agriculture
Offering a means for people to invest in the beef industry’s legacy and lifestyle
Providing disaster and emergency support to producers in crisis situations

Leadership Programs

W.D. Farr Scholarships—Two $12,000 graduate scholarships awarded annually honoring the life's work of the late W.D. Farr of Greeley, Colorado.
Fort Dodge Animal Health—Five $5,000 scholarships: 2 scholarships dedicated to undergraduate juniors/seniors studying bovine production & 3 scholarships dedicated to veterinary students focused on bovine practice.
CME Group Beef Industry Scholarships—10 undergraduate scholarships at $1,500 each to students studying agriculture.
Fred Johnson Memorial Scholarship—Benefiting a Master's or Ph.D. student studying meat animal science or genetics.
Beef Industry Vision Awards—sponsored by Micro Beef Technologies recognizing innovation and leadership across all segments of the industry.
National Collegiate Beef Quiz Bowl—Four teams compete annually for the championship at the Beef Industry Convention. Presented in cooperation with the American Society of Animal Science.
Environmental Stewardship Award—Recognizes cattle producers who have made long-standing contributions to the preservation of our natural resources. Annual national and regional winners representing all areas of the country.
International Livestock Congress-USA—Platinum Sponsor . Partnering with the National Western Stock Show and the International Stockmen's Education Foundation.
Walk a Mile in My Boots—Work exchange program that provides producers and government employees with experiences in each other's respective professions. Builds and fosters positive working relationships.
Disaster Relief—Funds raised with 100% distributed to cattlemen needing a hand-up when faced with natural disasters. Raised $120,000 in 2006 for Katrina Disaster Relief; raised $96,000 for High Plains Winter Storm Relief in 2007.

Contributions

The National Cattlemen's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible and will support the mission and programs of the Foundation. Individuals, corporations and foundations are encouraged to contribute to the National Cattlemen's Foundation.

Areas of Strategic Focus

The areas of Strategic Focus of the National Cattlemen’s Foundation are as follows:

Education & Scholarship – Producer education is widely needed and accepted. There is a critical need for ag-related scholarship funding for young people pursuing undergraduate, graduate and veterinary science degrees. Foundation dollars will help ensure that young people will find the beef industry an attractive career path.

Consumer Interest – Issues such as childhood wellness, the role of beef in a healthy diet and product safety are areas we can address. We can accomplish this through a variety of ways such as research, school wellness programs and advocacy teams. Foundation dollars will help consumers understand that beef should be part of a healthy lifestyle.

Crisis Assistance – We need to be well-positioned to assist fellow cattlemen when disaster strikes or when faced with industry challenges and issues that threaten profitability. The Foundation can help to raise funds for cattlemen who face unexpected adversity through a Cattlemen's Relief Fund.

Legacy Preservation – We can take a leadership role in the exploration of solutions to save the rural lifestyle that is so important to those who live it. The transition of the family farm/ranch from one generation to the next is critical. Another area of concern is healthcare in rural areas in terms of access, cost and quality. The National Cattlemen’s Foundation can help bring information benefiting cattlemen to the forefront.

Environmental Stewardship – The Environmental Stewardship Award recognizes the outstanding stewardship practices and conservation achievements of U.S. cattle producers. For nearly two decades, regional and national award winners have been honored for their commitment to protecting the environment and improving fish and wildlife habitat, while operating profitable cattle operations. The Foundation can support the need for continuing education in this area.

~ ~ ~

I believe we are at a similar point that the late W.D. Farr was 35 years ago when his vision directed us to move forward with the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The next 35 years will be as exciting as the past. We want you to join us on this valuable journey in preserving the cattlemen’s legacy.

Bob Josserand, Chair
Board of Trustees

Learn more about the National Cattlemen's Foundation

• National Cattlemen's Foundation video (3MB for slower connections)
• National Cattlemen's Foundation video (12MB for faster connections)