New NCBA leadership elected

Published on Feb. 15, 2020

San Antonio, Texas – Fifth-generation Florida rancher Marty Smith was elected president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) at the annual Cattle Industry Convention. He replaces Jennifer Houston of Sweetwater, Tenn. (2019 NCBA president).

            Smith operates Smith Brothers-Wacahoota, LLC, a cow/calf operation in central Florida, that has been in continuous operation since 1852. It retains ownership through feedlots in Texas, Kansas and Iowa.

            Smith graduated from the University of Georgia (UGA) with a Bachelor of science in agricultural economics and animal science. While at UGA, he was on the livestock judging team and served as president of Ag Hill Council. He was also active in Alpha Gamma Rho and AGHON, the highest honor a UGA student of agriculture, forestry, veterinary medicine or engineering can attain. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1984.

            “It’s a tremendous honor to lead the oldest and largest national organization representing America’s cattle producers,” Smith said. “We have a great product with a great story, and I’m looking forward to helping tell that story without apology during the year ahead as president of NCBA.”

            Smith was formally elected at a meeting of NCBA’s Board of Directors, who also set the rest of the officer team for the coming year. Jerry Bohn of Kansas was named president-elect, Don Schiefelbein of Minnesota was elected vice president and Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division, while Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele was elected policy vice chair. Buck Wehrbein of Nebraska was elected chair of the NCBA Federation Division and Scott McGregor of Iowa was elected vice chair.

            NCBA’s board of directors meeting and the selection of a new slate of officers capped a huge week in San Antonio, where more than 8,000 people met for the annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. Convention attendees heard from speakers like U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, who also greeted visitors on the seven-acre Trade Show floor on Wednesday afternoon. 

            Participants also received updates about how their beef checkoff dollars are being used to promote beef consumption, set public policy priorities for the coming year and honored Blackbeard’s Ranch in Myakka, Fla., as the winner of the 2019 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). 

            “I want to thank everyone who took time away from their operations to join us in San Antonio this week,” Smith said. “I know getting involved in promoting our industry or pushing for better public policy is often a sacrifice, but our grassroots members of NCBA are always willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I hope to see everybody at next year’s convention in Nashville.”