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Posted 09/05/2024
For immediate release:
Sept. 5, 2024
For more information, contact:
Jason Leiseth, NDSA president: (701) 770-1129 • jpleiseth@gmail.com
Julie Schaff Ellingson, NDSA executive vice president: (701) 223-2522 • jellingson@ndstockmen.org
Elizabeth Hasenwinkel, NDSA communications director: (701) 833-1162 • ehasenwinkel@ndstockmen.org
95th annual North Dakota Stockmen’s Association Convention & Trade Show to be held in Bismarck
‘Building for the Future’ is theme of Sept. 18-20 event
North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) members will be celebrating the organization’s achievements, selecting new leaders and “Building for the Future” during the NDSA’s 95th Annual Convention & Trade Show Sept. 18-20 at the Bismarck Hotel & Conference Center in Bismarck, N.D. The event will be held on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this year and will feature an educational series, informational speakers, policy-development sessions, business, networking and fun.
Wednesday, Sept. 18
The convention begins on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. with an 18-Hole Golf Scramble and Hole-in-One Contest at the Tom O’ Leary Golf Course in Bismarck. Golfers can enter by contacting Scott Ressler, the Golf Scramble chairman, at (701) 223-2522 or (701) 391-7310.
The NDSA Board of Directors will be gathering for its quarterly meeting at the Bismarck Hotel & Conference Center, the convention headquarters, at 9:30 a.m. Registration kicks off at 10 a.m.
In a new format this year, the opening business session will follow at 1 p.m. Attendees will hear from NDSA President Jason Leiseth, NDSA Executive Vice President Julie Ellingson and North Dakota CattleWomen President Joy Soreide-Kinsey. Besides business, NDSA Nominating Committee reports and the Candidates’ Forum, the session will include a presentation by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Mark Eisele, a Wyoming cow-calf producer and stocker, who will share updates about the farm bill, cell-cultured protein, tax and environmental policy, federal lands, markets and more.
After the opening business session, there will be a social and the opening of the NDSA Trade Show, which will feature 53 allied industry vendors. Convention-goers can earn a chance to win a grand prize by visiting the Trade Show vendors. Supper and the presentation of the golf awards and the “Riding for the Brand” recognitions will take place at Wednesday’s supper. To close out the evening, attendees are invited back to the Trade Show when it resumes at 8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 19
The NDSA Trade Show will reopen on Thursday morning at 8 a.m., with the “nuts and bolts” of the convention, the policy committee meetings, also kicking off at 8 a.m. Members will discuss and debate policy issues and learn from industry experts who will offer information on tax reform, the Model Zoning Ordinance Task Force, electronic identification, import regulations, highly pathogenic avian influenza, the NDSA’s electronic brand inspection program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s program offerings, pesticide and fertilizer regulations, Livestock Risk Protection, international trade and fetal programming research.
Following lunch, the Cattlemen’s Education Series will take place at 1:30 p.m. There will be sessions that discuss virtual fencing, water monitoring systems, GPS tags, health monitoring tags, drones and cover crop estimates. The Cattlemen’s Education Series presenters will be North Dakota State University (NDSU) Livestock Environmental Stewardship Specialist Dr. Miranda Meehan, University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) Graduate Research Associate Thomas Aquino, NDSU Graduate Research Assistant Josh Wianecki, UNL Precision Livestock Management Extension Specialist Dr. Yijie Xiong, NDSU Reproductive Physiologist Dr. Carl Dahlen, NDSU Doctoral Graduate Research Assistant Jennifer Hurlbert, UNL Beef Systems Specialist Dr. Mary Drewnoski and UNL Graduate Student Pedro Jota Fernades.
After the Cattlemen’s Education Series, it will be time to have some fun. The NDSA will host a social and supper followed by entertainment from Antonina and David, The Mentalists. They will provide a comedic show of mind reading and telepathy. It will include revealing thoughts, future predictions and many unbelievable and hilarious coincidences. Come dressed in “Back to the Future” attire to complete the ambiance and have a chance to win prizes for the best costume.
Friday, Sept. 20
At 8 a.m. Friday, convention-goers will hear from a powerful line-up of speakers.
Aaron Birst, executive director at the North Dakota Association of Counties, and Matt Perdue, North Dakota Farmers Union government relations director, will be the first to take the stage as spokespeople for the Keep It Local Coalition, which the NDSA board voted to join in July. The statewide coalition is opposed to the problematic initiated ballot measure that would abolish property tax in North Dakota but comes with unintended consequences with particular concerns for rural communities. The pair will explain the initiated measure and concerns related to local control, rural communities and essential services.
Michelle Miller, better known as the “Farm Babe,” is a speaker, published writer, columnist, podcaster and online influencer as a full-time advocate for agriculture. She’ll take the stage next, sharing her story and tips to better bridge the gap between farmers and ranchers and consumers. She made a name for herself as a dedicated mythbuster in food and farming and has hundreds of thousands of followers and an average social media reach of more than 5 million monthly.
After a break, Karen Budd-Falen, senior partner and owner at Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC., will address attendees. She represents private property owners, ranching and farming organizations and local governments. Budd-Falen returned to the office after her two-year appointment under the Trump Administration at the Department of the Interior as the deputy solicitor for wildlife and parks. Budd-Falen will discuss the implications of recent Supreme Court decisions and regulatory changes on the livestock industry, give an update on the Endangered Species Act and Sackett decision and forecast likely natural resource policy following the election.
The Foundation Luncheon will begin at noon. It will include scholarship presentations, Foundation board and intern recognitions and a greeting from North Dakota Beef Commission Chairman Jason Zahn. Rising star cowboy poet Carson Houser will also share some of his poems.
Business resumes at 1:30 p.m. in the closing session. Policy committee chairmen will offer their reports, and members will discuss and vote on policy resolutions and select officers and directors to lead the organization for the 2024-2025 year.
Top-recruiter prizes, including a vaccine cooler and NDSA apparel, as well as Bull Bucks, will be awarded that afternoon. New members and the recruiters of new members are eligible for the Bull Bucks drawing. The winner must be present to win.
A banquet social will begin at 6 p.m. The annual banquet follows at 7 p.m. and will include the recognition of long-time employees, as well as outstanding members selected for the Honorary Local Brand Inspector, Honorary Membership, Rancher of the Year, Environmental Stewardship and Top Hand Awards.
Ty Murray will give a keynote address. Seven-time all-around champion Murray was born in Phoenix, Ariz., where his father taught him to ride at age 2. He grew up on the horse race track and in rodeo, winning the all-around in the National Little Britches Rodeo and National High School Rodeo Associations, specializing in the rough-stock events. Murray co-founded the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and, today owns a cow-calf operation in Stephenville, Texas. He will share his rodeo journey, as well as his ranching and life experiences, as the finale of the banquet.
Full, one-day and student registrations are available ahead of time or on site. Throughout the event, attendees will have the chance to win prizes, including cash, an iPad, pressure washer, cordless combo tool kit and more. For more information, visit www.ndstockmen.org.
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