WHAT IS CATTLEMEN'S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY?
The Academy is an expanded version of our very successful OCA Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Conference (YCLC). The Academy incorporates our existing focus on state and federal Legislative and Regulatory issues with enhanced beef production and processing related educational opportunities. Initial plans are for the year long Academy to consist of four sessions as outlined below.

Session I - February 17,18 & 19, 2008 
Click here for a tenative agenda
Becoming an informed, proactive public policy participant.. Scheduled for February 7-9 in Oklahoma City, this sessions focuses on state and federal legislative and regulatory issues. This session includes activities at the State Capitol, opportunities to meet House and Senate members, tours of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food and Forestry, and the opportunity to participate in the quarterly OCA Board of Directors meeting.

Session II –
Expanding our understanding of our industry. Actual dates to be determined by participants (May- June timeframe), this two day session will focus on the feeding and processing sectors of our industry. It will incorporate travel to the Amarillo, TX, area where we will visit Texas Cattle Feeders Association, the American Quarter Horse Association, area feedlots, and packing plants.

Session III –
Resources for ranchers. Actual dates to be determined by participants (August – September timeframe), this one day session will focus on ranchers resources and will take place in Stillwater, Ok. We will visit OSU beef cattle research facilities, and State USDA offices.

Session IV –
Understanding what is under the hide, the Oklahoma Beef Quality Summit. This two day session is scheduled for October and will take place at the Food and Agriculture Products Processing Center in Stillwater. This informative session sponsored by the Oklahoma Beef Council and OSU enables Academy participants to evaluate live cattle, process them, and evaluate carcass characteristics.

The Academy will be limited to 30 OCA member participants. Because of the generous support of our sponsors, the majority of the expenses (hotel rooms, meals, bus transportation) will be taken care of by the OCA. The Academy is an excellent opportunity to become an informed and prepared future leader of the cattle industry.

For more information contact Chancey Redgate at
405-235-4391 or credgate@okcattlemen.org.