New Ohio Beef Youth Council to Launch at OCA Annual Meeting Feb. 1

(MARYSVILLE, Ohio) – The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet is set for Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Hilton Polaris in Columbus, Ohio. This event will serve as the setting for the new Ohio Beef Youth Council (OBYC) launch. The council is a youth education initiative created to serve the families and youth of Ohio’s beef industry and invest in the next generation of industry leaders. This initiative, funded by the Beef Checkoff and OCA, will provide youth with the tools to become more effective industry leaders and inspire them to continue their engagement in Ohio’s beef industry as adults.

Beef industry youth and their parents are invited to join the council’s youth leaders on Saturday morning for the roll-out of the new council. OBYC officers will introduce the vision and initial programs for the council. Registration will open at 9:00 a.m., and the program will begin at 10:00 a.m. The council and its programs will be open to all youth 8 to 21 years of age. There will be no cost to be involved in the council. OBYC educational contests and events will have registration fees.

Attendees will also hear from a panel of agriculture professionals about how programs similar to the Youth Council have impacted their education and career goals. Panelists include:

• Zane Gross, Ashland County, Operations Manager & Sales Lead for E. R. Boliantz Packing Co. Ohio State University graduate and meat science expert working with and advising area cattle Recipient of the OCA Young Cattleman of the Year award. His family owns Buckeye Creek Angus, a growing seedstock operation.
• Lindsey Hall, Highland County, Employed as an agent for ICAP Crop Insurance, she and her family own and operate Maplecrest As a graduate of Ohio State & Kansas State Universities and current OCA vice president, Lindsey and her family are the next generation of Maplecrest’s elite seedstock operation and she is the Manager of Product Procurement for their newest business venture, Maplecrest Meats & More.
• Kirsten Nickles, Ashland County, Sustainability & Animal Care Scientist for Certified Angus Beef working to build brand integrity with their marketing partners and maintain consumer trust in the CAB brand. Ohio State University Ph.D. graduate and current member of the OCA board of She is involved with her family’s cattle and crop farm.
• Garrett Stanfield, Adams County, Regional Business Manager for Trans Ova Genetics. Co-advisor for the Ohio Junior Simmental Ohio State University graduate and former participant in the OCA Young Cattlemen’s Conference leadership program. Herdsman and manager for Stanfield Farms a Simmental seedstock producer.

Following the OYBC launch and ag professional panel, all attendees are invited to a complimentary luncheon hosted by the Ohio Beef Council. Lunch will review 2024 strategic Checkoff investments designed to build beef demand. All attendees must register to attend.

The afternoon will include setting OCA policy for 2025 and hearing from guest speaker Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The Ohio Cattlemen’s Foundation (OCF) will host their annual meeting that will include the presentation of the Foundation’s 2024 scholarships. In addition, the new Educational Scholarship, and Success Grant in memory of Bill Tom, former OCA vice president and Ohio State Fair beef director will be awarded.

The evening will conclude with the Awards Banquet where the seven distinguished award winners for the year will be named in the categories of Young Cattlemen of the Year, Industry Service Award, Industry Excellence Award, Seedstock Producer of the Year, Commercial Producer of the Year, Environmental Stewardship Award and the Outstanding County Award. A dinner will be served as attendees enjoy viewing the release of the award videos.

After the banquet, a social event will be held for cattlemen to mingle and participate in a live auction held to raise funds for OCA’s Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports ag-friendly candidates.

Registration, hotel room booking, and more details about the Ohio Beef Youth Council and OCA Annual Meeting & Awards Banquet can be found at www.ohiocattle.org or call (614) 873-6736 with questions.