11/07/2025
NCBAs indoctrination tour. Showing young cattlemen the wonders of the corporatization of the cattle industry. These youngsters were shown the wonderful corporations that are working to control their family ranches. If they’re lucky maybe someday they can be employees there.
NCBA headquarters
The largest corporate cattle feeder Five Rivers.
Tyson Foods
Certified Angus Beef
Ended up in D.C. where they were shown how to lobby for the corporations they just toured.
A great example of who NCBA works for. No family ranches or cattle feeders. No small local lockers. Just the biggest of the big working to destroy the competitive market and independent family run operations.
Last month, the Young Cattlemen's Conference (YCC) Class of 2025 successfully concluded its 8-day leadership development tour across the country!
The YCC program offers state and breed affiliate-nominated producers an in-depth look at every sector of the beef supply chain while also developing advocacy and leadership skills essential for the next generation of cattle industry leaders.
Their journey began in Denver, CO, where participants were introduced to the foundational work of NCBA. The group received a comprehensive overview of current cattle and beef market dynamics and gained hands-on leadership development training in effective spokesperson techniques and media engagement. These sessions prepared attendees to confidently communicate on behalf of the beef industry in their communities, on Capitol Hill, and beyond.
While in Colorado, the group also visited Five Rivers Cattle Feeding—the nation’s largest cattle feeding company—to better understand the scale, science, and stewardship practices behind the feedlot segment.
The next leg of the tour brought the YCC class to Sioux City, IA, for a deep dive into beef processing and fabrication. There, they toured the Tyson Fresh Meats beef packing facility and empirical foods, learning about food safety protocols, employee care systems, operational efficiencies, and innovative processing technologies that reflect the beef industry’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Next, the group traveled to Wooster, OH, where the focus shifted to the retail and foodservice segments of the beef value chain. The team at Certified Angus Beef hosted the tour group for an immersive experience, where participants gained insight into how consumer preferences are shaping product development, branding, and education.
The final stop of the trip brought YCC’s 60 participants to Washington, D.C., to put their advocacy skills to work. NCBA’s Government Affairs team led participants through policy briefings on key federal issues facing the industry. Armed with newfound knowledge and firsthand experiences from across the supply chain, participants conducted face-to-face meetings with their members of Congress. They discussed the real-world impacts of legislation and regulations on their operations, bringing personal stories and insights to policy conversations. These leaders graduated from YCC with broader perspectives, a deeper understanding of both NCBA and the beef industry, and a strong desire to lead the industry into the future.
As NCBA’s flagship leadership development program, YCC continues to invest in the next generation of cattle industry leaders—building a stronger, more informed, and more united voice for beef. Thank you to all who participated in this year’s experience, everyone who made it possible along the way, and to our generous sponsors: John Deere, Tyson, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, and Farm Credit.
