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Jess Peterson may wear a suit and
tie to work every day, but he always dons a cowboy hat and he
will always be a rancher at heart. Though he is a fifth
generation cattle producer from Carbon County, MT, Peterson has
worked in Washington, DC, to represent ranchers as a lobbyist
since 2004, and since April 2007 he has served as Executive Vice
President of the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA).
Western Cowman recently caught up with the 28-year-old, to have
him answer our Five Questions:
What is your role with USCA?
Peterson says he provides a fulltime presence for USCA in
Washington, DC, and aims to actively convey the interests of
USCA members to policymakers in Congress and the Obama
Administration. Peterson also travels the country to meet with
USCA members and to serve as a spokesperson on national media
forums and industry panels regarding the interests of USCA’s
farmers and ranchers.
Peterson says, “It’s truly an honor and a privilege to wear a
hat and represent the interests of U.S. cattle producers in
Washington, DC. The days can be long and often filled with
stress and busy schedules – but day in and day out – this job is
truly a dream come true.”
What prompted your interest in politics?
Peterson says his awareness of Washington, DC, and politics was
sparked at a young age as he grew up on his family’s cow-calf
operation along Elbow Creek between Bridger and Roberts, MT. As
the fifth generation in a ranch family, Peterson says he it
wasn’t very long before he soon realized that Mother Nature
wasn’t the only thing that agriculture producers had to deal
with.
“The decisions made by elected
officials and bureaucrats back in Washington, DC affected our
lives every day, for better or worse. Often times this would
come up at the family dinner table or when we were out on horses
moving cattle. I didn’t know how, but somehow, some way, I was
going to get involved and work on these issues in Washington,
DC,” he says.
With his heart in ranching and
his mind set toward DC, Peterson got involved in student body
leadership activities and played college basketball. Today, he
says those experiences helped prepare him for the competitive
and action-packed adventures that take place in his job every
day. Despite his young age, Peterson’s determination and
commitment landed him in DC representing cattle producers soon
after he graduated from college.
But he hasn’t forgotten his roots,
Peterson says, “After we achieve the needed victories here in
DC, I plan to head back to the ranch.”
What issues is USCA focused on?
It may be a while before Peterson can relinquish his DC address,
as he acknowledges there are ample issues to address.
He tells that USCA is committed to
strengthening the platform for the U.S. producer – both within
the global trade area and within the domestic marketplace.
Peterson says, “Global trade
barriers in countries like Japan and Korea related to BSE, and
in the European Union banning hormone beef are all obstacles for
the industry. Canada and Mexico’s World Trade Organization (WTO)
case against the U.S. country-of-origin labeling law is also a
big problem.” He adds,
“USCA is committed to defending this COOL challenge and ensuring
that enhancements are made to the Beef Checkoff. USCA is also
seeking changes that would earmark a portion of Checkoff dollars
for US beef promotion, along with creating a periodic
referendum, and opening up the contracting process.”
Additionally, Peterson says,
“Another big issue is the fact that our cattle markets are still
susceptible to price manipulation. USCA is working hard to
ensure meaningful competition reform is implemented.”
And, he says, “The fight to
prevent a national, mandatory animal identification system rages
on. USCA is working with both Congress and the USDA to ensure
that any animal tracking on a national level remains voluntary
and builds on existing systems. This will be a huge battle, but
we can and must win.”
Last but not least, Peterson
says, “We are in the fight of our lives to defend our industry
from the onslaught of overzealous environmental groups and
anti-agriculture including the Humane Society and its growing
list of allies. For some reason, these groups do not like having
an abundant supply of food and seem committed to causing food
prices to skyrocket.”
What is your outlook for the beef industry’s future?
Peterson believes the beef industry of the future will see
changes. He says, “In a world where the population increases
while land masses decrease, agriculture operations will need to
become more streamlined and efficient. In order to remain
profitable and competitive, producers will most likely have to
increase their size of operations. I don’t necessarily wish this
was the case, but I truly believe the industry is headed in that
direction.” Despite that,
he says, “I am hugely optimistic. After working with our
government for over five years, I can honestly say we have the
best democracy in the world. People have to eat and no one is as
innovative, productive, and resourceful as the American
agriculture producer. We aren’t the cheapest food production
industry in the world, but through the long haul, U.S.
agriculture has all the right factors to keep it going strong
for a long time. We just need to make sure the ‘do gooders’ who
seem to do no good are kept in check and that the government
works harder to prioritize U.S. agriculture.”
“I also see the need for
agriculture producers to inform and educate our customers about
how we produce their food. There is an over abundance of
misinformation about the way we use the land and the methods we
use to produce a high quality and plentiful product. Consumers
trust American farmers and ranchers we need to make sure they
are getting information from the people who raise their food,
not the naysayers looking to criticize the methods of production
agriculture .”
What words of wisdom would you have for young people looking
at a future in agriculture?
“Like the Nike commercial says: “JUST DO IT!” says Peterson.
He adds, “If you want be involved in agriculture, you can do it.
Whether you are an agriculture lender at the bank and you manage
a farm or ranch operation during the after hours and weekends or
you strike out on your own and tie up leases, or purchase land
along with cattle, the industry needs young farmers and
ranchers. The immediate and clear path to owning a large ranch
or farm does not exist for the normal layperson. However, by
building a solid cattle herd, developing good business
relationships, utilizing good grazing practices, superior
marketing and genetics, and possibly some off-ranch income,
young producers can and should get involved in U.S. production
agriculture.” Peterson also
shares his experiences in his blog titled “Somewhere between
boots and saddles, briefcases and taxis…View it at
www.westernskiesstrategies.com/blog.
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