Cattlemen Announce Partnership with National Sheriffs’ Association
During the Cattle Industry Convention, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Bob McCan and Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor from the National Sheriffs’ Association announced a partnership to work collaboratively on issues that impact both associations.
Cattle producers and local sheriffs’ offices interact on a daily basis addressing issues of criminal trespass or activity, animal welfare, and the operation of motor vehicles in the local communities.
“Alignment between our two groups will help to further both our interests on critical issues such as transportation and border security,” said McCan, a cattle producer from Victoria, Texas. “With these overlapping issues, we can strengthen our position and our message by working together. There is a lot to be gained from collaboration and this is a proud and historic moment for NCBA.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between the groups specifically calls for increased collaboration between local cattlemen’s associations and sheriffs’ offices, coordination in advocacy on Capitol Hill, and the development of joint media pieces on issues of mutual interest such as border security and immigration reform, animal welfare, private property rights, and transportation policy.
“I am very pleased the National Sheriffs’ Association formalized an agreement with the cattlemen,” said O’Connor, a fifth generation rancher also from Victoria, Texas. “This is mile-stone event. Cattle producers are the economic driver of many of our rural communities and there is a lot of overlap between the two groups.”
Sheriff O’Connor stressed in addition to political issues, this partnership is critical for educational resources and referred to many instances where law enforcement is called to deal with livestock. “This is where NCBA can help us tremendously,” said O’Connor. “We need your expertise to help train law enforcement and expand our capability for livestock management.”
Source: National Cattlemen's Beef Association
