Kim Brackett is a rancher raising cattle near the Idaho and Nevada border, and serves as the policy director for NCBA. She says it’s been a great 2025 CattleCon with nearly 8,400 attendees.
“As I walk through the halls, different committee meetings, and trade show, it’s been great to visit with fellow producers,” she says. “There’s a great vibe here and a lot of energy amongst our attendees.”
Brackett notes a lot of optimism about the future of the industry.
“I think there’s a lot of engagement on our issues,” she says. “I hear a lot of policy discussion in the hallways.”
As policy director, Brackett points out the policy and directives come from the grassroots efforts from the membership.
“Our list is always very lengthy,” Brackett says when it comes to policy work. “We’re going to continue to focus on getting a farm bill across the finish line this year for sure. And with this change in administration, trying to roll back regulations is going to be a big goal for us across many different topics. So just regulatory reform, I think, will probably be a good bucket to consider as a policy priority for NCBA this year.”
Brackett and her family have been lifelong NCBA members and understand the value of a unified voice when working with the administration and agencies in D.C.
“Coming to convention has reminded me how much of a bargain our membership really is,” she says. “When I see all the work that’s being done, both on the checkoff side and on the policy side, all that work that’s being done for cattle producers across the country, it’s a relief to know I can go home and work on my ranch every day, and know that these professionals are working towards protecting our industry.”
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