15 Oct 09- Election time for cattle producers

It’s a historic time for the province’s cattle industry. The first elections for the new Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association will take place at meetings across the province. The meetings start next Tuesday, October 20 in Carlyle and they end November 6 in Tisdale. In between, there will be meetings in Weyburn, Assiniboia, Swift Current, Piapot, Yorkton, Kenaston, Kerrobert, Turtleford and Shellbrook. In three of the eleven districts, the director is in by acclamation. In the other eight districts, an election is required. The candidates include some prominent names from the Saskatchewan Stock Growers and Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders as well as relative newcomers to cowboy politics. Cattle producers should have received information on their district meeting and candidates in the mail at the end of September. Unlike most other organizations funded by a producer levy, the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association does not have a mail-in ballot. Registered cattle producers must be in attendance at their district meeting to complete a ballot. The meetings will include a lot of information and discussion. When combined with an election, they should be great events. Candidate profiles and voting details are available at www.saskbeef.com. I’m Kevin Hursh.