New President Looks Forward to 2015

New President Looks Forward to 2015

By Gene Curry, Valier, MSGA President

First, I want to thank you all for the confidence and trust you have placed in me to lead this great organization. The process we just went through to set the policy and direction this organization will take gives all of us in leadership a mandate to go to the legislature as your advocates. It also guides us in our daily business with members, government officials or others who want to know our stance on a particular policy or issue. You have drawn up the blueprint; all we need to do is follow it!

I will lead this organization in a way that will make you all proud to say you are members of MSGA. If you have any questions or concerns, my phone line is always open and I am willing to listen. This is your organization.

What timing! What a time to take over as president of the Montana Stockgrowers!

I have always thought timing in life is what takes us down the road we follow. Timing, a little luck, a lot of perseverance, maybe some work ethic instilled by our parents or other mentors, and the grace of God brought us all where we are today.

Perseverance is something all of us in this industry have and we see the fruits of this in the cattle market today. Perseverance also is a quality my wife Cheryl has in volumes along with many other attributes that have kept her by my side for 46+ years. She took care of the family and the cattle while I was off trucking and later took on a full time, off-farm job, to help pay for the ranch. When she went to work full time, someone else had to fill in. That is where all our kids did their part in keeping hay put up, cows fed, fences mended and all the other work around the ranch.

We all know without family most of us would not be where we are today, and for me that goes 10 fold! Cheryl and I are very fortunate that Jeremy decided to come back to the ranch and that there is room for him. He and his family, along with our hired help, are the reason I have the time to take on this commitment. Cheryl and I, Jeremy and Shannon, and the rest of our family have been working on a transition plan for about 9 years and without this help, I don’t think Cheryl’s and my dream of a multigenerational family ranch would be where it is today.

With the prices and optimism in the cattle industry, there is a tremendous opportunity for the next generation to come back to the ranch. It was so encouraging to see the number of young people at the annual convention and local meetings I have attended. When it is time to bring that next generation back I would just like to ask you all to

• Have a plan
• Make sure everyone involved knows what the plan is
• Most importantly, have the plan written down because life is fleeting

There is a Vince Lombardi quote I think is very fitting. “Individual commitment to a group effort; that is what makes a team work, a society work, and civilization work.”

I would also like to add that this is what makes MSGA such an effective organization — “individual commitment to a group effort”. It just stands to reason that the more committed individuals you have the more effective your organization will be!

Therefore, I have one request for each and every MSGA member: Go out and find one neighbor, friend, or family member who is not a member of MSGA and sign them up!

Thank you all for being members and a special thanks to those of you who had the time and made the effort to attend what I thought was a wonderful convention. For me it was the best ever because of the opportunity you have given me to lead this remarkable organization!

I also want to take this opportunity give a special thank you to my predecessor, Tucker Hughes for his dedicated service to the MSGA.

Thanks again. – Gene