Duckworth and Black Take the Lead for Missouri Cattlemen and Women

Lonny Duckworth

Lonny Duckworth is not new to volunteer leadership. He was a charter member of the Bates County Cattlemen affiliate and served as both their Vice President and President along with representing Bates members on the Missouri Cattlemen's Association board as a Director. After filling a state Regional VP role for 2 years, Duckworth moved into the executive line up as 1st Vice-President. In 2012, he takes the reins as President of MCA.

Duckworth believes it's the team that makes the Cattlemen such a success. He is joined by 1st Vice President Chuck Massengil, 2nd Vice President Ben Fizette, Secretary-Treasurer Sheryl Brewe and Past President and Chairman of the Board, Jimmie Long.

“I don't have an agenda. I'm not looking for glory. I just want to do a good job” stated Duckworth. The officer team I'm working with has the same attitude and that's what I like,” he says. “We discuss any decision that needs to be made and work together for the best action that will insure Missouri's beef remains a viable industry in this state.”

At the Duckworth Bar D Farms northeast of Butler, Duckworth and his wife, Marilyn, are just as pragmatic when it comes to raising cattle. Since 1991, he's taken full-time ranching quite seriously. Formerly an Ag loan officer.

While Duckworth will work with MCA membership familiar with popular management techniques, it will still be President Duckworth's duty this year to help legislators and the general population - many five generations removed from the farm - better understand the beef business.

MCA's President is also doing his part to defend the cattlemen against anti-agricultural activists through a no-nonsense strategy of educating the public with truth. “I'm hopeful membership in the MCA will grow and more of our cattlemen will get involved so that we have a larger army to fight the battles that we face,” says Duckworth. “Our Executive Director, Jeff Windett, the officer team and MCA members will be in Jeff City willing and able to offer input on issues that matter to us. MCA is a real player in real issues. That's a fact.”

Brenda Black

Leading the Missouri Cattle Women's Association this year is another familiar face to Bates County residents – Brenda Black. Like Duckworth, Black was elected to office during the December Cattle Industry Convention in Columbia, MO. She served as the Cattle Women's Vice President, President Elect and Committee Chair of Promotions in route to the MWC presidency. For more than a dozen years, Brenda and husband, Alan Black, contributed to Bates County Cattlemen by serving as Reporter and Secretary, respectively. Their sons, Austin and Cooper, were active extensively with the junior beef program as well.

Brenda Black grew up showing cattle and employed her Ag Journalism degree from the University of Missouri upon graduation as the marketing director for a purebred cattle ranch in West Central Missouri. Today, her family runs a small commercial and purebred cow/calf herd comprised primarily of Simmental/Angus genetics.

Nominated by her peers, Black was also appointed in 2011 by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to serve on the national Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board for three years. She is additionally a spokesperson for the Missouri Beef Industry Council's “Speaking of Beef.”

The Missouri Cattle Women's Association is an affiliate organization to the MCA, providing a wide spectrum of volunteer services and activities that promote beef and educate consumers.

The rest of the Missouri Cattle Women's officers are: President Elect, Sue Day; Vice President, Megan Westerhold; Secretary, Darla Eggers; Treasurer, Mary Kay Lyle; and Past President, Kasey Hunt.

In 2012 the Cattlemen's and Cattle Women's presidents will be crossing the state to promote, inform and educate Missourians about the ranching way of life and the nutritional benefits of beef. And they'll be motivating their respective members to join them in telling Missouri's Beef Story.

-courtesy FM 92 the Bullet