SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Angus Foundation has selected John Dickinson of Sacramento, California, as the Angus representative to the 2018 Young Cattlemen’s Conference, hosted by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. The NCBA YCC program is an opportunity for young leaders to gain an understanding of all aspects of the beef industry from pasture to plate and showcase the industry’s involvement in policy making, issues management, research, education and marketing.
“I plan on staying active in this industry for the rest of my life, and I’m guessing some of the future decision- and impact-makers are going to be on the YCC trip,” Dickinson said. “I would love the opportunity to not only know them but also work with them for the betterment of the industry and the role of Angus cattle in that same industry.”
Dickinson started his involvement in the American Angus Association® as a young man on their farm with 260 head of Angus and 150 head of commercial cattle and in the Illinois Junior Angus Association where he held various officer and director positions and eventually served as president in 1994 and 1995. In addition, he was awarded the Bessler Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Junior Member and represented the state in the National Showmanship Contest in 1996.
On a national level, he was elected to the National Junior Angus Association board of directors in 1995 for a two-year term, and he served as chairman in 1996 and 1997. He also earned the bronze, silver and gold awards through the NJAA Recognition program.
After graduating from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in animal science, Dickinson was hired as regional manager at the Angus Association as the youngest fieldman ever hired. The 21-year-old traveled the states of Arizona, California and Nevada working with registered and commercial producers alike to not only promote the breed but also to expand its influence and impact in the western U.S. During his almost 10-year tenure, he attended many programs such as Certified Angus Beef® Building Blocks, NCBA Convention and the Beef Improvement Federation Conference.
“I have had the pleasure to know John the past 20 years after he first came to California as a regional manager for the American Angus Association,” said David Dal Porto, current Association board member and owner of Dal Porto Livestock. “In that time, California became more visible and relevant on a national level. From the junior programs and involvement to the attention and procurement of California Angus seedstock, that success and reach is due in no small part to the commitment and efforts of John.”
Dickinson didn’t stop there. He moved into the private sector in the spring of 2007, became eligible to run for the California Angus Association board of directors and was elected that year. He served as president two years after that and has been elected as a voting delegate at every Annual Meeting since including the chair of their delegation this past year. In addition, he was also the youngest inductee into the California Angus Hall of Fame in 2007 and was selected in the inaugural class of the Angus Foundation and Certified Angus Beef LLC sponsored Beef Leaders Institute in 2009.
As an active member of the California Cattlemen’s Association, he participated in the first California Beef Cattle Improvement Association Your Beef’s at Steak program and was a member of the high team in the beef animal evaluation competition there. Most recently, Dickinson has spent a lot of time with the #championdrive campaign that builds awareness for brain tumors and brain cancer in support of a close friend. At the California Angus State Sale and Annual Meeting this past December, they were able to raise more than $37,000 for the young man and his family. To date, the cause has generated almost $70,000.
“Every year, we select a representative for YCC from an elite pool of candidates, and again this year, we have a top-notch individual in John Dickinson to represent the Angus breed,” said Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. “As someone who has been extremely involved in moving the breed forward, his outstanding leadership skills and experience will be an ideal addition to the program.”
For more information about the Angus Foundation, call 816-383-5100 or email mjenkins@angusfoundation.org.
— Rachel Robinson, Angus Communications
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