INDIANAPOLIS – A mother and daughter won’t be on horses but they will be leading cattle drives together behind the scenes.

Jill Duncan is president-elect of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association (IBCA). Her 20-year-old daughter, Hattie, is president-elect of the Indiana Junior Beef Cattle Association (IJBCA).

“I feel like it’s going to be rewarding for both of us to be able to do these tasks at the same time,” said Duncan, 45, of Wingate.

Her daughter is a senior at the University of Illinois majoring in animal nutrition.

Duncan said her primary goal as IBCA president in 2022 is helping spread word about sustainability in the livestock industry and making sure that ranching is “portrayed in a positive light. I’m excited most about being able to share our story,” she said.

She and her husband are from families whose roots in the livestock industry date back for generations. The Duncan livestock farm, about 30 miles south of Purdue University in West Lafayette, has about 130 head of primarily Hereford cattle raised for beef. She said the calves are auctioned off and finished elsewhere. The rest of the herd is kept for breeding and providing freezer meat once fed out.

Personal satisfaction for Duncan rests more with carrying on a family tradition.

Her father, Clark Sennett, and brother, Lance, are past presidents of the IBCA.  

Duncan has been involved with the group in various other capacities over the years, including serving as vice president of the IBCA’s executive committee last year. Presently, she’s also an adult junior advisor for the IJBCA.

She will continue to have a seat on the IBCA Executive Committee for two years as a past President once her one-year term as president expires.

Duncan doesn’t believe the industry is going to necessarily disappear over concerns like what impact cows might have on global warming. However, she feels shedding light on what’s being done environmentally can help keep the door open for future generations of ranchers.

For instance, her son, Ray, and nephew, Drew, both 17, could go that route because of their love for livestock.

“Any of our family that wants to step up and raise cattle, we hope that they can have that opportunity which is another reason why it’s important to promote and preserve this product,” she said.

Duncan also believes adapting to shifting currents is another key to the future.

“It’s just everything is evolving and changing and we just have to change with it.  If 2020 taught us anything it’s been that. Not just with food, necessarily, but with life,” she said.

The IBCA president for 2021 is Chad Lanum, of Flora. Other officers approved to the executive committee were Jeff Sherfield, of Spencer, as vice president and Andrew Stewart, of Greensburg, as treasurer.

Also serving on the panel are Dr. Jennie Hodgen, chairman of the promotions committee; Tim Schwab, membership chairman, and Neal Smith, immediate past president.

The IBCA also has as board of directors made up of 10 area directors along with representatives from the dairy and veal sectors, allied industries and Purdue Extension. Board members also serve on the Indiana Beef Council to manage the collection and allocation of the Beef Checkoff.