By NANCY VORIS
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Hoosier cattleman Clark Sennett was elected to the position of Region 1 Vice President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. during their national convention in Denver. Region 1 represents 16 northeastern states including Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.

“Clark brings a lifetime of experience to this position,” said Joe Moore, Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc.’s executive vice president. “As one of seven regional Vice Presidents, Clark will represent Region 1 on the NCBA Executive Committee.
“He will serve as an at-large policy division director and not a director from our state organization. His previous service and leadership at the local, state and national level will benefit all of us in Region 1 very well.”

Sennett is a past president of the Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc. and works on the membership committee.

As owner of Sennett Cattle Co. in Waynetown, Ind., Sennett joined his father on the family farm in 1970 and acquired it in the mid-1980s. His son Lance joined the operation in 1995.

The Sennetts market 1,800 head of feeder cattle in Indiana, runs a registered Limousin and commercial cow/calf operation and farm 7,000 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and hay. They also contract feeder pigs.

Sennett strongly believes in supporting efforts by the cattle industry in promotion of beef products and raising public awareness.

He helped organize Heartland Premium Aged Beef, a group of Indiana producers that supply beef directly to retail outlets and restaurants, believing that consumers want to purchase locally-grown and raised products.

Sennett Cattle Co. regularly opens its gates for field days and farm tours, giving a much-needed transparency to the livestock industry for the public to see good animal husbandry practices.

Sennett also emphasizes environmental stewardship on the farm, using rotational grazing, manure management, wildlife habitat restoration and minimum/no-till planting practices to help the farm be economically sustainable. Sennett Cattle Co. was recognized as one of seven regional winners of the 2008 Environmental Stewardship Award.

The NCBA regional vice presidents serve a term of three years and serve to coordinate regional membership activities by serving as chair of their regional membership committee. They also coordinate regional activities and communications with the Federation Division Regional Vice Presidents from their respective regions. In addition to electing the new officer team on the final day of the convention, NCBA members also voted on new and expiring policy issues, including resolutions on cattle health and well being; food safety; immigration; cattle marketing and trade; federal lands ranching and more.

During the annual board meeting, NCBA members approved a beef industry statement of principles. The statement was developed as a part of a checkoff funded issues management project and include the following principles: preserving the environment; protecting livestock; providing quality food for consumers; enhancing food safety; investing in communities; embracing innovation and creating a sustainable future.