NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A banner year for cattle producers likely contributed to record attendance at the national Cattle Industry Convention Feb. 1-4 in Nashville.

A joint meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. (NCBA), Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc., CattleFax and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, the event drew more than 7,000 cattle producers, feedlot owners and beef industry professionals from across the world.

Bill Donald, a cow-calf rancher from Melville, Mont., and the outgoing president of the NCBA, said, “The general attitude among attendees here is very, very positive. Cattle prices are good; the weather is good. Producers are here for education, networking, discussing important policy and, of course, enjoying the great entertainment of Nashville.”

The convention started Feb. 1 with the Pfizer Cattlemen’s College – a series of educational seminars focused on cattle reproduction, grazing and forage, genetics, increasing profits and beef innovation – the opening session featuring Navy SEAL and war veteran Marcus Luttrell and the kickoff of the trade show with more than 500 businesses and organizations.

Thursday included organizational and council meetings, youth contests such as public speaking, team marketing and quiz bowl and awards receptions and social events. Friday saw the CattleFax Outlook Seminar, a cattle judging contest for youth and adults, a “Stockmanship and Stewardship” clinic and a day-long series of subcommittee and committee meetings.

Colin Woodall, vice president of government affairs for the NCBA, said the key component of the convention is the discussion and development of policy during these more than 25 committee meetings. Policy areas include global consumer marketing, public opinion and issues management, research, education and innovation, public policy and producer communications.

“The NCBA is truly a grassroots organization,” said Woodall. “What typically happens is a policy resolution will emerge from a state cattle convention or a county cattlemen’s meeting, and it comes here to the national convention – although new resolutions are accepted from the floor at any time, as well.”

NCBA policy is confirmed after passing through committee at convention, then securing a majority vote of the board of directors and a final mail-out vote to the entire membership of NCBA.

“We don’t do anything in Washington, D.C., unless it’s in our policy,” said Woodall, “and we operate under the one member, one vote system.”

Key policy resolutions brought to the convention this year addressed animal traceability, particularly the need to create a united position in response to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s proposed animal disease traceback plan. They also concerned the Trans-Pacific partnership, which is the next big trade deal expected out of Congress, according to Woodall, and Mandatory Price Reporting and looking at ways to make it more useful and effective for cattle producers.

Saturday included the NCBA board of directors meeting, the annual membership meeting and the closing session.

The NCBA has faced turbulence and controversy in the past year concerning its close affiliation with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), the organization appointed by the USDA to oversee the collection and distribution of the mandatory national $1 per-head beef checkoff, established in the 1985 farm bill.

In his opening ceremony remarks, Donald said, “There are some groups out there that would still like to see the division and the controversy continue, to try and drive a wedge in our industry – but we have moved past that, and we want to tell you, we are done bickering and arguing and we are moving forward to promote this great industry we are all a part of.”

NCBA has two main sectors: the Federation of State Beef Councils is involved strictly with beef promotion, research and development and uses checkoff funds; and the policy division represents members on issues critical to the cattle industry in Washington, using no checkoff funding.

Donald said the tough times have brought about positive change for the organization, and served as a catalyst for further defining the individual and separate roles of the NCBA and CBB, as well as brought a sense of renewed partnership to protect and promote the beef industry. “The spirit of cooperation and partnership that NCBA has developed with the Cattlemen’s Beef Board over the past six months is really paying big dividends,” he added.

Reflecting on the past year, Donald and Woodall agreed a key win for the cattle industry was the passage of the three free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea in October 2011. “As far as our industry goes, opening up new markets and expanding existing markets, is the best opportunity for our industry to maintain and grow,” said Woodall.

He added other victories include the rollback on the Grain Inspection,

Packers & Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) rule on livestock marketing; the non-passage of the detrimental dust regulation bill considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and the recent announcement the Department of Labor will reconsider a rule making some activities illegal for young people to be involved with in farm and ranch work.