Day 3: Overcoming Differences & USDA Briefing

Class 42 started the day off with a joint presentation by the United Egg Producers (UEP) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The representatives from these two organizations explained how they were able to overcome their vast differences and not only come to an agreement, but also work together on drafting a piece of federal legislation. The discussion was enlightening and a truly complex example of compromise.

After our meeting with the UEP and HSUS, we headed over to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) D.C. office to hear their thoughts on the UEP and HSUS agreement, as well as, thoughts from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). The beef, pork and dairy industries have a very different point of view of the UEP and HSUS agreement and think that industry issues would be better handled on a state level. As a class, we enjoyed hearing the contrasting view and had a lot of questions for the three passionate representatives. The experience left us thinking about how important it is to carefully examining both sides of an argument and still in search of how to best handle “wicked problems.”

After our lively morning, we headed for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) where we heard from many different departments on what the USDA has been and will be up to in 2011. We were given a briefing on the work being done on the Farm Bill, an update on civil rights in agriculture and foreign agricultural services. We also had the honor of visiting with, Krysta Harden, the Secretary of Agriculture’s Chief of Staff. Krysta was especially inspirational to the group. She reminded us of the importance of knowing our own strengths and weakness and played to them and also the importance of empowering people, not using your power to get what you want from them. Krysta is a great leader in our industry and we feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to learn from her.

In the evening, we joined fellow CALF Alumni at a reception they hosted for D.C. Exchange Alumni and the folks that interviewed for the 2011 exchange program. As always, it was a pleasure interacting with program alumni, as well as, meeting exchange alumni and potential guest to California… Another exciting and productive day for Class 42 in Washington, D.C.       

                                                 Class 42 at NCBA's D.C. Headquarters

Written by: Ashley Gill, Carol Arnold, Chris Nichols