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The Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association annual district meetings begin next week and will continue through October.
CEO Grant McLellan says the meetings provide an opportunity for producers to come out and share their views on the organization and a variety of other issues ranging from the Saskatchewan Marshall Service to increasing the producer check-off.
"At our AGM held in January this year there was a motion on the floor to increase the check-off. So we just really want to make sure that we're getting out there to our producers and hearing from them and making sure their informed as to what those dollars go to and what the process looks like."
He says an organization that represents somewhere in the neighborhood of 16,000 to 17,000 cattle producers in the province and those producers who pay check off, we want to make sure that we are transparent and responsive to their needs.
"That includes talking about a number of research projects, our communications plan and frankly some of the work we do on the education front. So it's really broad based, but the SCA is constantly working on larger issues as well, like our business risk management programs and programs that are offered through the federal and provincial governments."
One file the SCA has been quite active on provincially is advocating on behalf of producers in support of the Saskatchewan Marshalls Program.
"We want to hear from producers about that and also give them a little bit of information on what that program looks like and what the government and frankly our organization hopes it can achieve."
The SCA is also looking for input on potentially increasing the producer check-off following a motion from the floor during the AGM in January, as well they want to hear from producers on whether they should consider a name change.
McLellan says the concept of a name change is a topic that has been brought up over the years adding they want to hear if this is something the SCA should be spendding its time on - following in the footsteps of the Canadian Cattle Association.
"We just want to make sure that we're hearing directly from the grassroot producers if this is something that they think is an issue or something that they think SCA should be working on or frankly, if this issue should just go away."
Here is the SCA's Current District Meeting Schedule:
District 7 - Monday, September 23 at the Legion in Kindersley from 1:30 to 5 pm.
District 4 - Tuesday, September 24 at the Piapot Legion Hall from 4:30 to 9 pm
District 3B - Wednesday, September 25 at Innovation Plex in Swift Current from 1:30 to 5 pm
District 8 - Tuesday, October 8 from 1:30 to 5 pm at the Kerry Vicker Centre in Melfort
District 2 - Tuesday, October 15 from 4:30 to 9 pm at the Weyburn Legion
District 6 - Friday, October 18 at LFCE at Clavet from 4:30 to 9 pm
District 1 - Monday, October 21 at the Kenosee Inn from 1:30 to 5:00
District 3A - Tuesday, October 22 at the Prince of Wales Centre in Assiniboia from 4:30 to 9 pm
District 5 - Wednesday, October 30 at the Galligher Centre in Yorkton from 4:30 to 9 pm
District 9A - to be determined - Northern Livestock in Prince Albert
District 9B - to be determined - at the Turtlefordd Community Centre.
More information on the Saskatchewan Cattlemen's Association can be found here.