Alabama’s Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council Heads to Washington, D.C. for 2025 Policy Experience
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association’s Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP) Council is preparing for a meaningful leadership and advocacy experience as the group heads to Washington, D.C. This biennial trip offers young cattle producers an inside look at the federal policy process, strengthening their understanding of how decisions in the nation’s capital impact the cattle industry back home.
Erin Beasley with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association shared more about the upcoming visit. She explained, “Well as we round out 2025, we are looking forward to taking our Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Council group, which is made up of alumni members from our YCLP program. Part of them being the council is every other year we take them to D.C., give them a chance to get a taste of what these hill visits are all about, opportunity to learn more about the federal policymaking process, meet with the Alabama delegation.”
One unique aspect of the trip is the cross-state collaboration. Beasley noted, “And one of the neat parts of this trip for us is that we actually do it with our friends from Mississippi as well. So Mississippi Cattlemen’s will be bringing a group of producers as well in the same age group. And so, you know, a good chance for us to meet other young leaders.”
The agenda is packed with high-value experiences that strengthen participants’ policy knowledge. “We will be visiting with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to do a policy briefing and then a day on the hill. And then we also will be incorporating a couple of other visits such as a USDA agency visit. So really a great learning experience for this group.”
For many participants, the trip offers an eye-opening look at how federal decisions take shape. As Beasley described, “I think that it will probably be eye-opening for them as they learn more about all the inner workings of what happens on the hill up there in D.C. And it’s one of the trips I look forward to every other year.”
With major industry topics and uncertainties ahead, these young leaders will gain critical tools. As Beasley concluded, “So looking forward to the trip and we will give these leaders some more tools in the toolbox as they expand their horizons of learning more about the cattle industry.”
The visit promises to equip the next generation of Alabama cattle leaders with stronger voices and deeper insight into the policy landscape shaping their industry.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.