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President’s Message - by Jon Reed, NAEBA President

April 16, 2024

Hello fellow NAEBA members, family members, and associates,

I am happy to be writing to you all as we are watching antlers drop, watching our bulls start to bud out, and waiting for summer and baby time. What will 2024 hold in store for you? Will it be a champion bull, a good A.I. calf crop, or simply another year raising some of the greatest animals God has blessed us with on earth? Elk are one of the most majestic critters we could ever raise, and it is a privilege to own and raise elk; and NAEBA is here to help you however we can. Thank you to all our members, as it is you who makes what we do possible. Also, thank you to our great staff who work very hard for our association.

As I look towards the future of our industry, I recognize we have challenges in some states and provinces. We want to support Minnesota members as they battle ignorance in their political system and Texas members and our ally association, the EWA, as they work to resolve import rules. We also have seen new challenges in states with antiquated rules that have been lying dormant until our members stumble into inconsistent state bureaucracy. Members in states like Illinois with non-scientific radius rules against import from ranches who have CWD within 15 miles; even though the ranch has followed the herd certification program to the letter. States like Indiana who do not allow importation from ranches who reside in a state where CWD has been found. States like Wisconsin, who also have non-scientific radius rules and require the unfunded mandated of double fencing when CWD is found within a set number of miles from a ranch. To make that situation even worse, Wisconsin has allowed their Department of Wildlife to place CWD collection dumpsters within those radiuses of cervid farms. This unethical practice has caught one of our member ranches in this web of untraceable CWD samples and an unfunded mandate. When you see or hear something pop up in your area, please reach out to NAEBA asap! We need to challenge these antiquated laws that were put in place during the CWD scare 20+ years ago and we need to challenge them. NAEBA cannot tackle these issues on our own. The ranches involved and/or state association must contest these laws, and NAEBA will support you. The NAEBA Board of Directors budgeted more funds in 2024 to defend our members who find themselves in these types of situations.

NAEBA is also supporting our Canadian membership and provincial associations while negotiating with CFIA against further restrictive rule changes as they work to open commerce, as well as keep the border open. We are working to get all the import rules clarified to avoid any last-minute confusion during sales and transport prior to this year’s hunting season. Our Canadian industry leaders are working hard for their members and NAEBA is working alongside your leaders. I am very much looking forward to my trips to Alberta and Saskatchewan’s annual conferences and personally meeting your many members. A lot of ranches in the U.S. count on Canadian elk, just as much as Canadian ranches need sales to the U.S. This open commerce benefits the entire industry.

NAEBA, our members, and state associations also have a lot to celebrate! We have seen four major wins (or close to being wins) so far this year for the industry. First, let us congratulate the Utah Elk Association on getting the 100th meridian rule repealed. This opens Utah to commerce from east of the 100th meridian. Congratulations to the Idaho member ranches who rallied together and introduced a bill to stop double fencing based on the definition of exposed animals as well as changing other definitions to keep commerce open in Idaho. The governor has just signed this bill! Congratulations to the North Dakota Elk Growers for all the work they put into
repealing the Brucellosis testing requirement and the purity testing zones. I believe NDEG is just waiting for the final signoff from their state officials. We also congratulate the Kansas Elk and Deer Association for the work they have done over the past year to change the regulations and become a model state for others from which to pattern their regulations. These changes will protect the Kansas cervid industry and members. Kansas officials and representatives from KEDA and NAEBA will meet at the end of March to review the legal wording from state attorneys to make sure the legal ease did not alter the meaning of the changes. Once all involved agree, the Commissioner of Animal Health has agreed to administratively change the regulations. This was a team effort between industry leaders and the state animal health team, a true collaboration. NAEBA is happy to have been involved and/or supported our members in each of these states. We now want to help celebrate your wins! With elk markets opening up, elk prices soaring, and new members joining the industry throughout North America, we feel the elk industry is strong and we have a bright future.

I will take this opportunity to promote NAEBA and again ask our membership to reach out to non-members and ask them to join this great association. I personally will not do elk business with people who are not members of NAEBA. Please don’t let the word breeders in NAEBA’s name, fool you into thinking NAEBA is for breeders. If you are an elk hunter, elk eater, elk, transporter, elk anything…if you own elk in any fashion, NAEBA is for you. Many hunting ranches are finding out how beneficial it is to be a member, especially when something happens in their state or province. A friend of mine from Canada, Mr. Bob Boos and I were talking, and Bob said agriculture is a lifelong commitment so why do people not make the lifelong commitment to our association? Bob, I agree and though sometimes NAEBA’s life membership fees may be restrictive to some, everyone who owns elk can support our international association each year by renewing their membership and allowing NAEBA to keep fighting for all elk producers in North America. Thank you, Bob, for your comments, and to other industry leaders on both sides of the border, for your efforts to bring members to NAEBA.

With all the great news, I want to say thank you to all those I have met during my travels to state and provincial meetings. The NAEBA Board of Directors and I are dedicated to NAEBA’s mission: “With the participation of our members the North American Elk Breeders Association strives to protect, promote, and enhance the North American elk industry.” I have been privileged to serve as your President since 2022 and be a liaison between NAEBA and members. I have witnessed this industry face challenges and victories; but I am most impressed with the people…each of you.

Thank you NAEBA Board of Directors for volunteering your time, talents, and knowledge to help the elk industry. Our elected Board members are listed on the website, and you may contact anyone with questions or requests. It is always best to contact the representative in your region; but please feel free to reach out to any of us when needed.

Finally, thanks to everyone who participated in the March Mingle. This was another huge success. Our ranch tours were great, and we thank both ranches for opening up your gates to our members and sharing information. Travis, your leadership is irreplaceable. Brenda and Taylor, you are great. It takes all of us working together to prosper and thrive.

You all take care and reach out if you need anything.

Jon Reed,
President 2022-2024

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