NCBA Recognizes 2004 Top Membership Recruiters

DENVER (November 15, 2004) -- In one of the closest National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Top Hand races ever, J.D. Fitzpatrick of Winchester, Ky., is the Top Hand Champion with 87 new member recruits, followed by Dale Lueck of Aitkin, Minn., with 85 new recruits. Both will be recognized at the 2005 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in San Antonio, Feb. 2-5.

The Top Hand program, sponsored exclusively by Merial, began in 1982 to recognize NCBA members who increase and strengthen the association’s membership.

Rae Powell, Merial product manager, says sponsoring the membership program is an important initiative for Merial.

“We are proud to support a robust NCBA membership,” Powell says. “While new members are key to the organization, we also want to recognize the recruiters who work hard year in and year out to support the beef industry.”

The 2004 contest marks the closest race to the championship in the club’s 22-year history.  Recruiters receive rewards for their efforts with prizes ranging from NCBA promotional items to Cattle Industry Convention packages.  Top Hand Club members also receive red carpet treatment, including preferred seating at Convention events.

The 2004 Top Hand Club has 118 members, each who recruited three or more new members between Oct. 1, 2003 and Sept. 30, 2004.  An additional 220 recruited new members but did not earn Top Hand status. Together, they recruited 1,008 new members this year. Of that 118, 12 Top Hands recruited 10 or more new members and will receive prizes, including paid airline tickets, registration and lodging at the Annual Convention in San Antonio.

Fitzpatrick, an order buyer, had a late start, recruiting the bulk of his new members in July, August and September, while Lueck had a steady recruiting pace that put him in first place until September. Fitzpatrick is a past Top Hand winner, taking the competition in 2001 and 2002; he was the runner-up last year.

“The Top Hand program includes NCBA members from all over the country who realize the importance of membership to an association. Each member of NCBA is an important part of keeping our industry’s voice strong in Washington, D.C.,” says Fitzpatrick. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to be part of a program that not only makes NCBA a better association, but helps to improve the beef industry.”

“This program is dedicated to its members and to recognizing outstanding leaders in the industry,” says Lueck. “It provides the tools, encouragement and pride to make individual producers successful in contributing to their state and national association.”

To become a new Top Hand Club member, producers need to recruit three new NCBA members by Sept. 30 each year.  For more information or recruitment tools, contact NCBA’s membership department at 866-BEEF-USA.

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