Meet the 2020 president of NCBA

If you’ve never ventured far from the sand or Disney, you may not appreciate the vast and lush grasslands of interior Florida. Fertile soils support year-around grazing of nearly a million beef cows, making it a Top 10 state in that ranking. It’s also the home of Smith Brothers-Wacahoota ranch, owned and operated by the 2020 president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Marty Smith. We recently asked him a few questions about his ranch, and NCBA priorities.

SF: First off, what’s the story behind the name, Smith Brothers-Wacahoota?

MS: We’re a fifth generation ranch, and the Brothers actually goes back to my grandfather. Today, it’s just me. And Wacahoota is a reference to our town, which is a Seminole Indian word that literally means “cow pen.” The first cattle in what is now the U.S. came here with the early explorers in 1521 [soon to be 500 years ago!]. The Seminoles were the first cattle ranchers, and they still ranch here.

SF: What kind of cattle do you raise?

MS: We’re commercial cow-calf with a herd that ranges between 600 and 800 cows. Most of them are Brangus or Brafords, with Brahman in them for heat tolerance.

SF: How do cattle survive in the famous Florida summers?

MS: It’s the hardest time, with many days over 100°F with high humidity. In June, July, and August, we try not to do much cow work. If we have to work them, we start at 5:30 in the morning and stop by 9:30. We calve in January and wean in August, and if we can’t get the work done in the morning, we wait until evening to finish.

SF: Where do you sell the calves?

MS: I ship them to feedlots in the Midwest and retain ownership through finishing. Sometimes, calves from this part of the country get a bad reputation as to quality and are discounted at calf sales. That reputation is undeserved. So, retaining ownership lets us capture the full value of our good genetics.

SF: How did you get involved in NCBA leadership?

MS: Back a few years ago, NCBA was facing some tough financial issues and needed budget help. I have a law degree, and have litigated some land and financial issues for a number of companies inside and outside of agriculture. Because of that, I was asked to serve on a committee and help get the  organization back on budget. Then I served as NCBA treasurer. Believe me, I had no intention of ever becoming president, but here it is.

SF: What do you like about the role?

MS: I like seeing some of that earlier work come to fruition. I like the friendships and relationships I’ve built across the whole country. I like giving back to an industry that I hold in very high regards.

SF: What do you want to accomplish in your year as president?

MS: I want to continue to roll back some of the regulations that are so onerous to agriculture. For instance, we won the battle of the Waters of the U.S. [rollback of federal regulations of private waters]. But it’s really not over. We have to fight to keep what we’ve gained.

SF: Do you have a message for other cattle producers?

MS: Get involved in the industry. Sometimes, you hear things, or someone says something’s wrong. That’s your signal. Find the truth, then ask yourself how you can be a part of the solution.

SF: And for beef consumers?

MS: I worry about what we see sometimes on social media. Ranchers get a bad rap on things like the environment, health, climate, and others. It’s very undeserved. We’ve got great facts about what our industry is doing. I want consumers to know we are not the problem, we’re the solution. Beef is the best protein source, it’s the safest and healthiest protein source, and it tastes the best!

SF: For you, is it all cattle, all the time?

MS: Oh no, I have lots of hobbies. I really enjoy fishing, especially salt-water fishing in the Gulf. I like to quail hunt. Our family loves to travel, and we’ve seen many of our national parks. This year as NCBA president it’s hard to find the time for those things, but that’s part of the job.