Washington Co., Va. man elected as vice president of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
MEADOWVIEW, Va. (WJHL) — A Washington County, Virginia man has been elected as the new vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), which is reportedly the oldest and largest national organization representing beef farmers and ranchers in America.
According to a news release from the NCBA, Gene Copenhaver was elected by cattle producers from across the country during this year’s Cattle Industry Convention in Orlando, Florida.
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The release said Copenhaver is a fifth-generation cattleman, and his family traces back to the 1850s in Washington County. Currently, he manages Copenhaver Brothers Farms in Meadowview, Virginia with his son.
Before he was elected as the organization’s VP, Copenhaver was the NCBA policy division chair and vice chair, as well as chair and vice chair of the NCBA Tax Credit Committee and the NCBA International Trade Committee.
He said in the release that he’s honored to represent cattle farmers across the country.
“It is an honor to serve as Vice President of NCBA and represent cattle producers across the country,” said Copenhaver. “Our farming and ranching way of life faces many challenges, from the activists that seek to put us out of business to the threat of foreign animal diseases to the challenges of remaining profitable. I have been blessed to be the fifth generation to make my living in the cattle business and I’m fighting to make sure my sixth generation has that opportunity too.”
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Locally, the release said Copenhaver has had leadership positions in groups such as the Smyth-Washington Cattlemen’s Association, Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation and Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.
Copenhaver is also the past president of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, past chairman of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation, past chairman of the Virginia Tech Dean’s Advisory Committee and past president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. He has served on the boards of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, Washington County Industrial Development Authority and Washington County Board of Supervisors Agriculture Committee.
The release notes he is also an elder at his church.
According to the NCBA, Copenhaver will serve on the association’s officer team and help lead its activities for the next year.
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