New Holland and NCBA Announce Second Annual Winners of Baler Lease

DENVER (Nov. 24, 2004) – New Holland and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) are proud to announce the winners of the second annual “Partnering for Success” program. The drawing was held at a recent NCBA State Affiliate Planning Meeting in Denver, Colo.

The program is sponsored by New Holland and is designed to recognize NCBA’s state affiliates and their members who do an outstanding job of increasing member numbers and revenue. New Holland awarded two one-year leases on a round baler, one to each of the two winning affiliates.

The two winners, representing two divisions, were randomly selected from qualifying states for the 2004 fiscal year. The membership number division included states that increased their NCBA membership numbers over the previous year. The membership revenue division included states that increased their NCBA membership dollars over the previous year.

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers won for increase in membership numbers. The Nebraska Cattlemen won for increase in membership revenue.

In the membership numbers drawing, 27 state affiliates qualified with an increase over last year’s numbers. In the membership revenue drawing, 33 state affiliates qualified with an increase over last year’s revenue. There were 38 state affiliates that qualified in at least one of the categories. This is more than triple the amount that qualified last year. Twenty-two state affiliates qualified in both categories.

“The number of affiliates qualifying for this awards program shows the dedication of our affiliates and members to the future of our organization,” said Mark Nelson, California producer and chairman of the NCBA Membership Committee. “The network NCBA has with our state affiliates is our strongest asset.  It is important that we have the ability to reward their commitment and this would not be possible without the support of companies like New Holland. The strength of such state, national and corporate relationships shows the fortitude our members and partners have to our industry.”

“Our increase in membership this last fiscal year led us to qualify for the baler in both the numbers and revenue categories,” said Mark Perrier, membership director with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers.  “Winning the lease for the numbers category is an added bonus to an already successful year for our association.”

Texas & Southwestern is planning on giving the baler lease away at their annual convention in March as part of their membership program. “We are looking forward to what the baler lease can do for our association this year,” said Perrier. “We know that it will be a great asset in helping increase our membership numbers and dollars again this year.”

“We are really excited to have won the New Holland Baler lease,” said Lee Weide, vice president of Membership Services at the Nebraska Cattlemen. “We will use the lease as part of our membership recruiter incentive program. We feel this will be an added incentive to our recruiters to make membership a priority.” The Nebraska Cattlemen will award their one-year New Holland baler lease as part of a drawing at their mid-year meeting in June.

As a way to more fairly recognize state affiliates for their outstanding membership efforts, NCBA is changing the New Holland baler lease program. For fiscal year 2005, the state affiliate with the greatest percent increase in membership numbers and the state affiliate with the greatest percent increase in membership revenue will be awarded the New Holland baler leases.