Burton Eller Retires From NCBA
US - National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Member Services and Industry Affairs, Burton Eller, will be retiring after more than 30 years of service to the US cattle industry.
13 September 2011
2 minute read
NCBA CEO Forrest Roberts said Mr Eller has been an important part of the NCBA team and an unwavering advocate of the US beef cattle industry.
“Burton has a unique ability to connect with the grassroots producers and feeders in our industry. His industry experience and wisdom is something I greatly respect,” said Mr Roberts. “His more than three decades of service to this industry has certainly made it better for cattlemen and women.”
Mr Eller began his service to the industry in Denver, Colorado, with the former American National Cattlemen’s Association. He served as vice president of government affairs for the former National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) from 1981-1991. According to Mr Roberts, Mr Eller’s role in Washington, D.C., also contributed to the development of the beef checkoff.
“Burton played a pivotal role in the development and passage of the Beef Promotion and Research Act in the 1985 Farm Bill,” said Mr Roberts. “He led the efforts to secure congressional passage of the one dollar per head national beef checkoff.”
Mr Eller served as the chief executive officer of NCA from 1991-1996. As CEO, Mr Roberts said Mr Eller improved the financial health and resources of the association, which resulted in one of the most effective commodity organisations in agriculture.
Mr Eller was actively involved in the merger of the former National Livestock and Meat Board and NCA to form NCBA in 1996. Eller also served as the deputy under secretary of marketing and regulatory programmes at the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) during the Bush Administration. At USDA, he provided counsel in directing policies, programmes and administration of the Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.
Mr Eller returned to NCBA in 2008 to lead NCBA’s Washington, D.C., office. Most recently, he served as NCBA’s senior vice president of member services and industry affairs. Mr Eller is leaving NCBA to spend more time with his family and his cattle operation. According to Mr Eller, he plans to remain active in NCBA and the cattle industry. His last day is 30 September.
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