CICA held 20th Annual Convention in Lincoln County

~Norman Kincaide, Contributor

Colorado Independent Cattle Growers (CICA) held their 20^th Annual Convention in Lincoln County, CO, on July 18-19, 2025. The Ranch Tour on the 18^th was held at the Cody Jolly Ranch, east of Highway 71, Lincoln County. Cody Jolly led the tour of the ranch yard, including a long sheep shed, horse barn, one room Walker School building, working corrals east of the ranch headquarters and Stony Point. Dinner was Smoked Tri-Tips and various sides prepared by Dallas and Meghan Loutzenhiser.

CICA President Harold Unwin honored Rep. Ty Winter, HD 47 and Senator Rod Pelton SD 35, as Legislators of the Year for their efforts in passing the Misbranding Cultivated Meat Products as Meat, HB 25-1203 bill with unanimous support of the Colorado State Assembly. Winter and Pelton lauded Dr. Lora Bledsoe, DVM and Marsha Holton, RN, for their testimony which pushed the bill out of committee. Julie Sumpter of Kim, CO, was recognized for her three years of work on the Cattle Call, CICA newsletter.

Day two was held at the Lincoln County Fair Grounds, Hugo, CO. Business meetings and crafting resolutions occupied the first session.

Tod Inglee, State Brand Commissioner, provided an update on the impending financial difficulties faced by the State Brand Board, as the board has had to dip into its cash reserves to cover increased expenses resulting from inflationary pressures on the board’s statutory obligations to the livestock community. Current board members are Erik Mohrling, Fort Morgan, Jody Rogers, Yuma, Lorene Bonds, Durango, Steve Wooten, Kim, and Jodie Martin-Witt, Brighton. The board is proposing an increase in brand inspection fees this fall and the five-year brand assessment fee starting in January 2027. State Brand Inspectors are entirely cash-funded with no support from the Colorado General Fund.

To address an impending deficit, beside increasing inspection fees and brand assessment fees, the board is entertaining measures to decrease expenses, such as, delaying or not filling position vacancies, automating procedures, fleet options for vehicles, and redrawing district lines for efficiency.

Shad Sullivan, Crowley County, gave a presentation on the War on Beef and industry pressures from global elites who seek to control food production through vertical integration and regulation of the cattle industry. The main drivers of these regulations are the United Nations and the World Economic Forum that seek to subvert national sovereignty and integrate Environmental Social Governance into food production.

Following lunch, Jim Bledsoe led a panel discussion with Dr. Lora Bledsoe, DVM, Eric Christian, and Ronnie Pope, covering artificial insemination, livestock market and health issues. This discussion was followed by a business meeting, after which Bill Bullard, of R-CALF, gave an update on how the United States cattle and sheep market crisis persists regardless of recent profitable prices for cattle. There is also the troublesome lack of rigorous caution concerning reopening the US southern border to Mexican cattle because of the threat of the Screw Worm infestation currently evident in Central and South America.

Past CICA presidents were recognized: Harold Unwin, current president, Lorene Bonds, Durango, Cody Jolly, Lincoln County, Marie Bonds, Durango, Curt Werner, Merino, Gerald Schreiber, Last Chance, Will Bledsoe, Wild Horse, and John Reid, Lincoln County. After recognizing these individuals, Brett Moore, CICA lobbyist, provided an overview of the 2024 Colorado State Assembly legislative session.

Present and past CICA presidents: L-R: Harold Unwin, Kim, Lorene Bonds, Durango, Jody Jolly, Lincoln County, Marie Bonds, Durango, Curt Werner, Merino, Gerald Schreiber, Last Chance, Will Bledsoe, Wild Horse, and John Reid, Lincoln County.

 More Colorado State Legislators attended this CICA convention than ever before: Rep. Junie Joseph, HD 10, Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, SD 23, Rep. Ty Winter, HD 47, Senator Rod Pelton, SD 35, Rep. Chris Richardson, HD 56, Senator Scott Bright, SD 13, and Rep. Dusty Johnson, HD 63. All of those attending the second day of the CICA Convention were treated to a prime rib dinner prepared by Jennie Hoefler. A silent and live auction concluded the event.