Two from Valley among 11 members of new Cattle Council

SACRAMENTO — Jesse Larios, feedlot manager at Brawley’s Foster Feed Yard, and Bill Brandenberg, owner of El Centro’s Meloland Cattle Co., are among the 11 members appointed by California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross to the new California Cattle Council.

The council was implemented by CDFA at the industry’s request on April 8, following a vote of industry members.

The council is authorized to carry out research on cattle production and beef Larios nutrition, and to develop

consumer or other educational programs. Program activities are to be funded by a $1 refundable assessment per head of cattle, paid by cattle producers.

The board is made up of 11 members and 11 alternates, with each group consisting of three range cattle producers, three cattle feeders, three dairy producers, one processor, and one public member (open). The appointees were selected from nominations made by the cattle industry over a six-week nomination period and represent the diversity of cattle producers around the state, as required by the California Cattle Council Law.

In addition to Larios and Brandenberg, other members of the council are Mike Smith, of Fresno County; David Daley, of Butte County; Jacob Parnell, of Sacramento County; Julie Morris, of San Benito County; Cody Nicholson-Stratton, of Humboldt County; Jennifer Beretta, of Sonoma County; Tyler Ribiero, of Tulare County, and Sarah Mora, of Humboldt County.

Alternates are Roger Guess and Xavier Avila, both of Tulare County; Sam Avila, Lauren Reid-Acevedo and Brian Coehlo, all of Fresno County; Brad Peek, of Tehama County; Julie Belezzuoli-Hathaway, of Kings County; Sheila Bowen of Kern County; Beverly Bigger, of Ventura County, and Brad Scott, of Riverside County.

The first meeting of the board was held July 16.