RAPID CITY, S.D.(KBHB) – Representatives from three different groups came together yesterday to discuss issues affecting the cattle industry.

The Need For Unity in the Cattle Industry Town Hall was held at the Barnett Fieldhouse at the Black Hills Stock Show.

Representatives from the National Cattlemens Beef Association, R-CALF-USA and the United States Cattlemen Association all sat down with hopes of finding some common ground to the very problems affecting the industry.

The NCBA was represented by Larry Stomprud, Karina Jones represented R-CALF and Justin Tupper spoke for the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association.

The morning began with keynote speaker Dr. Gary Sides, who spoke about agriculture in the new time of ‘cancel culture.’

A panel discussion followed Dr. Sides with representatives from South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation. They discussed the effects of Washington, D.C. on family farms and ranches.

Then the town hall commenced, and Justin Tupper says the main concern right now is the distribution of profits down the production chain, with very little reaching those who raised the cattle. He says in order to find solutions to the hardest problems ranchers face, they need to find common ground.

Tupper says everyone has similar goals, but admits their methods for achieving them are all different. Still, being able to come together to work on those goals is a big step forward.