VCA taps Carter as executive secretary

By JANE W. GRAHAM
AFP Correspondent

DALEVILLE, Va. — The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association has hired a new executive secretary who will go to work for the organization July 1. Jason Carter of Stuarts Draft, Va., will succeed Bill R. McKinnon who is retiring after a career in Extension and with VCA.
The new executive secretary has a strong background in Virginia agriculture. He is currently an Extension agent in animal science in Augusta County, a post he has held since 2006. He has also had responsibilities in Rockingham and Rockbridge counties during this time.
“I think Jason is the right match for the times,” McKinnon said in a telephone interview. “He’s smart. He knows people. He knows cattle. And he’s a hard worker.”
“I see a lot of opportunity for the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association to respect the tradition as built over the years and facilitate marketing and look to the future to build a vocational association that represents the common interests of cattlemen regardless of how they market their cattle, the color of their cattle, or where they live,” Carter said.
Carter sees educational efforts being made by the association toward both producers and consumers.
The partnership between VCA and the Beef Industry Council will be a factor in this effort, he added.
A native of Appomattox County, Carter grew up on a diversified family farm with a cow/calf herd and grew tobacco.
Carter is a Hokie, having received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Virginia Tech in 1995 and his master’s degree there in 2011.
For the past six years he has worked in Augusta County and its neighbors.
“As an agent in the livestock rich Shenandoah Valley, Jason has been involved in a range of cattle educational roles,” an article in The Virginia Cattleman, the association’s newspaper said.
These roles included work with the Augusta Market Animal Show, Beef Quality Assurance program, feeder cattle marketing and dead animal disposal.
The group reports Carter has been a leader in Extensions BQA.
His work as a BQA committee member included teaching other Extension agents and farmers.
Carter has worked with several producer groups in the area. These include the Augusta and Rockingham feeder cattle associations, local and state sheep producer associations, and the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District as well as local and state events.
He is married and the father of four children.