By Mike Tanchevski                                                                                                      Ohio Correspondent         

                                                                                  

MARYSVILLE, Ohio – Zane Gross III, of Ashland, Ohio, always looked for opportunities to better himself and make himself a more well-rounded leader in the beef industry. When ‌an opening at the Ohio Cattleman’s Association (OCA) and Ohio Beef Council became available, Gross applied.

Gross was recently named member services & industry education manager for the OCA and Ohio Beef Council. He intends to fall back on leadership expert John Maxwell’s idea of servant leadership when defining how he will function in his new capacity. “I always try to do my best wherever I’m serving others,” he said. “I felt like this would be a good role for me to serve the membership and beef producers.”

His responsibilities include implementing membership marketing efforts, member services, and revenue development activities, including event sponsorships and advertising sales and engaging with industry partners and OCA members. Ohio Beef Council’s educational responsibilities include checkoff communications, quality assurance, and youth education programs.

Although the member services position isn’t new, Gross’ experience allowed for additional duties associated with the industry education manager position to be added to the job description.

“I have a little bit more experience because I’ve been in the industry for a few years now, so they added industry education to it,” Gross said. “I’ll still be involved in some of the Beef Checkoff educations like Beef 509, Beef Quality Assurance, and things like that around the state.”

Gross wants to implement a few of his ideas as he assumes his new position during a hectic time of year for the OCA, with the Ohio Beef Expo around the corner and other programs taking place.

“I’ve gotten a bunch of information thrown at me,” Gross said. “But I’d like to come up with some of my own programs or events that help educate and serve ‌producers to be successful in their operations. Between Ohio State Extension and all the different ag-based corporations in Ohio, I think there’s a wealth of knowledge that can help bring value to Ohio’s beef industry and help better our membership.”

As a member services manager, Gross will connect members with industry support, answer questions, solve problems, and promote Ohio cattlemen’s programs at various events, like the Ohio Beef Expo.

“That’s one of our biggest events,” he said. “That and a few other events we do throughout the year are opportunities to help cattlemen in the state market their animals and gain some recognition.”

Another aspect of his new position is helping drive revenue for the association through sponsorships and advertisements working through OCA’s Allied Industry Council. The council is a business partnership that supports educational efforts and leadership opportunities for cattlemen to advance Ohio’s cattle industry.

“We have a great program in the Allied Industry Council,” Gross said. “It’s basically a partnership we have as an association with businesses across the state connected to beef production and agriculture.” Allied members include equipment dealers, medical companies, feed companies, banks and cooperatives. These companies aren’t producers but support cattle operations in various ways.

Prior to going to OCA, Gross was the operations manager and sales lead for E. R. Boliantz Packing Co. He is a 2017 graduate of Ohio State University and a meat science expert. He has served as president of the Ashland County Cattlemen’s Association.

“I’m able to relate all my different experiences and help teach how beef is produced and all the great opportunities in the beef industry right here in Ohio,” he said.

Experience isn’t the only asset Gross brings to the job. He will rely on his leadership too. “I’ve always been attracted to leadership,” he said. “Whether it was in sports growing up or in my past job, it’s about serving people and helping accomplish a task together.”

Gross was the 2021 recipient of the OCA Young Cattleman of the Year award and attended the NCBA YCC leadership program. He, his wife Courtney, and their three young children own and operate Buckeye Creek Angus, a growing register Angus seedstock operation in Ashland.

Gross didn’t grow up on a farm,‌ but he did participate in FFA while in middle school and high school, where he developed an interest in cattle. “I’m kind of a first-generation cattle producer,” he said. “We run about 25 to 30 head of registered cows and focus on breeding the genetic side of it.”

Carcass characteristics, along with a balanced focus on raising good efficient quality animals that appeal to commercial cattle producers across the state is what Gross strives for as he connects with Ohio cattlemen.

“In my position at OCA, I can connect with commercial cattle producers and get an understanding of what their challenges and needs are, and I can connect them with people in or out of the industry to help in the success of their operation,” Gross said.