The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) Political Action Committee (PAC) is the political arm of the state’s largest cattle association representing Ohio cattlemen and women and their family’s business interests. A PAC is simply a group of individuals with common values and goals who combine their resources to financially support candidates running for public office. OCA PAC is a federal PAC that can support state and federal candidates.

OCA PAC raises funds from personal voluntary contributions from OCA members and pools those contributions together to support political candidates who support the beef cattle industry. OCA PAC gives cattle producers the access and visibility the industry needs to have its voice heard at the State House and on Capitol Hill. Individual PAC contributions enable OCA to participate in the competitive political environment in Columbus and Washington, D.C., and in political races.

OCA PAC opens doors, starts conversations and helps build relationships. Not everyone can run for office or travel to Columbus or Washington to speak with each Representative or Senator. Cattlemen and women have their farms to run. OCA PAC enables us to have daily representation at the State House and on Capitol Hill.  By contributing to the OCA PAC cattle producers can help elect officials who understand their needs. PAC contributions also provide OCA’s staff the access they need at the State House and in Congress to address issues important to rural Ohio.

The true power of OCA PAC is in its ability to support state and federal candidates from both sides of the aisle.

OCA PAC follows established procedures for making contributions to candidates for state and federal office. Each candidate’s record of support, bill sponsorship, key votes, financial need and agreement with OCA policy are some of the criteria that are used by the OCA PAC Committee when making contributions to candidates.

Contributions or gifts to OCA PAC are not deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes. OCA PAC may accept cash and checks, only from individuals, LLC’s, Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships. Corporate contributions cannot be accepted.

Federal Law requires that OCA obtain and report the name, address, occupation and employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 per calendar year.

OCA PAC contributions follow the fiscal year calendar, running from January 1-December 31.

OCA PAC recognition levels are as follows:

• $25-99
• $100
• $250
• $500
• $1,000
• $2,500
• $5,000

All OCA PAC donors for the year are recognized in the Ohio Cattleman magazine and at the OCA Annual Meeting in January of each year.  

The goal of OCA’s PAC is to preserve the future of the beef industry; giving each generation the opportunity to carry on their family’s legacy with cattle and agriculture. Change is inevitable but keeping decision makers educated about agriculture is key to success for our industry.

For more information, please contact OCA by calling 614.873.6736 or by email at [email protected].