owyhee avalanche

Rutan looks back on year at OCA's helm

Looking back on the year as the man responsible for a historic organization leaves outgoing Owyhee Cattlemen's Association president Doug Rutan pleased with the experience and optimistic about the future.
“It’s been a really good year,” Rutan said. “It is a fairly large deal to be responsible. There have been a lot of important decisions made because of the Owyhee Cattlemen.”
Rutan looks back on the year as a great learning experience, having done many things he has never done before. Throughout the year, Rutan has had the opportunity to visit the State Capitol and visit with Legislators and testify on land rights.
“It has definitely been a learning experience. This was something I’ve never done before.” Rutan said with a laugh. “It was a little nerve-wracking. You have all these legislators and people sitting up there that do this for a living. You are into their world and something I’m not used to.”
Rutan said he found the process of government foreign to his way of doing things.
“I’m the kind of guy that views a situation and gets done what needs to be done,” Rutan said. “When dealing with the government, I didn’t realize how much time it takes to make a decision.”
Through his time holding the office, Rutan says the hardest part has been his location.
“It is kind of a struggle where I live,” Rutan said. “We don’t have the Internet and the cell phone coverage, trying to get a hold of people has been rough."
Despite the technological limitations he has encountered, Rutan says that it was a good run and the outcome from all the work he has put in was worth it. One of the best parts of his experience he was pleased with was the overwhelming support from OCA board members and the resources they pull from to get results.
"The board is really, really good. They bring new ideas up, and it makes it real simple,” Rutan said. “I just have to run the meeting. That part is extremely helpful.”
Through all his years in the organization stretching to when he was a young boy, Rutan has always looked up to OCA members and has thoroughly enjoyed his involvement with those around him. He said it has been a tremendous honor to represent all the cattlemen at a higher level.
Addressing the membership from the podium, though, is another story.
“I do not enjoy and will not ever enjoy getting up in front of the association,” Rutan said. “When I was a kid growing up in the association, there were all the older people who were doing a good job in ranching. You looked up to them. I still look up to them. But now I am the guy who is up there in front of these men, telling them how it is going to be and leading them.”
Rutan says it will be an easy transition for incoming president Mark Frisbie to take over the position.
“Mark is extremely educated and will do a terrific job,” Rutan said. “He definitely stays up to date with the issues. When I went on the board, I realized how uninformed I was on the issues, and what people were struggling with. I don’t think he will struggle with that. He will keep on going with things and be a big help to the association.”
All-in-all, Rutan is pleased with all the hard work that everyone has put in. He believes that the history and culture of the cattlemen has left a tremendous impact on him and the county.
“It takes a lot of support from family and friends to get all this accomplished."
See The Owyhee Avalanche's special section this week for more preview coverage of the 132nd Owyhee Cattlemen's summer meeting in Silver City.

-JLZ