Warren Co. Farmer Dale Parker joins Tennessee Cattlemen’s as EVP: ‘Respect the Past, Look to the Future’

The newly elected Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA), Dale Parker, joins us on-set to share his vision for his state’s cattle industry.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Tennessee’s cattle industry generates more than $5 billion in annual agricultural cash receipts, supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the state. Now, the industry is welcoming new leadership as Warren County native Dale Parker steps into the role of Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA).

Parker, who operates a commercial cattle farm with his brothers, joined us in the studio during Monday’s Market Day Report to discuss his background and his vision for the organization.

In his conversation with RFD-TV News, Parker began by sharing details about his family’s operation in Warren County and how that hands-on experience with commercial cattle production has shaped his perspective. He also walked us through his more than 25 years of experience in sales and business development and how that career path ultimately led him to this new position with the TCA.

Parker noted that it is an essential moment for cattle producers across Tennessee. As he takes on responsibility for leading all of TCA’s organizational operations, he outlined several top priorities for the association. He shared what he is hearing most from producers right now and what they are focused on as market conditions continue to evolve.

Parker also expanded on his guiding principle — “respect the past, look to the future” — explaining how that philosophy will shape his leadership approach as the industry moves forward. Before wrapping up, Parker highlighted the TCA’s annual convention in February, offering a preview of what attendees can expect.

Related Stories
Todd Miller, CEO of Head Honchos, shares about his business offering to ease agricultural labor shortages.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew discusses the urgent need for aid as farm families face mounting input costs and long-term market uncertainty.
The new antitrust agreement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) aims to enforce antitrust laws and monitor market activity across the ag sector.
President Donald Trump says a deal is nearly done on lowering beef prices, but he has not released details.
Large carryover stocks continue to put pressure on commodity prices, creating uncertainty for growers looking to market their grain.
Peel says Mexico has a much greater capability to expand its beef industry than it did 20 or 30 years ago in terms of its feeding and packing infrastructure.
Record crops are increasing grain storage needs, prompting safety experts to remind producers of the risk of grain bin entrapment during harvest.
The impacts of the government shutdown have reached commodity growers with crops to move, ag economists monitoring the harvest without key data reporting, and meat producers in need of new export markets.
In a statement provided to RFD-TV News, a USDA spokesperson reiterated President Trump and the USDA’s commitment to farmers in difficult economic times.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Learn the conditions farmers must meet to qualify for this new three-year tax deferral on farmland sales, how much it could save, and other details to consider.
Bass Pro Anglers Jacob Wall and Bobby Lane will fish together in the Summit Cup after facing elimination in the Challenge Cup Knockout Round.
RFD-TV farm legal expert Roger McEowen digs into the details on how to make your rural property dreams a reality — and avoid a living nightmare.
The facility will increase the range of sterile fly release and bolster preparedness for New World Screwworm.
David Hardin with the Indiana Soybean Alliance discusses USMEF’s push to open new global export markets for both meat and soy-based feed.
Some sustainability shifts are not particularly challenging and can be implemented with resources already available to farmers and ranchers on their operations.
Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.