Randy Stevenson

WHEATLAND, WY

Randy Stevenson of Wheatland, Wyoming serves as vice-president of the Orginization for Competitive Markets (OCM) board of directors. Stevenson and his wife, Charlie, along with Randy's father, Jim, and brother, Terry, run Double S Livestock, a cattle feeding operation near Wheatland. "I've been in the cattle business all my life," notes Randy, who was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico. "When the next generation is ready to take over, I want to hand them a viable industry that's full of opportunity."

Randy and Charlie are part of the fabric of their rural community and are active in agricultural issues. Randy serves as co-chairman of R-CALF USA's Marketing Committee and is currently Chairman of the Platte County Republican Party in Wyoming. When asked about what motivated him to become involved in politics on a state and national level Randy says with a chuckle, "I was driven to it out of necessity. Politics can be a dirty job, but it's crucial that agricultural producers become engaged in policy at every level. If we don't stand watch over our industry, no one else will."

Both Randy and Charlie are frequent guests on KGAB, a popular talk radio channel originating in Cheyenne, and Double S Livestock publishes a weekly column in the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and The Record Stockman, agricultural industry publications circulated in several states. "We invest ourselves in furthering the competition movement, antitrust issues and advocate for honorable trade agreements because we know we have to if we want to save America's independent ranchers and farmers," commented Randy.

Two years ago, Randy founded the Steak on the Fourth, a program committed to seeing to it that American soldiers stationed overseas are served U.S. beef on the Fourth of July. "We're not shy about our patriotism, and we wanted to express our gratitude to the soldiers who are away from their families protecting American sovereignty. It seemed only natural to tie our way of life, which is raising beef cattle, to that gratitude."

Randy considers himself blessed. As well he should. In 2004, at the age of 50, Stevenson began experiencing vision problems and headaches. His eye doctor immediately referred him to a specialist who ordered a battery of tests that showed Randy had a brain tumor. He underwent tumor removal surgery in Cheyenne. The tumor eventually proved to be benign. Subsequent re-growth of the tumor resulted in gamma-knife treatment at a Denver, Colorado hospital. A recent check-up shows the tumor has been reduced and Randy is recovering. "I'm almost back to full speed," he says. "Occasionally I have to remember to slow down a little bit, but all the medical tests show that I'm back in good health and I'm glad to be here."

Randy and Charlie have three children: a son Oakley who is 8 years old, daughters Jennifer, 25 and Andrea, 20 and they have a grandson, Jacob, 3, grand daughter Cady Anne, 8 months, who spends a lot of time with their grandparents.