North Dakota Rancher Says Common Ground Coalition Focused on Solutions for Future Generations
June 10, 2026
The Common Ground Coalition’s Midwest Regional Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, brought together livestock producers and industry leaders from across the country to focus on the future of rural America and the U.S. livestock industry.
Among those participating was North Dakota cattle producer Gene Harris, who said the meeting demonstrated what can happen when industry leaders focus on areas of agreement rather than division.
“It’s phenomenal to me,” Harris said. “When you get here and we just pick a handful of topics that we all agree on and look for solutions to some of the roadblocks, we find common ground and make tremendous solutions.”
Harris pointed to the beef industry’s successful efforts over the past several decades to improve consumer confidence and demand as an example of what can be accomplished when the industry works together.
“I look back 40 years when this industry turned itself around,” Harris said. “We had a common theme that we were going to turn the beef industry’s consumer acceptance around, and today we’re all recipients of that effort.”
The Common Ground Coalition was launched following a historic summit in Denver, Colorado, and is now hosting regional meetings across the country to identify shared priorities and develop producer-driven solutions.
Harris believes the coalition’s approach of focusing on a handful of major issues could help create meaningful progress for livestock producers and rural communities.
“As we work on issues that we all agree on, we’re going to make tremendous strides,” he said. “As we take them back to our groups and associations and create the conversation, I think it’s going to be a win for everybody.”
A recurring theme throughout the Omaha meeting was ensuring future generations have opportunities to remain involved in agriculture.
“We’re talking about multi-generational operations,” Harris said. “More times than not, people have talked about the number of grandchildren and children back at home. That’s kind of why you do this.”
For Harris, the mission is personal. Between his family and his siblings, there are 22 grandchildren, with nine under the age of nine.
“That’s kind of why I’m here,” he said. “It’s a great time to be in the beef industry and the best time to make some positive changes.”
As the coalition continues to expand its grassroots efforts, Harris said the industry has an opportunity to capitalize on today’s positive market conditions and build a stronger future for the next generation of producers.
“It’s always about setting the next generation up for success,” he said.
The Common Ground Coalition will continue its regional meeting series later this summer with events planned in Nashville, Tennessee, and Fort Worth, Texas. Producers interested in learning more or getting involved can visit CommonGroundCoalition.net.
Source: Western Ag Network
