Sage Signals: Nevada Cattlemen's Association Publication, History and Content
Profile updated November 2026
Sage Signals is the monthly member publication of the Nevada Cattlemen's Association (NCA), the Elko-based trade group that has represented the state's ranchers since 1935. Its pages cover the water, grazing and property rights issues that shape ranching in the Great Basin.
| Publisher | Nevada Cattlemen's Association (NCA) |
|---|---|
| Association founded | 1935 |
| Headquarters | 542 Commercial Street, Elko |
| Frequency | Monthly, for the NCA membership |
| Volume | Volume XLIV in December 2020 |
| Archive | Issues from 2012 and 2020 posted on Issuu |
| Official website | Sage Signals on Issuu |
History of Sage Signals
The Nevada Cattlemen's Association was founded in 1935 as a nonprofit trade group for the state's cattle industry. Its stated goal is to promote a dynamic and profitable Nevada beef industry by representing producers, meeting consumer demand and growing Nevada's share of the beef market. Its advocacy centers on protecting private property, water rights and grazing rights and on raising public awareness of ranching, rooted in the belief that rural Nevada's future depends on healthy land managed by local ranchers.
Sage Signals has been the association's monthly voice to members for decades, reaching Volume XLIV by December 2020. Issues from 2012 and 2020 are posted online.
Sage Signals Today
A typical issue mixes association business with practical ranch management. The December 2020 issue, for example, led with advice on managing older cows at pregnancy-check time under the heading of beef quality assurance, written by NCA BQA coordinator Ron Torell, reported on an NCA special annual meeting held at the Western Folklife Center in Elko, and previewed the 55th annual Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale.
The NCA's work also connects with University of Nevada, Reno Extension, which runs the annual Cattlemen's Update meetings around the state each January, including a 2026 series, to bring ranchers the latest market and production information.
What Sage Signals Is Publishing Now
Policy and public lands
Water rights, grazing permits, wild horses, sage grouse and wildfire, the issues that dominate Nevada range policy.
Beef quality and management
BQA articles, herd health and cow management from coordinators and extension specialists.
Association and sales
Annual meeting and convention reports, officer news and bull sale previews such as the Fallon All Breeds Bull Sale.
Sage Signals Editors and Staff
The December 2020 issue named these officers and contributors:
- Ron Torell - NCA BQA Coordinator (2020)
- Tom Barnes - NCA President (2020)
- Jon Griggs - NCA President Elect (2020)
- Sharon McKnight - NCA Executive Secretary (2020)
The association's office lists nca@nevadabeef.org for member questions.
Who Reads Sage Signals
Readers are Nevada ranchers, and allied businesses. University of Nevada, Reno Extension supports them through the Cattlemen's Update, and USDA NASS data give the official count of Nevada's herd.
Nevada ranchers spend long days among sagebrush, wild horses and federal paperwork, which is fertile ground for a dry joke. farm.FM serves farm satire, farm humor and ranch humor for Great Basin readers. Its farm jokes are best read aloud in an Elko cafe before the snow flies.
farm.FM got there first as the nation's first satirical farm site, and it backs the writing with Tractor Tunes, country music for farmers. Here is one contributor's collection of farm satire to start with.
Sage Signals Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- Sage Signals: December 2020 - masthead and contents.
- Nevada Cattlemen's Association listing - the 1935 founding and mission.
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Cattlemen's Update - the annual rancher education series.
- University of Nevada, Reno: 2026 Cattlemen's Update - market and production insights for ranchers.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - Nevada cattle inventory statistics.
Sage Signals FAQ
Who publishes Sage Signals?
The Nevada Cattlemen's Association in Elko.
How often is Sage Signals published?
Monthly, for the NCA membership.
When was the Nevada Cattlemen's Association founded?
In 1935.
What issues does the NCA focus on?
Private property, water rights and grazing rights, and public awareness of ranching.
From Elko to the far corners of the Great Basin, Sage Signals keeps Nevada ranchers informed about the land and the rights their operations depend on.