Feeder Council Vice Chair Paul Cameron
Paul Cameron is the vice chair of the California Cattlemen’s Association’s Feeder Council. Paul resides in Brawley with his wife, Debbie, and their four children.
With a well-rounded background in agriculture he has been the president of Mesquite Cattle Feeders, Inc., since 1996, but has been involved in cattle feeding for 30 years. Mesquite is a 36,000-head custom feedlot located in the Imperial Valley.
Paul is also a sole proprietor of farming and custom tractor work companies growing sugar beets, alfalfa, wheat, Sudan grass, Bermuda and Kline grass. Paul is also a partner in a hay export company that exports to Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
Paul worked as a teen in both the farming operation, and at the feedlot for his father until eventually running the feedlot after his father’s passing.
Paul's father, Dan, founded Orita Land and Cattle Co. in 1950 along with Ed Rutherford. Orita operated until 1996 after Dan’s passing and became Mesquite Cattle Feeders, Inc. Paul was involved with the family farming operation after his graduation from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in ag business.
“I enjoy being involved and giving input into the issues that surround our industry,” Pauls says. “A substantial portion of the cattle numbers in California exist in California feedlots. Even though we are united in an industry with other sectors such as cow-calf, stocker, dairy, calf-raiser and packer operations, we each have different needs that are unique to each sector.”
Paul said the Feeder Council works on all issues that may affect the feedlot sector. For example, Feeder Council plays a part in the air quality study currently commissioned at the University of California, Davis, to study the VOC and GHG emissions of feedlot cattle.
In his spare time, Paul enjoys bird hunting in the Imperial Valley and Mexico with his sons boys, riding motorcycles in the local deserts and traveling with his wife.
Paul is a past chairman of the California Beef Council and spent many years on the executive committee. He is former Beef Board member, current member of the Coalition of Labor, Ag and Business for the Imperial Valley.
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