01/09/2006

R-CALF - 7th Annual Convention:“Guardians of the Next Generation”

Tentative Agenda and Registration Information

(Billings, Mont.) –  USA’s 7th Annual Convention is slated for January 19-21, 2006, at the DoubleTree Hotel Denver, 3203 Quebec Street, in Denver, and the theme is “Guardians of the Next Generation.” To make a room reservation, call 303-329-5237. Vacancies are dwindling quickly, so call soon.

R-CALF USA will comp media registration and meals, provided you pre-register with R-CALF USA Communications Coordinator Shae Dodson by 5 p.m. MST on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006. To register, contact Dodson at: 406-672-8969, or via e-mail, at: sdodson@r-calfusa.com. Meals available include: Thursday’s lunch; Friday’s breakfast, lunch and banquet dinner; and Saturday’s lunch.

Tickets to the National Western Stock Show event on Thursday evening are $12 each and are available at the R-CALF USA Convention Registration Desk in the hotel.

Upon arrival, please stop by the R-CALF USA desk in the hallway to pick up a media registration packet.

A tentative agenda follows:

Thursday, January 19, 2006

7:00 a.m. Trade Show opens

Registration opens

Membership Committee Meeting: Judie Manuel and Margene Eiguren, Nat’l. Co-Chairs

8:00 a.m. Convention Welcome by Max Thornsberry, DVM – Convention Chair, R-CALF USA Region VI Director and Vice President-Elect
National Anthem
Pledge of Allegiance
Welcome to Colorado by the Honorable Jim Isgar, Chair of the Colorado State Senate Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
The History of R-CALF USA: Tom Hinthorne, PhD – MSU-Billings Professor of Management, Patricia Holman – MSU-Billings Marketing Instructor, and Herman Schumacher, R-CALF USA Co-Founder and Region III Director

8:45 a.m. Convention rules: Dr. Max Thornsberry

9:00 a.m. Transition of the Presidency: R-CALF USA President, Co-Founder and Region I Director Leo McDonnell

9:15 a.m. Transition of the Vice Presidency: R-CALF USA Vice President, Co-Founder and Region II Director Kathleen S. Kelley

9:30 a.m. CEO / Treasure’s Report: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard

10:00 a.m. Affiliate Council Report: R-CALF USA President-Elect and Region V Director Chuck Kiker
Membership Committee Report: R-CALF USA National Membership Co-Chairs Judie Manuel and Margene Eiguren
CCMP Committee Report: Jay Miller, Chair
Cattlemen’s Journal USA: Matt Lane, Publisher

10:30 a.m. Morning Break and Trade Show

11:00 a.m. Keynote Address: “Trade Challenges and Opportunities Facing U.S. Cattle Producers”
Terry Stewart, Esq., Stewart and Stewart LLC, Washington D.C.

Noon Luncheon

Report on CAFTA Trip to Central America:
R-CALF USA Vice President-Elect and Region VI Director Max Thornsberry, DVM
R-CALF USA International Trade Committee Co-Chair Dennis McDonald
R-CALF USA Mississippi Membership Chair Joel Gill
Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association President Doug Zalesky

1:30 p.m. Export Developments and Opportunities: U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phil Seng

2:15 p.m. Homeland Security Issues

3:00 p.m. Afternoon Break and Trade Show

3:30 p.m. Opening Remarks and Committee Report:

R-CALF USA International Trade Committee Co-Chair Dennis McDonald

3:45 p.m. “Making Trade Work” Panel Discussion: R-CALF USA International Trade Committee Co-Chair Brett DeBruycker Roger Johnson, North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, NASDA Trade Policy
Athol Economou, Australian Beef Association Treasurer and Director
Sugar industry representative (invited)

4:45 p.m. Policy Development
Marketing Committee
Animal ID Committee

5:30 p.m. Trade Show, Silent Auction, and Cowboy Social

6:00 p.m. Depart for the National Western Rodeo

7:00 p.m. National Western Rodeo

Friday, January 20, 2006

7:00 a.m. Trade Show Opens

Registration Opens

8:00 a.m. COOL Committee Report: R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Danni Beer
Economic Evaluation of COOL: John VanSickle, PhD – University of Florida
Updated COOL Study: Jennifer Blakely, University of Tennessee Graduate Economics Program
Review of Preliminary Rules and Problematic Areas: R-CALF Region I Director Leo McDonnell

9:00 a.m. National Animal ID Committee Report:
R-CALF USA Animal ID Committee Chair Richard Bowman, DVM
“Differing Perspectives on Animal ID” Panel Discussion
Moderator: Richard Bowman, DVM
Athol Economou, Australian Beef Association Treasurer and Director
Kansas Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director Doran Junek
Susan Keller, DVM and North Dakota State Veterinarian
USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services NAIS Coordinator Neil Hammerschmidt
Canadian Animal ID program representative (invited)

10:30 a.m. Morning Break and Trade Show

11:00 a.m. 2007 Farm Bill Overview: John VanSickle, PhD – University of Florida
House and Senate Staffers (invited)
Elizabeth Drake, Stewart and Stewart LLC, Washington D.C.
Legal and Legislative Update: R-CALF USA Director of Government Relations Jess Peterson

Noon Luncheon Keynote Speaker: William Hawks, Ag Works Solutions CEO and Former USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

1:30 p.m. Marketing Committee Report: R-CALF USA Marketing Committee Co-Chair Randy Stevenson

1:45 p.m. Marketing Panel Discussion
Moderator: R-CALF USA Marketing Committee Co-Chair Randy Stevenson
Captive Supply Reform: Robert Taylor, PhD – Auburn University
Packer and Stockyards Update on Market Concentration Study
Competition Chapter, Farm Bill
Lamb Prices and the Impacts of Concentration: Tom McDonnell, ASIA

3:00 p.m. Afternoon Break and Trade Show

3:30 p.m. Policy Development
International Trade Committee
Beef Checkoff Committee

5:00 p.m. Trade Show, Silent Auction, and Cowboy Social

7:00 p.m. Banquet and Awards Presentation
Master of Ceremonies: Rick Haines, Northern Ag Network and Past President of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters
Entertainment: Ringling 5

Saturday, January 21, 2006

8:00 a.m. Animal Health/BSE Committee Report and Panel Discussion:
Dr. Max Thornsberry, Chair
Legal and Legislative Update: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard

9:30 a.m. Age Verification in Cattle and Beef for Export: USDA-AMS’ Barry Carpenter (invited)

10:15 a.m. Staff Reports
Communications: R-CALF USA Communications Coordinator Shae Dodson
Special projects: R-CALF USA Administrative Assistant Candace Bullard
Field Coordination and Fund-raising: R-CALF USA Field Coordinator Natasha Bentz
New Efforts in the Southeast: R-CALF USA Southeastern Field Coordinator John West
Membership Services: R-CALF USA Membership Services Coordinator Jenni Ries

10:45 a.m. Final Policy and Bylaws Adoption
Regional Director Nominations and Introduction of Candidates

Noon Luncheon U.S. Rep. John T. Salazar, D-Colo. (invited)

1:30 p.m. Reconvene if necessary.