AUGUST 31, 2023:
A Fort Pierre business and business owner have been recognized for their work advocating for cattle producers and the cattle industry.
During its annual convention last week (Aug. 17-18, 2023) in Rapid City, R-CALF USA presented its Top Membership Recruiter Award to Fort Pierre Livestock Auction and a Legacy Award to Dennis Hanson.
When asked about the awards, a spokesperson for R-CALF provided DRG Media Group with the following descriptions.
“Our membership is what holds our organization together, if it wasn’t for our members, we wouldn’t have the strength and the fire we do. It’s always important to grow our organization, so the R-CALF USA Top Membership Recruiter Award goes to a business who has shown extraordinary dedication to helping our organization build our membership over the years. The 2023 Top Membership Recruiter Award goes to Fort Pierre Livestock Auction.”
“The R-CALF USA Legacy Award is awarded to an individual that has shown incredible dedication to R-CALF USA and to the cattle industry. They are someone who has held the line and someone whose support for R-CALF and reforms has remained strong. What they have created is a long-lasting impact on the American cattle industry that will be passed on for generations to come. This year’s legacy award goes to Dennis Hanson.”
AUGUST 3, 2023:
On August 17 and 18, 2023, hundreds of cattle producers from across the country will gather at The Monument, in Rapid City for R-CALF USA’s 24th Annual National Convention and Trade Show, themed “American Spirit.”
The educational event, which is open to the public, serves as a focal point for cattle and sheep producers, researchers, journalists, policymakers, and consumers to convene and share insights towards restoring America’s food security in the United States cattle and sheep industries.
“There is something empowering about gathering with producers that are like-minded and experiencing similar industry struggles, and that are ready and willing to become involved in improving their industries,” said Marketing Director Jaiden Moreland.
On Wednesday afternoon Aug. 16, pre-convention activities will kick off with committee and policy development meetings and an affiliate council meeting. Wednesday evening will host a welcome reception with appetizers, drinks, early registration, trade show access, and presentations from the reception’s sponsors Farmers Business Network and Boehringer Ingelheim.
On Thursday, Aug. 17, following a convention welcome and prayer breakfast, attendees will hear from: U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY); U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux; No Rancher Left Behind campaign leader and rancher advocate, Coy Young; antitrust attorney on R-CALF USA’s lawsuit against the Big 4 packers, Daniel Herrera; trade expert, Charles Benoit; expert on the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Tracy Hunt; and a sheep industry panel featuring American sheep producers Bill Kluck, Carson Jorgensen, and John Espil.
Thursday will conclude with a dinner and social featuring cowboy poetry and musical entertainment by Colin Wood, of Newell, South Dakota.
Speakers on Friday, Aug. 18, will include property rights advocate, Angel Cushing; monopoly power and market concentration expert, Claire Kelloway; U.S./Mexico border rancher, Erica Valdez; large animal veterinarian, Dr. Lora Bledsoe; members of the R-CALF USA Board of Directors; and R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.
Friday afternoon will end with the annual business meeting where current R-CALF USA members present and vote on organization policy.
Friday’s evening banquet will include the annual saddle raffle drawing, a live auction fundraiser, and the keynote address, “The Global War on Farming: Control the Food, Control the People,” given by Dutch farmers’ advocate and internationally renowned political commentator, Eva Vlaardingerbroek, of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Moreland said that convention pre-registration ends on Tuesday, Aug. 1. She also encourages attendees to reserve hotel rooms as the R-CALF USA hotel room blocks are quickly filling up.
For more information on the event, to view a full agenda, or to register, visit www.rcalfconvention.com.
JUNE 9, 2023:
R-CALF USA will host its 24th Annual National Convention and Trade Show “American Spirit” Aug. 17-18, 2023, at the Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota. Excited for another year of inciting producer engagement, the group looks forward to further developing strategies to improve the trajectory of the U.S. cattle industry.
Taking place at the foot of the Black Hills not far from Mount Rushmore, a symbol of American spirit itself, the group looks for the convention to embody the essence of that spirit. Feeding off the themes of freedom, patriotism, liberty, democracy, family and country, the event will provide attendees with the tools to act and defend the American cattle industry against the impending threats they are facing.
Confirmed convention speakers include: Dutch farmer advocate and internationally known political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY), property rights advocate Angel Cushing, No Rancher Left Behind founder and rancher advocate Coy Young, World Trade Organization and Coalition for a Prosperous America trade expert Charles Benoit, Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef expert Tracy Hunt, monopoly power and market concentration expert Claire Kelloway, U.S./Mexico border rancher Erica Valdez, veterinarian Dr. Lora Bledsoe, R-CALF USA’s antitrust attorney Daniel Herrera, and R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. The event will also include panels featuring sheep industry representatives and the R-CALF USA Board of Directors. More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Preconvention activities and meetings will kick off Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 16, with committee and policy development meetings and an affiliate council meeting. Wednesday evening will host a welcome reception with appetizers, drinks, and early registration and trade show access.
On Thursday, Aug. 17, presentations will follow a convention welcome and prayer breakfast by Max Thornsberry, DVM. The day will conclude with a social, dinner, drinks and entertainment. Attendees will have access to the trade show, silent auction and other activities.
Friday, Aug. 18, will open with the affiliate and trade show breakfast and the business meeting will conclude Friday afternoon activities. The keynote address will be given Friday evening by internationally renowned Eva Vlaardingerbroek from Amsterdam, Netherlands, discussing the Dutch farmer movement, the globalized effort to control the food supply and those who produce it, and how the Dutch fought back and won. A saddle raffle and a live auction fundraiser will follow.
An affiliate report and committee reports from the Animal Identification, Animal Health, Checkoff, Sheep, Marketing, Country of Origin Labeling and Private Property Rights Committees will be presented throughout the course of the convention.
The trade show will be open Thursday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with the different vendors throughout the convention and during the numerous dedicated trade show breaks.
Sponsor and trade show vendor spots are available. To view the agenda, find hotel accommodations, and register to attend or sponsor the event visit www.RCALFconvention.com.
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