02/01/08 Cattlemen's convention

Cattlemen from across the nation will be headed to Reno for next week's annual convention. National Cattlemen's Beef Association president John Queen says the convention next Wednesday through Saturday gives every producer an opportunity to shape the industry's future. QUEEN "They have a right to attend those committee meetings. They have a right tot bring policy to those committee meetings. In the end it comes back to that membership grass roots base out there in the country to be voted on." During Queen's three years as a top NCBA officer membership in that organization has grown from 24 thousand to more than 30 thousand members. QUEEN "All producers, small and large alike have finally realized that their voices are just as important as the next producer's voice. They have the same right to vote as he does so it matters not how large that producer is or how small he is." One thing Queen says he's learned is that people who make governmental decisions sometimes don't have the knowledge or background they should have. QUEEN "If we had the opportunity to take those people aside one at a time and educate them on the topic we're discussing that day in that hearing then I think out industry would certainly do a whole lot better." There's more information about the NCBA convention at the industry website, www.beefusa.org. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott