11/08/05 Washington Cattle convention

American Rancher November 8, 2005 The 80th Annual Convention and Trade Show of the Washington Cattlemen's Association and the Washington CattleWomen's Association gets underway this week on Thursday in Chelan, Washington. Beef producers from the northwest are invited to attend the event which runs through Saturday at Campbell's Resort in Chelan. Jack Field, WCA executive vice president, says one highlite of the convention is a panel Friday morning featuring the founder of R-CALF, the president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the president and the vice president of the Washington Cattlemen. Field: "It will be the only opportunity that cattlemen in Washington state have to see this type of venue with R-CALF, the WCA and the NCBA all on the same stage answering the same questions." That panel will not be discussing the Canadian border issue, which the industry has kicked around enough, but will focus on other key issues such as ESA, estate tax, Public Lands issues, livestock ID and the future of the industry. Prior to that on Thursday, there will be a Livestock ID/ Trade and Marketing panel discussion. Panelists will include someone from McDonald's the U.S. Meat Export Federation and Agri Beef. The convention begins Thursday with the Pfizer Cattlemen's College with discussion of animal health issues and pasture management and fall fertilization of grasses. The convention trade show will feature over 30 vendors. I'm Bob Hoff.