Event Preview
2012 convention offers camaraderie, fun, business and education to cattlemen.
This February, thousands of cattlemen from across the country will travel to Nashville, Tenn., for several days of education, networking, beef industry policymaking, fellowship and fun. The 114th annual Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, the oldest and largest convention for the cattle business, will be Feb. 1-4, 2012.
The convention includes joint and individual meetings by five industry organizations: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB), American National CattleWomen Inc. (ANCW), CattleFax and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF).
This website features Angus Productions Inc.'s online coverage site of the event. Visit our Newsroom before, during and after the conference for the latest news. Links to API coverage of past conferences are availalbe in the Archive.
Here are some quick links to further information available on NCBA's home page:
• Schedule
Now, for some highlights to this years conference.
Cattlemen’s College
One of the most popular educational venues of the conference is the Cattlemen’s College. This year's convention will feature the 19th annual Cattlemen’s College sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health Wed., Feb. 1. In addition, events at the Stockmanship and Stewardship Demonstration Area will be featured throughout the week for all convention participants.
The annual educational events focus on progressive ranching practices and this year will touch on many issues, including reproductive technology, beef safety strategies and value-added management practices.
CBB To Conduct Checkoff Business
The CBB administers the national Beef Checkoff Program, subject to USDA approval and in coordination with the Federation of State Beef Councils and Qualified State Beef Councils nationwide. During the convention, Beef Board members will review and evaluate checkoff-funded programs, including promotion, education, research and information programs to increase demand. National checkoff budget priorities for fiscal year 2013 — which starts Oct. 1, 2012 — will be determined at the meeting.
New Beef Board members, appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, will be seated at this meeting; and board members will vote on new 2012 officers and members of the Beef Board Executive Committee and the Beef Promotion Operating Committee. All producers are welcome to observe and participate in the decision-making process for the beef checkoff.
CattleWomen Meet
The ANCW offers many meetings, dinners, receptions and educational workshops, beginning a day before the convention.
Attendees at the Foundation Benefit Dinner Tuesday, Jan. 31, will hear about the adventures of Miss Rodeo America. The ANCW general membership meeting and presentation of the Outstanding CattleWoman of the Year award will be Wednesday, Feb. 1, and will kick off ANCW’s 60th anniversary year. An ANCW Collegiate CattleWomen Reception will also take place Wednesday night.
ANCW educational workshops are available on Thursday to offer insights on consumer and industry perspectives and how those affect the bottom line. The ANCW President’s Reception Thursday evening will allow for celebrating the 2012 kickoff at the Honky Tonk Party. For more details on ANCW events, click here.
NCBA Trade Show and Events
The NCBA Trade Show will be open
• 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1;
• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2; and
• 10 a.m.-5p.m. Friday, Feb. 3.
The trade show will include the NCBA-Political Education Fund (PEF) silent auction, the Stockmanship and Stewardship Corral with live cattle handling demonstrations throughout the week, and exhibits for all aspects of beef cattle production.
Other events in the NCBA Trade Show include a country music festival welcome reception on Wednesday, two lunches, a Tennessee wine-tasting reception; a biscuits ’n bluegrass break; and a beef, beer and bourbon crawl.
Business meetings include new member and first-timer orientation, federation forum, policy forum, regional caucus meetings, NCBA and CBB joint board of directors meeting and NCBA annual membership meeting. For more information about the NCBA Trade Show, click here.
Committee meetings
Joint committee, subcommittee, and NCBA policy committee meetings will take place Friday. All producers are welcome to attend and participate in decision-making; however, only committee members can vote. To become a member, contact your state cattlemen’s association or state beef council. For more information, click here.
CattleFax Annual Outlook Seminar
The beef industry is changing at a rapidly increasing pace, and the CattleFax Annual Outlook Seminar will help make sense of the many factors that are affecting cattle prices and the beef business. Market topics to be discussed include supply and demand factors, cattle and beef price outlook, ethanol production and grain prices, industry contraction and consolidation, long-term weather outlook, global beef market opportunities, industry profit outlook and future issues that can affect the industry. For more information, click here.
Youth Events
The NCBA has several youth contests that offer cash awards open to kids ages 9 through college age. Competitions include youth quiz bowl, public speaking, team marketing, and cattle judging.
The national Block & Bridle convention will be Jan. 31-Feb. 2 and will involve college students from across the nation.
The Youth Beef Industry Congress will be Feb. 2-4, and is a b-annual congress that gathers more than 200 youth, including the junior officers of beef breed associations and state youth cattlemen’s organizations. Students learn about leadership and industry issues.
For more information on youth events at this years convention, click here.
Featured Events
Two general sessions feature keynote speakers to inspire and entertain. The opening general session, titled “Lone Survivor,” will feature Marcus Luttrell, a Navy SEAL who will tell the harrowing story of four Navy SEALS who journeyed into the mountainous border of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Operation Redwing. Attendees at the second general session, “How to Stop the Partisan War that is Destroying America,” will hear from Bob Beckel, a liberal Democrat strategist, and Cal Thomas, a conservative columnist, as they inspire audiences to find the common ground in their own beliefs and put aside politics as usual.
The Best of Beef Breakfast will recognize the industry’s most talented producers and partners as they are recognized for outstanding service, dedication and commitment to the beef industry. The breakfast awards ceremony will be emceed by Kyle Bauer, from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting and KRFM Radio, and entertainment will be provided by Mike Snider and the Mike Snider String Band.
The Honky Tonk Party, in the middle of the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on the Delta Island, will close the 4.5-acre indoor garden and create the ultimate street party, with a variety of music stages, street entertainment, creative foods and libations.
The Cowboy’s Night at the Opry and Barn Dance will have an exclusive concert for cattlemen featuring Montgomery Gentry, Charley Pride, Little Jimmy Dickens, the Del McCoury Band, Eden’s Edge and comedian Henry Cho. After the Cowboy’s Night at the Opry concert, the Barn Dance will follow in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. For more information, click here.
Tours
An NCBA preconvention agricultural tour is available starting Monday evening, Jan. 30, and Tuesday, Jan. 31. The tour will include watching a live taping of RFD-TV Monday Night Live and dinner, touring the Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, the Stones River Battlefield National Park, the Jack Daniels Distillery and the Dye & Ray cattle operation, which feeds the distillery’s byproducts.
Other visitor tours include Discover Music City, the Battle of Franklin, Belle Meade Plantation — Plantation Culinary Tour, and BBQ & Honky Tonk Tour of Downtown.
For more information about the tours, click here.
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