March 15, 2005- Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska

ICON and R-CALF have announced an informational meeting to be held at Fullerton, NE on April 17, 2005. The meeting will be at 2:30PM Central time at the St. Peter's Catholic Church.

Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) and Rancher Cattlemen's Action Legal Fund
United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) and visit with ranchers and farmers about current industry issues. ICON Board Members will be on hand to discuss
what the newly-formed organization stands for and the issues of import in agriculture today.

ICON's Chris Abbott will speak, as will Dave Wright, Board Member from Neligh, NE.
Wright currently serves on the Nebraska Beef Check-Off Council. Korley Sears, who
is also on the ICON board, is also slated to attend. Koley's family owns and operates
Ainsworth Feedyard in Ainsworth. Also Al Davis and Bob Rothwell, board members and
ranchers from Hyannis may be in attendance. Dave, Al, and Bob have all served on
Congressman Tom Osborne's Advisory Council.

Issues to be discussed are the current happenings with the Canadian
border staying closed to importation of live Canadian cattle; Packer
ban on ownership of cattle (where we stand with the Pickett\Tyson
legal battle); Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL); and
International Free Trade Agreements, the Central American Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA), which is presently being implemented as a new trade
area.

For more information, contact ICON 308-282-2826