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PRESS RELEASE

FROM: INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA, Box 241, Hyannis, NE 69350 Phone: 308-282-2826

Media Contact: Mary Mulligan (402) 967-3464; Email: hollopeter@gpcom.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 9, 2006

BEEF MONTH OFF TO A GOOD START

(Hyannis, NE) The Independent Cattlemen of NE and R-CALF USA last week raised over $13,000 during the first week of scheduled events for May. Chris Abbott and Bob Rothwell, representing the Independent Cattlemen, along with new Regional Board member, John O'Dea teamed up with industry leaders including Jess Peterson, R-CALF's Washington D.C. lobbyist; Ken Knuppe, past president of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Assoc.; and Pam Potthoff, president of the national WIFE, to deliver a powerful message about the need for producer involvement in agricultural policy.


The speakers addressed auction crowds at Tri-State Livestock in McCook, Platte Valley Livestock in Gering, Ogallala Livestock, and Sheridan Livestock in Rushville.


Said Bob Smith, a ranch-hand in attendance at the McCook event, "It amazes me that 11 million illegal immigrants can band together and protest in this country although they have nothing, while hundreds of thousands of American cattle producers can not stand together for what they do have."


A share of the fund-raiser proceeds will be placed into a rancher-to-rancher relief fund to be forwarded to producers in Texas who have been hit by fire on top of drought.

Stayton Weldon, a producer from Cuero, TX, was on hand during the early part of the week to relay the situation in Texas. Weldon said, "I called Chris (Abbott) trying to find some hay. He immediately lined up four loads to be sent to Texas producers in the form of hay relief. I figured if a man would go to this much trouble to help us out, the least I can do is show up there and help with the fundraising."


O'Dea thought that the first week of Beef Month went well. Said O'Dea, "It showed the importance of our issues and our message through the way local producers and agri-businesses supported some of our own."

INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA

"Solid as a windmill. Always working for the independent producer."



For more information on R-CALF USA or ICON, visit www.r-calfusa.com or www.independentcattlemen.com or call (308) 282-2826.