PRESS RELEASE
FROM: INDEPENDENT CATTLEMEN OF NEBRASKA, Box 241, Hyannis, NE 69350
Phone: 308-282-2826
Media Contact: Terry Rothwell, trothwell@nebnet.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 18, 2007
ICON Board Members
with Senator Chuck Hagel - RCALF Stampede
in Washington, DC, February, 2007
(L to R: Louis Day, Michael
Falatico, Jim Hanna, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Chris Abbott, Katie Meyer, and
Bob Rothwell)
ICON Travels to Washington for RCALF Stampede
Hyannis, NE
Scores of independent U. S. Cattle producers from all over the nation
traveled to the nations capitol to participate in R-CALF USAs
Washington Stampede, a two-day outreach effort on Capitol Hill that
has become an annual event.
The Nebraska delegation of Independent Cattlemen directors and members
flew into Ronald Reagan National Airport on Monday, February 12th prepared
to meet with Nebraska representatives and U. S. government officials
on many important issues concerning independent producers.
Ranchers Chris Abbott, Jim Hanna, Bob Rothwell, Michael Falotico, Louie
Day and Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture student, Katie Meyer,
met up with other State affiliate groups from across the nation upon
arrival.
Jess Peterson, R-CALF Director of Government Relations provided the
welcome mat while Executive Director, Bill Bullard spoke to the group
on the importance of their participation in the legislative process.
The ICON group met with Senators Chuck Hagel and Ben Nelson the next
morning and Congressmen Terry, Fortenberry and Smith after lunch. Long
term issues of R-CALF and ICON were presented and discussed with each
representative. Country of Origin Labeling, beef export markets and
distribution of Checkoff funds were priority topics.
Implementing Country of Origin Labeling as it was mandated in
the 2002 Farm Bill was again requested of our representatives in Washington.
ICON president, Chris Abbott said. It was put into law with the
2002 Farm Bill and has been repeatedly stalled with back-door tactics.
Now is the time for Nebraska to step up and demand that the labeling
law be enforced.
We know where our T-shirts come from but we dont know where
our T-bones come from., was the mantra for dozens of cattlemen
tromping from one office building to another.
This did not make an impression with Secretary of Agriculture, Mike
Johanns, who has historically opposed Country of Origin labeling. Meeting
with R-CALF members on Wednesday afternoon, Sec. Johanns reiterated
his personal opposition to COOL but assured cattle producers that he
would enforce the law if it was implemented.
Meetings were held with other USDA agency officials throughout the rest
of the day on Wednesday, with the group carrying the message for Americas
cattle producers, before they returned home and back to work on the
ranches they came from.
The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska is a non-profit group working
to represent independent cattle producers, without the influence of
other industry sectors, while securing a viable livelihood for present
and future generations.