For Immediate Release Contact: R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard Phone: 406-252-2516; r-calfusa@r-calfusa.com

Billings, Mont. – National cattle trade association R-CALF USA prepares for its upcoming 19th Annual Convention to be held Aug. 24-25, 2018, at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota. This year’s convention theme is “Against All Odds” because R-CALF USA has gained the respect of Congress, the Administration, and the public for being an organization that will effectively fight – without hesitation – for what our members stand for – Against All Odds.

R-CALF USA was formed 20 years ago to prevent the meatpacking cartel from capturing and controlling the live cattle supply chain, just as they have already captured and now control the poultry and hog supply chains. “The fact that cattle producers still have a cash market in which to sell their cattle is testimony to our success” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.

This year’s keynote speaker is Protect The Harvest’s Dave Duquette. Duquette is the national strategic planner for Protect The Harvest, a group that made national headlines when President Trump recently pardoned Dwight and Steven Hammond. Fox News Tomi Lahren, a country-of-origin labeling (COOL) supporter, will make a video presentation exclusively for R-CALF USA members at the convention. Lahren recently called on President Trump to restore Cool to help American cattle ranchers and farmers on her popular segment, “Final Thoughts.”

Attendees will learn from top industry experts about the issues that impact their cattle business. Michael Stumo, CEO for the Coalition for a Prosperous America will discuss trade reforms and tariffs. Law and taxation expert Roger McEowen from Washburn University School of Law in Kansas will explain the new tax law and it’s impacts on cattle farmers and ranchers. Dr. Diana Moss, president of the American Antitrust Institute, will discuss possible ways to stop the meatpacking cartel’s anticompetitive and antitrust conduct. Jean Halloran from the Consumers Union will report on their support for COOL and their work to improve food safety and address antibiotic as well as other drug residues in meat. Consumers Union is the publisher of Consumer Reports. David Muraskin, a Food Safety and Health Attorney at Public Justice who represents R-CALF USA in both the group’s successful beef checkoff program and its country of origin labeling lawsuit will give a presentation.

A panel of auction yard owners and managers will discuss livestock cattle markets, competition and animal health issues. The panel will be hosted by Dr. Max Thornsberry, a veterinarian and rancher from Missouri, and former president of R-CALF USA. The panel includes R-CALF USA President Bryan Hanson, Fort Pierre Livestock Auction from South Dakota; Greg Arendt, Valentine Livestock Auction from Nebraska, and R-CALF USA Region VI Director Kyle Hemmert, Oakley Livestock Commission Company from Kansas.

Private property rights defender Wayne N. Hage from Nevada will tell the amazing story of his decades- long fight to save his family’s ranch. Wyoming rancher and attorney Tracy Hunt will share his extensive research on the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which he says is an all-out effort by multinational corporations and organizations to control how cattle producers raise and sell cattle. Australian cattle rancher and representative of the Australian Beef Association, Brad Bellinger, will report on COOL becoming mandatory in Australia as of July 1.

The group is expecting hundreds of farmers and ranchers from more than 20 states to attend this year’s annual meeting in Rapid City. Again, Range Allotment Owners will host “Property Rights Day” the day before the convention on Thurs., Aug. 23, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Best Western Ramkota.

To pre-register and for more information about the R-CALF USA convention, visit www.RcalfConvention.com, or call 406-252-2516.