International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation - News

Experts Weigh in on Global Beef Demand

NCBA — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

ILC USA Theme Focuses on Global Consumer Demands for Beef

NCBA — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Global Beef Opportunities – Blazing New Trails
ILC USA Theme Focuses on Global Consumer Demands for Beef

International Livestock Congress-USA 2008 January 15, 2008
Denver, Colorado

The 2008 International Livestock Congress-USA, will be held Jan. 15 in Denver, Colo., and is funded in part by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation. The International Livestock Congress (ILC) events, produced in cooperation with the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF) and the National Western Stock Show, focus on providing solutions to US beef producers.

This year’s event will address global consumer demands, which continue to evolve, placing new perspectives, requirements and procedures on the US beef producer.

The ISEF works to partner with established livestock events or organizations in furthering its mission to build global beef networks and focus on the emerging issues and challenges facing the beef industry from an international perspective. These networks are developed with ISEF support and endorsement of International Livestock Congress (ILC) events.

Established in 1906, the National Western Stock Show is recognized as the premier livestock show in the United States and has attracted more than 3000 international visitors from 44 countries in the past seven years. It formed the National Western International Agribusiness Center in 1981 to address the growing international interest in the show.

“Producers want to know what the beef consumer is demanding in the food service and retail outlet today, what is the definition of quality beef and what is the long-term beef consumer/demand outlook,” said Clint Peck, program committee co-chairman. Peck also serves as a director of Montana Beef Quality Assurance, Montana State University.

“As I meet with the beef buyers around the world, the discussion frequently focuses on consumer demands within their country, along with their individual governmental requirements and their need to satisfy these demands,” added program committee co-chairman Mark Gustafson, who also serves as the vice president of international sales for JBS Swift & Company in Greeley, Colo.

The 2008 ILC-USA will address these issues by featuring a Global Consumer Demand Panel of international beef industry experts covering Asia/Oceania, Europe/Middle East and North America. Followed by a panel of international experts from Australia, South American and North America discussing how they are producing for the global market.

“An overview of other relevant issues such as the impact of biofuels/ethanol, supply chain management, global traceability, branded programs, other protein challenges, quality system assessment (QSAs) and country of origin labeling (COOL) will provide the attendees with solid quantifiable information to take back to the ranch,” said Peck.

In addition, conference attendees will be offered a selection of area tours 1) the JBS Swift & Company plant and Five Rivers Cattle Ranch Feeding LLC operation, or 2) the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) headquarters for the latest new product concepts, a major retail grocery chain distribution center and state-of-the-art retail market.

Another element of the ILC-USA is the Student Travel Fellowship Program, presented by the ISEF. The program allows 25 students from nine countries to take part in the program and a career workshop concentrating on their futures in the industry. The ISEF focuses on cultivating and encouraging future thought leaders of the industry by providing an interactive real-world environment and experience to senior or graduate-level students from universities around the world through the fellowship program.

The ILC-USA 2008 will be held at Renaissance Denver Hotel, 3801 Quebec Street, 303-399-7500. A special room rate of $87 has been secured for conference attendees who specify ILC-USA. The cost of registration is $150 through December 14, and $175 thereafter. Students may attend for $100. Registration includes the conference, grounds admission to the National Western, and all January 15 activities, including a beef tasting experience. For schedule and registration information, visit www.theisef.com or call 303-777-5662.

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The International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF) was created in 1986 as a 501 © (3) corporation/foundation.

The purpose of the Foundation is to conduct and support educational events that will benefit stockmen internationally; and to foster and support other programs of education that will contribute toward broader and more effective science and technology in the practice of animal agriculture—for the benefit of stockmen worldwide.

International Livestock Congress Attracts Record Audience

NCBA — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the heaviest snowfalls in a decade and threats of more to Denver, the 2007 version of the International Livestock Congress, held during the National Western Stock Show January 9, attracted a record attendance of 252 registered guests from seven countries and 25 states across the United States. Chaired by Dr. John Paterson of Montana State University, the program featured a morning conference session, followed by afternoon "back to school" sessions that offered a more interactive environment. While an on-line survey evaluation is currently underway, early returns indicate that the morning "Packer Panel" featuring representatives from Tyson, Cargill, Swift and Coleman Natural Foods, as well as the response panel, was very favorably received by those attendance, as were sessions on animal identification and certification.

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Stock show has acquired strong international flavor

Associated Press

Ranchers brave snow, ice to attend National Western Stock Show

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ILC 2007: "Thinking Beyond the Fence"

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National Cattlemen's Foundation Awards Grant to ILC-USA

NCBA — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Foundation agrees to two years of support for International Livestock Congress

(Fort Worth, TX) – The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF) has awarded an annual grant of $15,000 to the International Livestock Congress – USA, hosted by the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) International Committee and the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF). The gift will apply to the 2007 and 2008 NWSS International Livestock Congress event.
“The trustees of the Foundation have been familiar with the International Livestock Congress for some time,” said NCF Chairman Bob Josserand, “ and with its focus now directed to providing information of a practical nature to the producer, the Foundation finds the ILC-USA a deserving recipient of this funding.”

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation serves the beef cattle industry with its mission of promoting the future of the industry through research and educational activities that help to provide the public with a wholesome and economical supply of beef.

“This gift is significant to our efforts to produce a truly memorable and valuable event for those who come to the International Livestock Congress,” said Skylar Houston, NWSS international committee chairman. “The Livestock Congress is a major addition to the programming being offered by the National Western and will be one that cattlemen around the world will have an interest in attending.”

The ILC-USA will take place during the NWSS, Tuesday, January 9, 2007, with the program focusing on information designed to educate the producer about the direct impact of global beef issues to their local market and management practices.

Also offered during the ILC-USA is the ISEF Student Travel Fellowship Program. The ISEF focuses on cultivating and encouraging future thought leaders of the industry by providing an interactive “real world” environment and experience to senior or graduate level students from universities around the world through the fellowship program. Applications will be accepted through October 1 and can be obtained by downloading here or by emailing Julie Bryant .

The International Livestock Congress is supported and funded by the International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF) in the United States and Canada, with plans for future global expansion. For more information about the ISEF and its programs, go to ww.theisef.com. Organizations interested in supporting the goal and mission of the Foundation are encouraged to contact ISEF Executive Director Julie Bryant at 817-443-0686 or by e-mail at julie@theisef.com.

Four Industry Leaders Named to ISEF Board of Directors

NCBA — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

(Fort Worth, TX) – The International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF) has named four global beef industry leaders to its Board of Directors, announced ISEF Chairman James O. Reagan, PhD.

Elected to serve a one-year term was Jim Butler, PhD, of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Mark Gustafson of Swift & Company of Greeley, Colo.

Elected to serve three-year terms were Mohammad Koohmaraie, Director of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., and Ross Wilson, Executive Vice President of Texas Cattle Feeders of Amarillo, Tex.

“The ISEF is fortunate to have a board of directors with a wealth of experience and knowledge of the global beef industry and these additions to the board only deepen that intellectual pool,” said Reagan. “We are looking forward to even greater growth in services to the industry as a result of these appointments.”

ISEF Directors will take on the task of advancing placement of International Livestock Congress events around the world, the expansion of the Student Travel Experience Program (STEP), as well as the development of an industry Issues Caucus.

Dr. Butler is Deputy Director General of Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in San Jose, Costa Rica. The Institutes purpose is to promote agriculture and rural development throughout the 34 countries within the Western Hemisphere. He is also serving as the interim Director of Agricultural Health and Food Safety Division. Prior to serving this capacity, he was the Deputy Undersecretary, Farm and Foreign Agriculture Service for the United States Department of Agriculture.

He was responsible for overseeing emerging international trade agreements, biotechnology issues, new and developing risk management issues, domestic agriculture support programs, implementing disaster payments, trade dispute resolution with particular emphasis to sanitary and phytosanitary areas.

Mark Gustafson is vice president of International Sales for Swift & Company in Greeley, Colo., the third-largest processor of beef and pork in the United States and the largest beef processor in Australia. He held the same position starting in 1995 with ConAgra Beef Company before CBC was joined in 2002 with ConAgra’s fresh pork division to form Swift & Company. Gustafson joined ConAgra from the U.S. Meat Export Federation, where he worked for 11 years, most recently as vice president of Technical Services and Research.

A graduate of the University of Wyoming with a degree in Animal Science, Gustafson began his career with Monfort, the forerunner of ConAgra Beef Company and Swift and Company, where he worked from 1977 through 1984 in production, production scheduling and international sales.

Gustafson has been active in the industry, serving on the Secretary of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection, on the Agriculture Trade Advisory Committee, and the International Trade Committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Dr. Koohmaraie received his B.S. degree in Animal Science from Pahlavi University in Iran. He received his M.S. degree from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. degree in Animal Science from Oregon State University. From 1984 to 1987, Dr. Koohmaraie was a postdoctoral fellow at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) of USDA-ARS and Michigan State University. In 1987, he joined the staff at USMARC as a Research Physiologist. In 1991, he became the Research Leader of the Meats Research Unit (MRU) at that location. During his career as a scientist and Research Leader of the MRU, he focused his research efforts on the biological mechanisms regulating meat tenderness as well as addressing food safety issues facing the meat industry.

As Director of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, he has the responsibility for directing research and operation of the Center. The Center employs 260 staff members, including 64 permanent and temporary scientists. The 2006 operating budget for USMARC is $23.8 million.

Ross Wilson is president & CEO of Texas Cattle Feeders Association, headquartered in Amarillo., where he is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Association, including supervising a staff of 18 and carrying out policy established by the TCFA Board of Directors.

Wilson has been active in several industry-related and civic organizations. He served as co-chairman of the Texas Agricultural Council, chairman of the Agricultural Advisory Committee to the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, as a member of both the Natural Resources Committee to the American Bar Association and the Council on Agricultural Research, Extension and Teaching for Texas A&M University. Wilson also serves on the Board of the Tri-State Fair and is a former Board member of the High Plains Food Bank and Leader for 4-H youth programs.

Prior to joining TCFA, Wilson served as a Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Congressman Jack Hightower of Texas and Executive Assistant for the Texas Wheat Producers Association.

For more information about the ISEF and its programs, go to ww.theisef.com. Organizations interested in supporting the goal and mission of the Foundation are encouraged to contact ISEF Executive Director Julie Bryant at 817-443-0686 or by e-mail at julie@theisef.com.

Stockmen’s Foundation to Produce Issues Caucus

NCBA — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Caucus to provide industry with corporate think tank environment

(Fort Worth, TX) – The International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation (ISEF), known for its unique International Livestock Congress events and Student Travel Fellowship program, is developing a new facet to its services with the development of an ISEF Issues Caucus.

According to ISEF Chairman James Reagan, PhD, this move is part of a long-term strategic plan implemented by the ISEF Board of Directors two years ago.

“The International Livestock Congress events we have produced in Houston and partnered on in Calgary have been very successful, but different, events,” he said. “While the ILC-USA, formerly held in Houston, had been a global think-tank format, the ILC-Calgary focused on providing information of a more practical nature to producers. We have found that our industry is hungry for more of that information and as a result, the Foundation is moving its think-tank concept to an issues caucus and modifying the ILC-USA to fit what our global expansion of International Livestock Congress events will be – similar to that of the ILC-Calgary.”

The ISEF Issues Caucus events will serve as a launching platform to the topics discussed during International Livestock Congress events around the world, Reagan explained.

“The ISEF prides itself on being able to stimulate an objective and open dialogue about the issues and challenges facing the beef industry,” said Reagan. “It’s something people in the industry come to expect from the ISEF, and now, with the change in the programming, that dialogue and the conclusions drawn from these discussions can be shared more effectively through the Livestock Congress events.”

A development Issues Caucus will be held August 22-24 and will include invited participants and the ISEF Board of Directors. Following that event, future dates and locations of ISEF Issues Caucus events will be announced.