For Immediate Release                                                                                                                             Oct. 25, 2003  

For Information, contact Burt Rutherford

 TCFA IS AN ISSUES-ORIENTED ASSOCIATION, KEELING TELLS CATTLE FEEDERS  

            Cattle feeders have addressed their share of issues in the past year, according to Scott Keeling, chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), headquartered in Amarillo .  Cattle feeders are still searching for solutions to many of those issues.  Others will crop up to challenge cattlemen. 

            Speaking at the 2003 TCFA Annual Convention in Amarillo , Keeling promised that TCFA, just as it always has, will take on the tough issues confronting the cattle industry and work for solutions that allow cattlemen to remain competitive in a changing cattle market.

            "Not only is it good for your Association to tackle tough issues head on, it's essential," Keeling said during his Chairman's Address.  "There's nothing wrong with contentious issues, as long as we're all working toward progress and making decisions for the good of the industry."

            Keeling likened TCFA to other organizations.  "Many of the people who make up TCFA are involved as community leaders," he said.  "And really, TCFA is no different that your church or school board or Chamber of Commerce.  If everyone thought the same way, we would stagnate. There certainly would be no improvement and eventually, we'd simply become irrelevant, useless to those we're supposed to serve because we're unable to accept or discuss differing opinions."

However, Keeling assured the nearly 600 people attending the TCFA Convention that TCFA is in no danger of falling into that trap.  "Looking back on my years in leadership roles, the people who represent you on the Board and committees are more than willing to engage in spirited debate.  I find that encouraging." 

            Keeling said in the three years that he has been in the TCFA officer rotation, the staff has doubled the amount of time it spends in Austin and Washington, fighting on behalf of cattle feeders.  Staff time has doubled in other areas as well, including the highly critical issues of environmental stewardship and quality assurance, as TCFA has offered new and innovative services designed to keep cattle feeders ahead of the curve in an industry that has seen its share of winding roads. 

Keeling said he first got involved in cattle feeding 22 years ago.  "Our business has changed in the 22 years that I've been involved.  TCFA has changed with it.  Our industry will continue to change in the years ahead.  And we can find assurance that TCFA will continue to change to meet the needs of a dynamic group of people." 

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