For Immediate Release August 22, 2006
For Information:  Burt Rutherford(800) 299-8232 or james@tcfa.org

Cattle Feeders Prepare for TCFA Annual Convention In Amarillo

Cattlemen from throughout cattle feeding country of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, and beyond, are preparing for the 2006 Annual Convention of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA).  The convention will be Oct. 11-13 at the Amarillo Civic Center.

This year, TCFA and the Texasand Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will meet jointly as TSCRA convenes for its quarterly board and committee meetings.  Members of both associations will meet jointly in two general sessions and TSCRA members will break for committee meetings on Oct. 12, which are open to TCFA members.  In addition, members of the Texas CattleWomen will hold their annual convention Oct. 13-15 in Amarillo. 

A strong group of topics await cattlemen and women.  TCFA Chairman John Gillcrist and TSCRA President Dick Sherron will recap the year and Cattlemen's Beef Board Chairman Jay O'Brien will look ahead to the checkoff's future.  To help cattlemen understand consumer wants and needs, John Zogby, president and CEO of Zogby International and Rick Husted, executive director of research for NCBA, will share what they've learned as they work to understand consumer buying habits. 

The second General Session will help cattlemen focus on markets.  Randy Blach, Cattle-Fax executive vice president, will look at what's happening in the cattle market.  On the international front, Clayton Yeutter, former USDA secretary and U.S. trade representative, will explore beef's potential in global economic and trade issues. 

However, cattle feeders won't spend all their time in educational sessions.  The TCFA Beef-PAC Auction offers a wide array of items for that hard-to-buy-for person. The Cattle Feeders Get Together, long a popular part of the TCFA Convention, offers a chance to catch up with friends.  In addition, a golf tournament plus a trap and skeet tournament give cattlemen a chance to enjoy their stay in Amarillo. 

For registration information, log on to www.tcfa.org, e-mail TCFA at info@tcfa.org or call (806) 358-3681.