Audio Interview:

December Convention Attracts Cattlemen from Around State: Kelsey

LINCOLN, NE - (Audio with Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of the Nebraska Cattlemen)

Next month, cattle producers from throughout the state will gather in Kearney for the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Annual Convention and Trade Show receive updates and take positions on pressing issues. The Cattlemen will meet at the Holiday Inn Convention Center Dec. 10 through 12.

Michael Kelsey is the executive vice president of the Nebraska Cattlemen. He says Thursday, Dec. 11 will be a key day for committee and council discussions of issues critical to cattlemen, such as the environment, taxes, animal health, private property rights and others. Events at the Cattlemen’s College the day before, however, will be more educational in nature.

“We have a lot of interesting topics and speakers - production oriented, market oriented or health oriented - for cattlemen to listen to and learn how they can adopt new practices and management techniques for their own businesses,” Kelsey said.

According to Kelsey, Friday’s session will end by noon and bring all of the committee and council sessions together for votes. “Also at this time, we are also hoping to have Senator-elect Mike Johanns at the meeting to share his ideas about his coming term in the Senate representing Nebraska.”

Some key policies of the Nebraska Cattlemen need to be re-addressed, Kelsey says. “For example, our ethanol policies are two years old, so they will be either renewed, modified or receive no action, whatever the pleasure of the membership is.”

Current events at the national level will also be a hot topic at the convention. “We’ll be talking a quite a bit about the coming political climate due to the election – in the administration, as well as the new
Congress. We’ll talk about what we can do as cattle producers to move our agendas forward to provide a positive business climate.”

Kelsey says giving cattlemen the chance to sit down together and visit about what’s on their minds is very important to this event. “Professionally, we call that networking. Sometimes it is called socializing. Whatever you call it, it is invaluable time to visit, discuss and share. We’re able to learn individually and to grow as an industry.”

The Nebraska Cattlemen association serves as the representative for the state’s beef cattle industry and represents professional cattle breeders, ranchers and feeders, as well as 48 county and local cattlemen’s associations. Its headquarters are in Lincoln and a second office in Alliance serves cattlemen in western Nebraska. This and other Nebraska Cattlemen information is available at www.nebraskacattlemen.org

Listen to the full interview here

Cut #1: :18 Out cue: “… own independent businesses.”

According to Kelsey, Friday’s session will end by noon and bring all of the committee and council sessions together for votes.

Cut #2: :13 Out cue: “… representing Nebraska.”

Some key policies of the Nebraska Cattlemen need to be re-addressed, Kelsey says.

Cut #3: :13 Out cue: “…of the membership is.”

Current events at the national level will also be a hot topic at the convention.

Cut #4: :16 Out cue: “…positive business climate.

Kelsey says giving cattlemen the chance to sit down together and visit about what’s on their minds is very important to this event.

Cut #5: :15 Out cue: “…grow as an industry.”

For more information about the 2008 Annual Convention and Trade Show, contact the Nebraska Cattlemen at 402/475-2333.