"Building the Beef Industry Is A Newly-Released HistoryOf The Beef Industry

Building the Beef Industry
A Century of Commitment
1898-1998
by Charlie Ball
from the National Cattlemen's Foundation

Publication Date: Nov. 15, 1997
ISBN: 1-879894-15-7
Price: $40, cloth, $995 limited edition with bronze display stand
12" x 12", 300 pages, color and b&w photos

DENVER -- (Jan. 6, 1998) To mark the centennial of the National Cattlemen's
Beef Association (NCBA), the National Cattlemen's Foundation has 
commissioned a collector's book chronicling 100 years of the beef industry 
association. To coincide with the book, the Centennial convention will be 
held in Denver, Feb. 4-7. This will be the first meeting in Denver since 
the trade association was founded in Denver 100 years ago, in 1898. 20

"Because of my journalism experience, lifelong involvement in the cattle 
industry and interest in history, I thought writing this book was a great 
opportunity to learn more about our industry and make a rare and unique 
contribution," said author Charlie Ball.

In 1985, a Centennial task force was created to oversee plans for the 
Centennial celebration and to raise funds to cover the cost of Building 
the Beef Industry. The task force was successful, raising more than 
$400,000 for the book.

The resulting book is an in-depth look at the last 100 years of the beef 
industry. Color and black-and-white photographs and artwork showcase the 
most memorable times for the industry and the association, such as the 
frequent meetings with U.S. presidents, the first meeting in Denver at the 
Brown Palace Hotel (the hotel was just six years old at the time), and the 
elegant bronze sculptures that have been commissioned for the association 
and their conventions over the years.

The easy-to-read layout features special sections highlighting important 
people and events, such as the last great buffalo barbecue which took 
place in Denver and was one of the most memorable parties in convention 
history. The colorful graphics also help to explain complicated issues. 
This historical collection symbolizes the strength and endurance of the 
cattle industry. For example, Ball covers the drought that led to the 
dust bowl of the 1930s and how ranchers and farmers overcame that 
disaster, and discusses the incidence of foot-and-mouth disease in 1924, 
when more than 1 million cattle were destroyed to avoid the spread of 
animal disease. The book also tracks key turning points in the association
history.

The association has tackled some tough consumer issues through the years, 
such as food safety issues, nutrition and international trade all covered 
in Ball's book. The book also contains fascinating facts, such as the 
history of the hamburger, the beginning of the supermarket and the 
National Beef Cook-Off. 20

CHARLIE BALL has been involved with the beef industry for more than 60 
years. As an award-winning editor of Farm Journal, he covered the beef 
industry in the 1950s and 1960s. Later he served as executive vice 
president of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. Author of two books, 
Saddle Up and The Finishing Touch, A History of the Texas Cattle Feeders 
Association, Mr. Ball is no stranger to the history and issues of the 
American beef industry.

-NCBA-