PREPARATIONS FOR CATTLE INDUSTRY CONVENTION, TRADE SHOW CONTINUE

DENVER, Colo. (Nov. 20, 2001) – Preparations for the cattle industry's largest yearly gathering continue, as plans are coming together for "Ride for the Brand", the 2002 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show in Denver, Colo., Feb 6-9.

Among the exciting social gatherings that will take place at the Convention is a Grand Finale Evening Event featuring the popular country music group Diamond Rio.  Co-sponsored by Merial, the event on Feb. 9 will also feature a dinner and dancing to a popular local dance band.

Important educational sessions will also be conducted at the Convention.  On Feb. 6 at Cattlemen's College -- which is always enormously popular with convention-goers -- sessions will include "Developing a Biosecurity/Bioterrorism Plan for your Operation" and a Cow-Calf Clinic.  Art Holst, who served as a referee in the NFL, will be the featured speaker at Cattlemen's College, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Health.

In addition, on Feb. 8 an Outlook Seminar, sponsored by Merial and DTN, will be conducted by Cattle-Fax, which will preview expected cattle prices over the coming months and years.

Fort Dodge Animal Health is sponsoring an NCBA-PAC Western Night and Team Penning at the National Western Events Center Feb. 7.  Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys will be the featured artist at this event.

The event will also include the annual meetings of the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the American National CattleWomen and Cattle-Fax.

The Convention's Inspirational Breakfast will be held Feb. 9, with Peter C. Lemon, one of the nation's youngest surviving recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, challenging and empowering listeners.  The breakfast is sponsored by Merial.

For more information, as well as pre-registration and hotel information for the 2002 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show, contact the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NBCA) Convention and Meetings Department, 303/694-0305.

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the  trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.