Archive for April, 2009
USCA presents to USDA
Chuck Kiker is now in Washington, D.C., and the games have begun!
We had a nice time last night catching up with friends and colleagues. One thing about it, when Chuck comes to town, you will spend some time telling tall tales!
Early this morning, we were finalizing Chuck’s oral testimony for the USDA’s animal ID meeting. With my “coaching,” some coffee, a stop watch (did you know you can find those online?), and a marker pen, Chuck had his comments polished up and ready for his 5-minute presentation time limit.
Only problem was – as expected – the meeting time approached a bit faster than expected!
Fortunately, we are close to the Foggy Bottom Metro station.
Chuck and I grab a train, and within minutes, we arrived at the Smithsonian Metro station.
I walk Chuck to the USDA office door, and for now, my mission is complete. The meeting only allows entrance for the invited 35 participants. Which means, I won’t be staffing Chuck. He is on his own, and I am back on the train heading to the office to get things ready for the afternoon meetings!
USCA Director visits DC
Today is a big day. Beaumont, Texas rancher and rice farmer USCA Director Chuck Kiker is coming to Washington, D.C. Any time Chuck comes to DC, it’s always a good time. I don’t know if it’s the Texas style of taking in DC or if it’s just the unpredictability of taking Chuck around town. Put it this way–DC will experience some cowboy common sense, whether it wants to or not!
Chuck will be representing the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association in tomorrow’s meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. The meeting will involve over thirty livestock and agriculture groups, and the topic is animal identification.
In the afternoon, I will be going with Chuck to various meetings with House and Senate staff.
Looking forward to the branding
Today is a beautiful Spring day in the Nation’s capital. In a little over a week from now, I will be on a plane bound for Montana. We will be gathering cattle and branding calves. I can hardly wait!
But for now, I have Spring Fever and was feeling the confines of the office. To remedy this, I am working from the Starbucks in Georgetown!
Categories
Tags
Comments from friends
- Naomi on Burgers, burgers and a trip to NY
- Stacia Couch on And it’s day 2… USCA Fly-in
- Naomi on Shopping out west