USCA Fly-In off and running
The “Back for More Fall Fly-In 2009″ is off and running. Yesterday’s meetings dealt with USDA’s animal health, tracking, and marketing issues. USDA is planning to make an announcement on its animal tracking plans. Chuck Kiker did his best to get a little more info out of the officials and tried to get them to slip up and reveal some secret details. He wasn’t successful, but the meetings were very useful nonetheless as we discussed current animal tracking systems and how we can build on those.
The evening ended with a nice dinner with USCA’s trade council from Stewart and Stewart at the Palm!
USCA “Back for More Fall Fly-In 2009″
Sleep is put on a shelf, the crackberry lifeline is hooked tight, and my USA Beef binder is brimming full of extra schedules, talking points… it must be fly-in time! Awhile back my colleague Stacia asked me “Jess just what are these ‘fly-ins’ that you are always referencing?!” Well here in the next few days, I’ll do my best to describe this fly-in process as we kickoff the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) “Back for More Fall Fly-In 2009.”
Fortunately, this is a smaller group bound for Washington, D.C. Regardless, the meeting schedule is packed with a busy agenda was set up by yours truly. The talking points and the agenda for each meeting are placed in binders and will be handed to USCA leaders Jon Wooster (San Lucas, CA), Leo McDonnell (Columbus, MT), Chuck Kiker (Beaumont, TX), Brian Malaer (Harwood, TX), and Hollis “Peanut” Gilfillian (Stowell, TX) when they arrive today. Monday and Tuesday will find the whole lot of us making waves in Washington as we hammer out nine meetings in two days.
This particular fly-in will focus on high-level meetings with President Obama’s trade and agriculture officials. A top priority on this fly-in is USCA’s involvement in defending the country-of-origin labeling law. Currently Canada and Mexico are challenging this law at the WTO level. USCA will also discuss animal health, animal identification, anti-trust and competition, along with the Texas disaster recovery issues. It will be a fast-paced week, and very soon, I will wake up Wednesday morning, and the actual fly-in work will be over. ‘Course, post-fly-in is another work stage. Follow-up letters, information, and thank yous all have to be done. Look for stories and pictures to be posted all week!
My new office in San Antonio…
If you are ever in San Antonio and need to get some work done, stop at the Quarry Starbucks. It has the perfect outdoor setting, and the staff are some of the best you will ever find! See you on the road!
Am I confused and somewhat crazy? Thank yous from the road.
The only way somewhere between boots and saddles, briefcases and taxis is a fun and enjoyable adventure is because of the efforts and kindness of people I find along way. Throughout my journeys, I am always meeting people, and when they ask me about where I have been, I feel like singing Hank Snow’s “I’ve Been Everywhere!” But since my singing is lacking at best, I refrain!
I get this feeling that when I come wandering into wherever I’m going on any given day and I meet a new person… the first impression I give is that I am a confused and somewhat crazy individual who doesn’t know if he is coming or going. Often times I will pull out my card and say “—follow the adventures at somewhere between boot and saddles, briefcases and taxis.”
I’m pretty sure these people think I am joking… so it’s with that in mind, I want to say “thank you” to some real good people I have met along the way and officially recognize them!
First, the Billings, Montana Dillard’s hair salon staff. I came in without an appointment and needed quick haircut. You all got me in fast and did good work! You asked me my mailing address and didn’t believe me when I gave you a DC address! We all had a good laugh, and I promised you I would say something about the episode. Well–here it is, and thank you!
Next, I will never be able to thank all of the great people at Texas A & M that made my first Aggie football game the most incredible experience! Oct. 9th found me with former A & M football players Robert Crouch, Randall Wiley, Tom Bevins and others at the retirement celebration for longtime A&M trainer and manager Billy Pickard. He was a part of the A&M program for over 50 years, dating back to the legendary days of coach Bear Bryant. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Pickard, and it was an honor to shake his hand. I also met Andrea Dry and Lydia Dubuisson. Both are involved in the A&M football. Andrea is the Director of Communications for the 12th Man Kick Off Team Foundation-—which does some really cool things–check them out at: www.12thMKOT.com. Lydia is known as the first female to letter in A&M football as a manager.
Saturday October 10th was game day! A special thanks to Texas A&M Letterman’s Club Director Cathy Capps and the folks that made Robert Crouch and me honorary game captains! Our title gave us access to the field as we escorted former players that were known as the legendary Junction Boys. It was truly an honor and an experience I will never forget! Check out the pictures from the game on my October 11 post.
I also had the opportunity to hang out in the TAMU Ag Department box. Robert Crouch and Dr. Bowman played a special role in making that happen, and I thank them. The list of thank yous could continue for another page, but I just have to say it was amazing to experience what it’s like to be a part of the Aggie family! Many thanks to all the good folks that truly rolled out the maroon carpet to me in Aggieland!
Two more thank yous are in order. On Monday October 12th, I finished up a long day of work and meetings in Dallas. My colleague Robert Crouch had a discount for a massage at Massage Envy. You might imagine that after 1000s of miles on the road and in the air, my body is bent in more directions than a pretzel. I walked in there, and it was a similar situation to the Dillard’s hair cuttery story… the staff thought I was crazy after I told them about my travel schedule and what was going on. Nonetheless we had some good laughs, and Tracey DeLitta Tousley did some impressive work in trying to line out my back, neck, head, etc. The treatment helped stop my headaches and fired me up for the busy week ahead.
Last but not least… on Tuesday, October 13th, I had to get a rental car to drive from Dallas to San Antonio. Well the rain in Dallas created a shortage of cars, and I was almost stuck in bind. Fortunately Megan at Enterprise pulled some strings and lined me up with a car, and I was able to make my way to San Antonio!
To everyone that keeps making Somewhere Between Boots and Saddles, Briefcases and Taxis possible… thank you!
Driving to Falls City, Texas
Check out the video of me driving from San Antonio to Falls City, Texas.
King Ranch, Texas and a successful ICA meeting in Falls City
Today was an exciting day in Texas. My good friend and colleague, Diana Doan-Crider, arranged a lunch today with Ms. Helen Kleberg Groves of the King Ranch. We had very nice lunch; it was incredible to hear Ms. Groves tell stories about the history of the King Ranch, cattle ranching in Texas, and what she thought about today’s current events. I knew I had a front seat to a History Channel special when she described how Fidel Castro took over the King Ranch in Cuba and forced out the owners during the 1960s Cuba Missile Crisis. I can’t thank Ms. Doan-Crider and Ms. Groves enough for a lunch date that will be forever ingrained in my memory!
After lunch I pointed my Enterprise special: a Hyundai Accent (I could fit this car in my right boot and have room to spare!) to Falls City, Texas. Falls City is a little town 35 miles south of San Antonio. The southern chapter of the Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas (ICA) had a dinner meeting. It was a great event with over 60 people in attendance. Seeing the packed house and the smiles of ranchers who have finally gotten some rain really motivated me to speak about how great the U.S. cattle industry is and how important it is to be involved in ICA and USCA. Folks were very receptive, and I can’t thank everyone enough for their hospitality. I especially want to thank Mr. Windy Miller for arranging to have me speak at this event. 
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