PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 2, 2005

R-CALF USA AFFILIATES TO HOLD McCOOK EVENT

Hyannis, NE---Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska (ICON) and Kansas Cattlemens Association (KCA) will be holding a joint informational meeting in McCook, Ne. on Thursday, May 5, 2005 at 8:00 P.M. The meeting will be held at the Community Center at the fairgrounds, West 5th and O St.

Featured speakers for this event will be Chris Abbott, President of ICON, and Mike Schultz, CEO of Kansas Cattlemens Association, along with Directors from both organizations. A question and answer session will follow.

Topics of discussion will be major issues facing the cattle industry, including the Canadian border closing, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL), Packer ban on ownership of cattle, International Free Trade Agreements, Animal ID, and the Beef Check-off programs.

These two young grass roots organizations are both affiliates of Ranchers- Cattlemen Action Legal Fund - United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA), and have quickly picked up strong support among cattle producers in their respective states. In just two months since ICON was formed, they have signed well over 600 members.

"We look forward to meeting with the people in the McCook and surrounding communities and encourage everyone to feel welcome to come to listen and share their thoughts with us," Abbott said. "Our focus issues affect not only the cattle industry, but the future survival of rural America."

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