TSCRA Annual Convention 2008 Speakers

Featured Speakers

Fred Barnes

Sunday, March 16
First General Session
9:30-11:30 a.m.

Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard and FOX News commentator joined the FOX team in 1996 as a political contributor. He is co-host of The Beltway Boys and a regular contributor to Special Report with Brit Hume, the No. 1 weeknight political program on cable.

After 10 years as senior editor and White House correspondent for The New Republic, Barnes founded The Weekly Standard with William Kristol and John Podhoretz.

In addition, Barnes hosts two weekly radio shows, Issues in the News on Voice of America and What’s the Story. He also appears as chief correspondent on the PBS Series, National Desk.

From 1988 to 1998, Barnes was a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group public affairs television program.

The Media Guide has given Barnes four stars — its highest rating — and called him "a great political reporter-columnist" whose material is "exquisitely timed."

As a long-time Washington observer, Barnes will provide insight into the 2008 election and what may happen to the political landscape in D.C.

Karl Rove

Saturday, March 15
PAC Dinner/Auction
6:30 p.m.

Karl Rove is a former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush and has been both a witness to history and a key figure in shaping it. A trusted member of the president’s inner circle, Rove is among the most powerful White House advisers in American history.

Widely hailed as a master political adviser, Rove has earned the respect of even Democrats like James Carville and President Bill Clinton. Rove has overseen two successful presidential elections and played a vital role in the major policy decisions made during the Bush Presidency.

He previously served as top political adviser for the Bush for President Campaign and for 18 years before that, president of Karl Rove & Co., an Austin, Texas-based public affairs firm that worked for Republican candidates, non-partisan causes, and non-profit groups.

He has taught at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and in the Journalism Department at the University of Texas at Austin and was also faculty member at the Salzburg Seminar.

He will address the audience on the importance of getting involved in the political process and the value of political action committee activities

Orion Samuelson

Sunday, March 16
Keynote Luncheon
11:45 a.m.

Orion Samuelson is heard six days a week on WGN Radio in Chicago, where he has served as Agribusiness Director since 1960. Samuelson is also heard daily on 260 radio stations with his syndicated National Farm Report and on 110 stations with his syndicated Samuelson Sez. He is also seen weekly on RFD-TV as co-host of This Week in Agri-Business.

In 1998, the American Farm Bureau Federation honored Samuelson and Senator Bob Dole with the AFBF Distinguished Service Award. In 2003, he became the first Agribusiness Broadcaster to be inducted into the National Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Samuelson has traveled with his television crew to 43 countries to cover agriculture; four of his trips were official agricultural trade missions with the Secretary of Agriculture. During his 1989 trip to Taiwan, Orion was presented the International Communicator of the Year Award by the President of the Republic of China.

His experience of almost four decades provides the foundation for his observations on how agriculture has changed from the days of the reaper up to the modern use of satellites, and will give a prediction of what lies ahead for American agriculture.

Saturday

Board of Director's Meeting
Saturday, March 15
9:00-11:00 a.m.

Andy Groseta, President, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, "The Future of NCBA"

David V. Aguilar, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol and Robert Harris, Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol, "Immigration, Homeland Security Issues" followed by Q&A

Natural Resources & Environment Committee
Saturday, March 15
2:00-3:00 p.m.

Kevin Wagner, Project Manager, Texas Water Resources Institute, "Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Best Management Practices Update"

Paul Goranson, Chairman, Uranium Committee, The Texas Mining & Reclamation Association and Manager, Mestena Uranium, LLC, "Uranium Mining 101"

Brand & Inspection Committee
Saturday, March 15
2:00-3:00 p.m.

James E. Link, Administrator, USDA-GIPSA, "Restructuring of GIPSA-Progress Report"

Agricultural Research Committee
Saturday, March 15
3:00-4:00 p.m.

Dr. Bucky Gwartney, Executive Director, Product Enhancement Research, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, "Convenience Beef Cuts for New Consumers"

Legislative and Tax Committee
Saturday, March 15
3:00-4:00 p.m.

Ed Small, Jackson Walker, "Emerging Legislative Issues & Challenges"

Jason Skaggs, TSCRA Executive Director, Government Affairs and Public Relations, "Legislative Update"

Sunday

First General Session
Sunday, March 16
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Jon Means, TSCRA President's Report

Todd Staples, Commissioner, Texas Department of Agriculture, "TDA Priorities"

Bruce Knight, Undersecretary, USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs, "USDA Update on Cattle Industry Issues"

Fred Barnes, FOX News, "A Closer Look at Election '08"

Marketing Committee
Sunday, March 16
2:00-3:00 p.m.

Bruce Knight, Undersecretary, USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs, "The New Rules of Marketing"

Wildlife Committee
Sunday, March 16
3:00-4:00 p.m.

Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Parks and Wildlife Priorities...A Look Ahead"

Animal Health Committee
Sunday, March 16
3:00-4:00 p.m.

Edwin Bowers, Director, Fever Tick Eradication Program, USDA, "Update on Eradication"

Dr. Bob Hillman, Executive Director, Texas Animal Health Commission, "Texas Brucellosis-Free Status"

Labor Committee Meeting
Sunday, March 16
3:00-4:00 p.m.

Dr. Parr Rosson, TAMU, Texas AgriLife Extension, "How Immigration Issues Impact Beef Industry Imports and Exports"

Ritchie Jackson, Executive Director, Texas Restaurant Association, "How Immigration Laws Impact the Restaurant Industry"

T. Michael O'Connor, Sheriff of Victoria County and TSCRA Director, "Experiences in Law Enforcement and Suggestions on Resolving Immigration Issues in Ranching Country"

Monday

Second General Session
Monday, March 17
9:00 a.m.

Kay Johnson-Smith, Executive Vice President, Animal Agriculture Alliance, "Priorities and Activities of Animal Rights Groups"

Richard Wortham, Executive Vice President, Texas Beef Council, "Twenty Years of Beef Checkoff"

Mike Miller, Chief Operating Officer, Cattle-Fax, "Market Update"

Call the office to register at 800-242-7820