FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jan. 4, 2015
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
Cell: 512-922-7328

Fort Worth, Texas – The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) announced today that the 139th annual Cattle Raisers Convention, the biggest ranching industry event in Texas and Oklahoma, is scheduled for April 8 – 10, 2016 at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Peter Zeihan, geopolitical strategist and author of “The Accidental Superpower: The Next Generation of American Preeminence and the Coming Global Disorder,” will be the keynote speaker at the opening general session. Zeihan will discuss how economics, demographics, history and culture work to create global complexities and how these complexities may impact ranchers in the future.

Information sessions will feature experts on critical ranching topics such as sustainability, water and surface rights, eminent domain reform, and how to dispel beef nutritional myths. The Cattle and Beef Marketing Forum will take a look at today’s cattle market and provide attendees with insights into the challenge of marketing beef in today’s retail environment.

Additionally, the School for Successful Ranching and issues sessions will feature more than 20 educational programs and a world-class lineup of subject matter experts who will provide insights into current ranching topics and practical tools attendees can take back to their ranch.

The Cattle Raisers Dinner and Dance will be held at River Ranch and will feature great food and entertainment by Jake Hooker and the Outsiders. The Belles of Cowtown Heifer Sale, featuring 100 head of high-quality replacement heifers will be held in conjunction with the evening.

The Closing General Session Brunch will feature climatologists Evelyn Browning-Garriss and James Garriss, who will present their 2016 weather outlook.

The Cattle Raisers Expo is the largest annual ranching exposition in the region and will play host to more than 200 companies bringing the newest products and services to ranchers and landowners. The Expo will host live cattle handling demonstrations, which will take place inside the Fort Worth Convention Center. The demonstrations will teach attendees how to handle cattle in a safe, low-stress manner.

Rounding out the program are numerous entertainment and special interest options such as the Law Enforcement Silent Auction, Young Cattle Raisers’ After Party, Texas Beef Council Fun Run and Walk, Texas Cattlewomen annual meeting, Young Leadership Series forum, and Cow Camp for the younger attendees.

“We’re looking forward to another great Cattle Raisers Convention,” said Pete Bonds, TSCRA president. “The unique combination of speakers and educational programs, focused on issues of importance to ranchers, makes this a can’t-miss event for any cattle raiser or landowner.”

Day registration begins at only $125. The Cattle Raisers Convention full registration includes:

• Access to the Cattle Raisers Expo, including lunch on Friday and Saturday, and Friday’s welcome reception
• Opening General Session and Closing General Session Brunch
• All School for Successful Ranching programs
• All Information Sessions
• Cattle Raisers Dance and Dinner

The Cattle Raisers Convention hotels are within easy walking distance of the Convention Center. Rooms are expected to book quickly, so those interested should register as soon as possible.

More information and registration links are available at www.cattleraisersconvention.com.

All members of the media are invited to attend. For media registration, please contact Laramie Adams at ladams@tscra.org.

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TSCRA is a 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.