For Immediate Release: July 18, 2011

Contact: Carmen Fenton, 512-469-0171

Joe Parker Jr., TSCRA president, presents Brad Cowan, Hidalgo County extension agent, with a TSCRA gate sign at the awards ceremony.

WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS –Brad Cowan was　announced today as the Outstanding Beef County Extension Agent at the annual Texas County Agricultural Agent Association (TCAAA) meeting in Wichita Falls. The award is sponsored by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA).
　
Cowan has served as the county extension agent for Hidalgo County since 1998. During that time he has built a well recognized Beef Performance Extension outreach program geared at providing producers with timely, research-based information to help positively impact their bottom line.
　
“Mr. Cowan is highly respected throughout the state by cattle producers,” TSCRA President Joe Parker Jr. said. “While county agents have knowledge of the entire agriculture industry, Mr. Cowan has specific expertise in the beef cattle industry. He has used that expertise to develop programs like the Beef Performance Extension Outreach and the Rio Grande Valley Beef Improvement Association program. It is because of leaders like　Brad Cowan that the Texas beef industry remains the strongest in the United States.”
　
Monty Dozier, south region program director for agriculture and natural resources, AgriLife Extension, says　100 percent of producers who participate in Cowan’s programs say the information they received will add value to their individual operations.
　
“Brad’s efforts in educating beef producers are exceptional,” Dozier said. “The information generated by his programs will help producers enhance the marketing of their cattle.”
　
Cowan will also be recognized during the 2012 TSCRA Convention in Fort Worth. The convention is scheduled to take place March 29 – April 1.

The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is a 134-year-old trade organization. As the largest and oldest livestock association in Texas, TSCRA represents more than 15,000 beef cattle producers, ranching families and businesses who manage approximately 4 million head of cattle on 79.5 million acres of range and pasture land, primarily in Texas and Oklahoma. TSCRA provides law enforcement and livestock inspection services, legislative and regulatory advocacy, industry news and information, insurance services and educational opportunities for its members and the industry. 　

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