Patrick J. Michaels will be the first speaker at 10:00 a.m. with “Climate Change, Cattle, and Cap-and-Trade.” Cap-and-trade legislation passed by the House of Representatives and now in front of the Senate mandates the impossible, will cost a huge (but unknowable) amount, and will do nothing about global warming. It will also disproportionately impact cattle producers because of methane restrictions. Michaels presentation will explore the lack of science and logic behind futile legislative efforts that can only cause great harm to those who feed the nation, and therefore everyone else. His discussion will reflect the smart and stimulating perspective he has developed through decades of research, lecturing and writing. Pat Michaels has a remarkable reputation for his skeptical and accessible approach to the science and public policy of global warming. He is said to be one of the most popular lecturers in the country on the subject. Michaels is a Distinguished Senior Fellow in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University and Senior Fellow in Environmental Studies at the Cato Institute. He is a past president of the American Association of State Climatologists and was program chair for the Committee on Applied Climatology of the American Meteorological Society. Michaels was also a research professor of Environmental Sciences at University of Virginia for thirty years. Michaels is a contributing author and reviewer of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He was an author of the climate "paper of the year" awarded by the Association of American Geographers in 2004. In addition to numerous other papers, he has authored four books on the subject of global warming and climate policy. Michaels holds A.B. and S.M. degrees in biological sciences and plant ecology from the University of Chicago, and he received a Ph.D. in ecological climatology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1979.
      Beginning at 11:30, B. Lynn Gordon will share information about the recent increase in quotas for hormone-free, high quality beef to be exported to the European Union and the marketing opportunity it presents for cow-calf producers in Nebraska. She currently serves as Administrator of the Agriculture Promotion and Development Division with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA), Lincoln, Nebraska, joining NDA in February 2006. Her duties include the oversight of domestic promotion of Nebraska agricultural products with a special emphasis on linking buyers and sellers. She is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and a masters degree from the University of Minnesota. During her career she has focused in the areas of promotion, marketing, and education within the beef industry.“Verification Possibilities – Marketing Options for Beef Producers” is the title of her talk at the SCA convention.
     Following lunch at 12:30 p.m. the annual SCA business meeting will be held. Officers will be voted in for 2010-11 and five directors will be elected to serve three year terms. Scholarships will be awarded for 2010-11school year.
     Spreading the message of agriculture and the public perception of beef producers will be discussed by Ann Marie Bosshamer, Executive Director of the Nebraska Beef Council in her presentation, “Taking Back Agriculture.” Ann Marie will take the stage at 1:45 p.m. to lead off the afternoon activities. She has been with the Nebraska Beef Council for 13 years serving as the Director of Marketing, and is currently chairman of the Federation of State Beef Councils Advisory Board. Ann Marie is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in diversified agriculture emphasizing in communications. She is a graduate of Nebraska LEAD XV, serves on the Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska Advisory Board and is a member of Ag Builders of Nebraska.   
     Craig Buescher will wrap up the speaker presentations with “Tough Times Never Last…. Tough People Do.” Craig is currently president of the Nebraska Ag Relations Council and does a weekly ag trivia program on the Rural Radio Network. He enjoys promoting agriculture and farm safety by sharing his life stories while doing humorous and motivational speaking for various groups throughout the state. Craig graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1973 with a major in Animal Science. Craig has a diversified operation consisting of corn, popcorn, beans, and wheat along with a cow/calf operation that is leased out to a young farmer. He is a graduate of LEAD V. He has held numerous positions within the Nebraska Alfalfa Marketing Association, local school board and church along with being past president of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council and the LEAD Alumni Association. Beside his family, he is most proud of sorting cattle with his wife and having her still speak to him after they’re finished.
     After the speaker presentations, all convention activities move to the indoor arena (Building #19) where the trade show will open at 4:00 p.m., social hour begins at 5:00 and Rick Shoemaker will be crying the annual benefit auction at 6:00 p.m. Following the auction, the food booths open and convention goers have additional two hours of time to visit with trade show exhibitors.    
     Pre-registration is appreciated, but tickets will also be available at the door. The registration rate for SCA members is $40 and for non-members is $55. This fee covers all activities on Thursday, May 27. A half day rate of $25 is also offered. A complete schedule of events with registration form is available under the convention tab.
     For more information, contact the Sandhills Cattle Association at 402-376-2310 or 1-800-658-0551 or email: sca@sandhillscattle.com.