Access for U.S. Meat Key Topic at Second Annual International Livestock Forum

USMEF co-sponsored and participated in the second annual International Livestock Forum (ILF), held Jan. 8-9 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The forum, themed “Opportunities and Challenges for the Next Decade,” gave industry professionals and agriculture students a look at the U.S. livestock industry and the global demand for animal proteins.

USMEF Immediate Past Chair Leann Saunders, president of Where Food Comes From, spoke at a Student Fellowship welcome dinner for 20 selected agriculture students at the National Western Stock Show. She also presented “Opportunities in a Differentiated Marketplace” to ILF attendees.

Cheyenne McEndaffer, USMEF technical services manager, acted as student fellowship program co-lead and coordinated the application process, selection and tour schedule of the chosen students. More than 120 applications came from around the world for the 20 openings. The student fellows represented the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and Paraguay.

“It was great to attend a conference with a lot of audience participation, and I felt the combination of panel discussions and presentations really brought together a lot of the international issues – especially the importance of having U.S. access in international markets,” said Paul Clayton, USMEF senior vice president for export services, who participated in the ILF. “I felt the attendees, including the students on hand, walked out of the conference with a better understanding of international markets and how vital they are to the future of U.S. animal agriculture.”