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Fort Pierre Livestock Breaks $10,000 in Fall Fund-Raiser Kickoff Fort Pierre, S.D. (October 23, 2008) – Fort Pierre Livestock and generous cattle producers from all over South Dakota have a long history of fierce loyalty to R-CALF USA, and a fund-raiser at the auction barn on Friday, Oct. 17, proved that their support and dedication have not waivered. More than 40 individuals and companies generated just over $10,000 for the organization. Longtime R-CALF USA supporters Allen Badure and Baxter Badure donated a yearling heifer worth $864 for the rollover auction. “We had a pretty good little gathering and after we got going, we raised a decent amount of money for R-CALF,” said R-CALF USA Region III Director Johnny Smith. “South Dakota cattle producers have always been behind R-CALF, 100 percent, and we want to thank them for their generosity that will help R-CALF keep fighting the necessary battles on their behalf. “Here we’ve got the (Beef) Checkoff working against us and we can’t do anything about it,” he continued. “NCBA (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association) is taking the bulk of the Checkoff dollars and they did nothing to try to stop these JBS mergers. That’s working against producers. “But look at R-CALF,” Smith said. “We’re fighting those mergers and we don’t get a dime of Checkoff money, but we need everyone’s contributions to keep this fight going. That’s why we’re suggesting that producers just take another dollar per head and put it down for R-CALF. Or, another good idea is to donate the proceeds from a cull cow to R-CALF. “As we all know, these fights are expensive, so this is where you and I come in,” he added. “A cull cow is not a fancy cow – as far as producing a calf, she is used up. I’m hoping that she will give a little more of herself toward the issues we’re working on and I would ask all of you producers out there to do the same. We, as producers, have to back up R-CALF USA financially, and by doing this, we are showing JBS that if they keep trying to back us into a corner, we will push right back to protect our industry.” Smith said a recent meeting of the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) in Wall, S.D., went very well. Speaking at the event were Smith, R-CALF USA Co-Founder/Past Region III Director Herman Schumacher, and R-CALF USA Region VIII Director Dave Hutchins. SDSGA is an R-CALF USA affiliate organization. “We answered any and all questions asked and we were very well received,” Smith said. “I think it went over real good. There were a couple of guys sitting on the fence when we got there, but they came around pretty quick.” Contributors included: Bill and Sandy O’Connor; Dean Englehart; So Dak Angus/Vaughn Meyer; Roger and Betty Dikoff; Richard Jo and Lorayna Papousek; Troy and Leslie Brown; Peoria Flats; Valburg LTD; Richard and Julie Jongewaard; Rumph Ranch; Duane Reichert; Bryan Hanson; David J. Vainreb; Bill and Kitty Pothast; Mike and Kathy Cruse; Ralph and Norma Tibbs; Margaret Nachtigall; Don Bourk; Carson Carlisle; Calvin Traversie; Neil Richter and Dick Richter; Chuck Fortune and Bob Fortune; Ken Halligan; Cliff and Peggy Tibbs; Paul Bork; Mitch Norman & Sons; Just Andersen & Sons; Keyhole Ranch; Mike Clark; Bobby Ellsworth; Larry and Dolly Christenson; Everett Hunt; John Hunt; Randy Warne; Kenny and Roxey Fox; Mike O’Dea/Lyle Kenzy; Cecil and Betty Mashino; Smith Bros.; Fort Pierre Livestock Auction; Russ Shaw and Jim Shaw, Shaw Ranch; and, Sioux Nation Vet Supply. # # # R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on trade and marketing issues. Members are located across 47 states and are primarily cow/calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and/or feedlot owners. R-CALF USA has dozens of affiliate organizations and various main-street businesses are associate members. R-CALF USA directors and committee chairs are extremely active unpaid volunteers. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516. |
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This page was last updated on Wednesday, December 24, 2008. |
