Speakers Highlight 2015 Annual Convention And Trade Show

As food politics change, expert says Montana ranchers need to participate

By Tom Lutey, Billings Gazette

Annual Convention Elanco Grady BishopFood politics are being reshaped by social media and millennials, and Montana ranchers need to step up, a livestock industry analyst told Stockgrowers on Friday.

“I challenge you all to get involved in social media,” said Grady Bishop, senior director of North America Market Access of Elanco Animal Health. “Let’s not let somebody take our story from us.”

Elanco is a global, innovation-driven company that develops and markets products to improve animal health and protein production in more than 75 countries.

Speaking at the Montana Stockgrowers Convention in Billings, Bishop gave an optimistic but challenging outlook about the livestock industry’s future. With 3 billion people worldwide expected to join the middle class in developing nations, the demand for beef looks positive, Bishop said.

Continue reading from the Billings Gazette.


With humor, detail and emotion, former Navy SEAL O’Neill delivers talk at Montana Stockgrowers Association lunch

By Mike Kordenbrock, Billings Gazette

Annual Convention Robert O'NeillRob O’Neill, Butte native and former Navy SEAL, was the featured speaker at Friday’s Northwestern Ag Network’s lunch at the 131st Montana Stockgrowers Association Convention and Trade Show.

He was introduced by another former SEAL, U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who said, “Rob O’Neill represents our most important values: duty, honor, courage. And yes, he’s from Butte and he has a sense of humor.”

O’Neill, who in November 2014 said he fired the two shots that killed Osama bin Laden, said early in his talk that he wouldn’t go into detail about the bin Laden raid but did use it as a transition into his opening remarks.

“The Bin Laden raid was a proof of concept,” O’Neill said, before launching into his talk, interwoven with video footage, frequently of parachute jumps, about how “success in combat can be related to everyday life.”

After having his heart broken by a Butte girl, O’Neill said he couldn’t find the Marine recruiter, but the Navy recruiter was around. “I couldn’t swim,” O’Neill said. “I’m 19, naive and this guy’s a professional recruiter. Why’s he gonna lie to me,” O’Neill said.

Continue reading from the Billings Gazette.

Click here for more 2015 Annual Convention coverage from Montana Stockgrowers.

About Author

Montana Stockgrowers Association

The Montana Stockgrowers Association, a non-profit membership organization, has worked on behalf of Montana’s cattle ranching families since 1884. Our mission is to protect and enhance Montana ranch families’ ability to grow and deliver safe, healthy, environmentally wholesome beef to the world.

Connect with Me:
%d bloggers like this: