Cevin Jones Reflects on Challenging but Rewarding Year as USMEF Chair

Idaho cattle feeder Cevin Jones is wrapping up his one-year term as chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). In the attached audio report, Jones notes that while the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted many of USMEF's planned promotional activities in 2020 and impacted demand in many markets, the organization found new and innovative ways to meet the needs of international customers and collaborate with industry partners. He says the measures taken to adapt to this challenging environment will make the organization even stronger in the long term. Jones also thanked USMEF members and funding sources, who cover a wide range of agricultural sectors, for their unwavering commitment to international marketing, even in a difficult global business climate.

Jones will complete his term as USMEF chair at the upcoming USMEF Strategic Planning Conference, which will be held virtually Nov. 10-13. He will be succeeded by Pat Binger of Wichita, Kan., who directs a network of overseas offices for Cargill Protein North America.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry. It is funded by USDA; the beef, pork, lamb, corn and soybean checkoff programs, as well as its members representing nine industry sectors: beef/veal producing & feeding, pork producing & feeding, lamb producing & feeding, packing & processing, purveying & trading, oilseeds producing, feedgrains producing, farm organizations and supply & service organizations. USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law. USMEF is an equal opportunity employer and provider.