Names In The News

J. Burton Eller Jr. has been named USDA deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs. MRP agencies are active participants in setting national and international agricultural standards.

Agencies that make up the MRP mission area include the Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration.

Eller has previously served as director of the Office of External Affairs for USDA's Farm Service Agency and as executive vice president for public policy for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. He left NCBA in 1996.

W. R. "Bob" Watt Jr., president and general manager of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, has been named Fort Worth's Business Executive of the Year. Founded in 1970, the Business Hall of Fame honors an individual who has "made a profound impact on the business world."

Under Watt's direction, the stock show has grown steadily, more than doubling in length. Livestock and rodeo contestant entries have increased 62 percent.

The stock show is Fort Worth's largest single event, hosting more than 900,000 in annual attendance and exhibiting more than 21,000 head of livestock.

Rick Husted assumed duties Oct. 1 as chief operating officer for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Prior to joining NCBA two years ago as executive director of market research, he had more than 15 years of experience in operations, market research, strategic marketing and management.

Dr. James M. "Jim" Riemann has retired as president of Certified Angus Beef LLC. The CAB brand is the world's leading brand of fresh beef.

Since 1995, packers have paid producers more than $200 million in value-based grid premiums for cattle accepted for the brand.

Riemann is only the second president in the company's 28year history. Under his leadership, the world's first branded beef company extended its product line to include CAB brand Prime and Natural, expanded value-added products and established a regional customer service structure.

Burt Eichar, CAB senior vice president, has been appointed interim president.

Bob Sims, president of TriState Feeders at Hereford, Texas, has been named a 2006 outstanding alumnus of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. A 1960 graduate of A&M's range management program, Sims co-manages an 18,000head, family-owned feedyard.