Lively 200+ Show Up at Lockhart NAIS Town Hall Meeting
Over 200 people turned out for the August 8th Lockhart meeting on the National
Animal Identification System (NAIS). News 8 Austin and several newspaper reporters
from surrounding counties came to cover the event.
Coordinators Judith McGeary, Executive Directory for the Farm and Ranch Freedom
Alliance and Lockhart resident Pam Cantwell, Equine Touch Practitioner and Barrel
Racer, lined up a terrific group of speakers.
Judith McGeary began the meeting with a presentation about what the NAIS would
require, what the law is in Texas, and how this program would affect everyone.
Chuck Kiker, President of R-CALF/USA, the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund,
United Stockgrowers of America, then spoke about R-CALF’s position and
involvement in the program. Texas State Representative Patrick Rose (D-Blanco,
Caldwell & Hays Counties) spoke about how the Legislature had been misled
into adopting HB 1361, authorizing the Texas Animal Health Commission to implement
the NAIS in Texas. Representative Rose committed to introducing legislation
to prevent mandatory premises registration and animal identification next session.
The audience then heard from multiple political candidates who oppose the NAIS:
Brad McClellan, Campaign Manager for Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Independent Candidate
for Governor of Texas; Hank Gilbert, Democratic candidate for Texas Agriculture
Commissioner; Dean Barkley, Campaign Manager for Kinky Friedman, Independent
candidate for Governor of Texas; Tim McCann, Deputy Campaign Manager for Chris
Bell, Democratic Candidate for Governor of Texas, Fred Head, Democratic Candidate
for Texas State Comptroller, Jim Neuheus, Republican Candidate for State Representative
for District 45, Tim Kleinschmidt, Republican Candidate for State Representative
for District 17; and Paul Pape, Candidate for Bastrop County Commissioner.
There were horse, cattle, goat and sheep owners in attendance who brought their
concerns and questions about NAIS. The speakers covered how the USDA's proposed
National Animal ID System plan affects everyone and our rural lifestyle, whether
it’s rodeo, raising cattle, horses, goats, chickens or just a backyard
pet. In fact, the plan will affect all consumers and taxpayers. The event addressed
who is backing this plan and why.
Please try to attend a town hall meeting near you or organize one in your hometown!
We must educate the public on this issue and get more media involved! For information
on organizing a meeting or attending one that is already planned go to www.farmandranchfreedom.org
or call toll free: 1-866-687-6452