Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus brought Montana beef industry leaders together with Chilean wine producers yesterday evening during an event at the Chilean ambassador’s residence to find new ways to promote Montana beef in Chile. Baucus first announced yesterday’s event in September while hosting the Ambassador of Chile and ambassadors from other countries on a tour of Montana leading up to his Economic Development Summit.
“Our own Montana ranchers make the best ambassadors for American beef, and bringing them together with Chilean wine-makers will help create new markets for safe and delicious Montana beef,” Baucus said. “Opportunities like this are exactly why we brought the ambassadors to Montana – to meet our ranchers and farmers and identify new ways to increase Montana exports around the world.”
Montana Stockgrowers Association President Tom Hougen joined Baucus and thanked him for facilitating the event.
“Montana Stockgrowers are excited about the opportunity to find creative ways to increase our beef exports by working together with the wine industry in Chile. Senator Baucus has always been a strong advocate in the fight to open new markets for Montana ranchers around the world. We thank him for bringing us together with Chilean wine makers to find new ways to promote Montana beef and support Montana jobs,” Hougen Said.
Montana Farm Bureau Federation President Robert Hanson also attended.
“Senator Baucus has always worked tirelessly to build new trade relationships for Montana producers. We thank him for connecting Montana farmers and ranchers with the Chilean wine industry, and we are looking forward to the opportunities this partnership presents,” Hanson said.
Yesterday’s meeting included a dinner of steaks, provided by La Cense Beef of Montana, paired with wine from Chile. La Cense operates an 88,000 acre sustainable Black Angus cattle ranch near Dillon.
Baucus brought La Cense’s marketing director to the event along with Hougen, Hanson, and representatives from the Montana Farmers Union, Verified Beef, and the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. The Ambassador from China, who also joined Baucus for the tour of Montana and the Economic Development Summit, also attended.
Yesterday’s event was part of Baucus’ long-standing fight to open world markets to all cuts and ages of Montana beef. As Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, with sole jurisdiction over international trade, Baucus is committed to increasing Montana’s agricultural exports and pushing for negotiations of new trade agreements with the countries that matter most to Montana’s ranchers and farmers.
More information on Baucus’ work to promote Montana agriculture during the Montana Economic Development Summit is available here.
Source: Office of Max Baucus
Posted by Kaci Switzer
