FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact NMA

February 4, 1999

OAKLAND, CA -- National Meat Association today announced that U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Larry Combest had accepted its invitation to provide a keynote address at NMA's 53rd Annual Convention and MEATXPO'99. NMA will be taping with Congressman Combest a video interview for conventioneers early next week.

Combest will be an important and influential speaker for NMA, not only because he is Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, but also due to his Vice Chairman of the House Small Business Committee. He is a fourth generation West Texas farmer, educator and small business owner, who brought his practical experience to Congress. He has won accolades for his common sense legislative record, beginning on his first day in Congress when he cosponsored the Balanced Budget Amendment. Recognized for fiscally-responsible voting, Combest believes families should expect to keep more of what they earn and deserve effective management from their government. The National Federation of Independent Business has recognized Combest as Guardian of Small Business.

Come see Rep. Combest speak his mind and respond to pertinent questions at NMA's 53rd Annual Convention and MEATXPO'99 in Monterey, California, February 18-20, 1999. Combest will keynote the General Session on Thursday, February 18, 1999, 12:30pm-1:30pm.

National Meat Association is a non-profit trade association representing meat packers and processors, as well as equipment manufacturers and suppliers who provide services to the meat industry. The association, with over 600 members throughout the United States, includes membership in Canada, Australia and Mexico.

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