2025 ILC Event Information

INTERNATIONAL STOCKMEN'S EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
2025 ILC Website Graphic

The 2025 International Livestock Congress will be held March 4-5, 2025, in Houston, Texas, during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. This year's topic will be "Effectively Communicating Sound Science and the Value of Animal Agriculture to Society."

View 2025 ILC Agenda

Event Location

NRG Center
1 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77054

NRG Center events utilize Gate 10 on the corner of Kirby and McNee.

Hotel

Hotel

The Hilton Garden Inn - Houston Medical Center/Houston Museum District

6840 Almeda Rd @ Holcombe Blvd
Houston, Texas 77030

Book here with discount code: International Livestock Congress

2025 International Livestock Congress

EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING SOUND SCIENCE AND THE VALUE OF ANIMAL AGRICULTURE TO SOCIETY

TUESDAY, March 4, 2025
1:30-2:00 pm Registration
2:00-2:15 pm Welcome
James O. Reagan, Ph.D., Chairman, International Stockmen’s Educational Foundation, J&M Dorpers, Fort Collins, CO
Chris Boleman, C.E.O., Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Randy Pauly, Chair, International Committee, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Overview of Issues Facing Livestock and Meat Industries
2:15-2:20 pm Moderator: Mohammad Koohmaraie, PhD, CEO Meat Division, IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group
2:20-2:40 pm Role of Meat in Global Diet Health Frederic Leroy, PhD, Professor, Bio-Engineering Dept., University of Brussels, Belgium
2:40-3:00 pm Sustainable Livestock Production Pedro Carvalho, PhD, Assistant Professor and Feedlot Specialist, AgNext, Dept of Animal Science, Colorado State Unversity, Ft. Collins, CO
3:00-3:20 pm Role of Science in Society Keith Belk, PhD, Professor, Dept of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO
3:20-3:40 pm Addressing Issues through the Protein Pact Eric Mittenthal, PhD, Chief Strategy Officer, Meat Institute, Washington, DC
3:40-4:10 pm Speaker Panel Q&A Frederic Leroy, Pedro Carvalho, Keith Belk, Eric Mittenthal
4:10-4:30 pm Wrap-up and preview tomorrow Justin Ransom, PhD, Sr. Director, Sustainable Food Strategy, Tyson Foods, Springdale, AR
4:30-5:30 pm Student Fellows Informal Mixer with ISEF Board of Directors and honored guests
5:30-7:00 pm International Committee Reception (followed by rodeo)
WEDNESDAY, March 5, 2025
7:00-7:55 am Continental Breakfast
Effectively Communicating the Right Message to the Right Audience
7:55-8:00 am Moderator: Miriam Martin, PhD, Director, Animal Health and Welfare, Meat Institute, Washington, DC
8:00-8:30 am Truth, Trust and Science - How to Maximize Impact on the Public Discussion of Meat and Livestock Charlie Arnot, CEO, Center for Food Integrity, Kansas City, MO
8:30-9:30 am Communication Basics – Panel of all Speakers
9:30-10:00 am Audience Segmentation Analysis Laura Fischer, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dept of Agriculture Education and Communications, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
10:00-10:30 am Break/Interaction with Student Fellows
10:30-11:00 am National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Crisis Preparedness and Consumer Communications Hillary Makens, PhD, Senior Executive Director, Issues Management & Public Relations, NCBA, Centennial, CO
11:00-11:30 am How To Talk So Consumers Will Listen: Effectively Communicating the Value of Meat Michael Uetz, Principal/Owner, Midan Marketing, Chicago, IL
11:30 am-12:00 pm International Communications Perspective Annaline Padayachee, PhD, Director, Laetatio Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Australia
12:00-1:25 pm Lunch + Student Fellows Recognition and interactions
1:25-1:30 pm Moderator: Mindy Brashears, PhD, Horn Professor and Director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
1:30-2:15 pm Does the “News” Matter Anymore Melissa San Miguel, President, Red Flag USA, Washington, DC
2:15-3:45 pm Engage Training to Effectively Connect Consumer with Food Charlie Arnot, CEO, Center for Food Integrity, Kansas City, MO
3:45-4:00 pm Break and Networking
4:00-4:30 pm Summary/Call to Action Alexa Lamm, PhD, Professor of Science Communication, Dept of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, University of Georgia
4:30-5:00 pm Closeout Jason Strong, Australia
5:00-6:00 pm Student Fellow Interaction and Program Feedback with ISEF Board of Directors