How R-CALF hoodwinked ranchers and small town merchants, set back the efforts of innovators in the beef chain to communicate or cooperate to improve beef products, is worth knowing. We don't yet know the final result of their attacks on consumer confidence and the political and economic scene. The next Sentinels will examine the inside of R- CALF via highlights from over 160 pages of documents from swifthorses.com. Quotes in the following are from officers, members or staff unless otherwise noted.

Sentinels will examine the inside of R- CALF via highlights from over 160 pages of documents from swifthorses.com. Quotes in the following are from officers, members or staff unless otherwise noted.

The Coup
Note: The vote to remove Chuck Kiker as president occurred ostensibly because his letter to the USDA was too deferential*. It occurred on a Feb. 8 conference call, 5-4, with Max Thornsberry, vice- president, abstaining and director James Fudge apparently having disappeared from the call.

- "[The conference call vote was] ... one of the most cowardly demonstrations I have ever heard. ... in the comfort of their homes, they dissolved R-CALF. When the vote came, [Thornsberry] had the opportunity but lacked the courage to maintain the organization. Instead, having counted the votes, he knew he was the new president. The rest of the directors went along with the lynching like a bunch of penguins marching in a line on the beach. Well, they'll find what they won was a kingdom without serfs." Dennis McDonald, board member

After the Coup
- On Feb 10, two days after The Coup and after the resignations of Kiker, McDonnell and most committee chairmen, CEO Bill Bullard sent out a staff directive cutting them all off, plus others who hadn't resigned, from all communications with R-CALF except dues billings - even newsletters and releases. Jay Miller, a committee chairman cut off, was furious at his member's rights being infringed and called Bullard's actions a "firing offense." Upon learning that Thornsberry, not Bullard, was responsible for his "blacklisting," he e-mailed Thornsberry. They evidently exchanged other e-mails not divulged, until Thornsberry fired off a reply that harkens back to primitive times.

Thornsberry indicated Miller had said, "We're coming after you ..." and demanded to know if Miller is threatening to "kill me, harm me or harm my family," or just threatening legal action. He told Miller that in the Ozarks, when one man calls out another, they meet and deal with the issue.

Thornsberry said he does not usually carry his gun (licensed) but needs to know if he should, to be prepared. He said he does not mind being threatened, "for if I die, I am going to Heaven immediately," but fears for his family and that might cause him "to do irrational things." R-CALF Status

-"... the current state of affairs is quickly dragging us down to nothing more than a joke to our opponents and political contacts." Tom Moulden

-"I must be honest with you, I became disillusioned with R-CALF long ago ..." Brett DeBruyckerR-CALF Leadership Questioned

"I would like to know where James Fudge was at during this vote. I also want to know why Max Thornsberry abstained from voting. I have said before that there is a serious lack of intelligence on this board, but I did not realize there were cowards there as well." Debruycker

"The leaks of confidential information pouring out of your [board's] ranks is fueling the demise of the organization ..." Lee Engelhardt

Next time: Number Discrepancies - Membership & Finance

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