The Sommet’s international visitors lounge.
Day two of the Sommet de l’Élevage is underway. The second day of the Sommet is a big one since the trade show is open and attendees are given the chance to mingle and create business connections. Renee Strickland has been tending to her booth today, as well as talking to many international Sommet attendees. Strickland, a south Florida rancher and former president of the U.S. Livestock Exporters Association (LEA), is representing the LEA as the very first U.S. exhibitor at the Sommet. AgNet Media Founder and President Gary Cooper caught up with Strickland at her booth.
Strickland says that the Sommet is one of the largest tradeshows she has attended. She is impressed by the size of the show itself, as well as the amount of international people in attendance. While at her booth, Strickland says she had visitors from Iran, France, Algeria and a few other countries as well. According to Strickland, the international attendees were a big influence on her decision to exhibit at the Sommet. “To get the biggest bang for your buck, you want to be able to access as many countries as possible,” Strickland says.
The Sommet features cattle shows. This year they have nearly 2,000 animals participating.
Strickland says she has learned about many European cattle breeds and says she is impressed that all their cattle is grass-fed. While at the Sommet, she is also squashing the stigma that American cattle is all about growth hormones. However, she says she needs more U.S. producers with her to dispel those myths in the E.U.
Strickland highly encourages all U.S. livestock producers to think about attending or exhibiting at the Sommet in 2018. “I believe it is well worth the time, well worth the effort and expense. I know that they (the Sommet coordinators) would be happy and welcoming to us,” Strickland says.
Cooper is in France covering the Sommet de l’Élevage for the remainder of the week. Stay tuned for more from Cooper as he experiences the Sommet.
Hear Strickland’s interview with Cooper:
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