[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 169 (Thursday, October 11, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6810-S6811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO BARRY CARPENTER

  Mr. ROBERTS. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to recognize 
and congratulate Mr. Barry Carpenter, a longtime advocate for American 
agriculture, on his retirement from a career that spanned five decades. 
Last month, Barry retired his position as president and CEO of the 
North American Meat Institute, the Nation's largest and oldest trade 
association representing U.S. meat packers and processors. Barry's 
retirement concludes a career in both public service and private 
industry. His knowledge of the industry and his collaborative, affable 
disposition have allowed him to connect with everyone from CEOs to 
those just beginning their careers.
  Barry's appreciation for U.S. agriculture, his drive to serve, and 
his work ethic were developed at an early age, working on his family's 
diversified farm in central Florida that produced cattle, hogs, corn, 
peanuts, and melons. After graduating from the University of Florida, 
Barry began his career as a meat grader with the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture. He also enlisted in the U.S. Army, earning the rank 
specialist fifth class. Barry carried with him the sense of duty and 
discipline learned in these formative years in each role he held.
  Over the course of his 37-year career at USDA, Barry provided 
reasoned and steady guidance to Secretaries of both parties in multiple 
administrations. In his senior role at the Agricultural Marketing 
Service, Barry led programs critical to reestablishing U.S. beef export 
access following the first U.S. case of BSE in 2003. Barry further 
oversaw USDA's adoption of video technology used to assign beef quality 
grades, an important tool in identifying those high-quality prime 
steaks consumers around the world enjoy.
  Upon retiring from USDA, Barry continued to serve American 
agriculture when he was named CEO of the National Meat Association in 
2007. Barry has since provided steadfast leadership to the meat and 
poultry industry as CEO of the North American Meat Association and as 
president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute, following the 
completion of the merger, which he successfully guided, between the 
American Meat Institute and the North American Meat Association in 
January 2015.
  Barry has earned numerous governmental awards, including Presidential 
Rank Awards, honors bestowed to less than 1 percent of senior career 
employees throughout the Federal Government, from Presidents Bill 
Clinton and George W. Bush. He has also received

[[Page S6811]]

recognition from the livestock and meat industries.
  Throughout his career, Barry remained grounded and inspired by his 
wife Janet, four children, Mary Catherine, Jane, Michael, and Robert, 
and 11 grandchildren.
  I feel fortunate to have known many distinguished public servants and 
industry leaders like Barry, who have dedicated their careers to 
advocating for U.S. agriculture. I thank Barry for his many 
contributions to American agriculture, and I congratulate him on a 
well-deserved retirement.

                          ____________________