Kevin Roberts: “I come to the floor today to recognize and congratulate Mr. Barry Carpenter, a longtime advocate for American…”

“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.…”