A leading advocate for American agriculture and agricultural exports has been named the 2013 recipient of the U.S. Meat Export Federation’s Distinguished Service Award.

P. Scott Shearer has extensive trade and agricultural policy expertise. As co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for U.S.-China Trade and co-chairman of the Agricultural Coalition for Trade Promotion Authority, he was instrumental in the successful passage of China permanent normal trade relations, TPA and the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Shearer provides a weekly online column for National Hog Farmer’s Weekly Preview covering legislative affairs in Washington, DC.

In his more than 30 years of government relations at the state and national levels, Shearer has served as deputy assistant secretary of agriculture directing the agency’s legislative efforts including the 1996 farm bill, trade policy, USDA reorganization, crop insurance reform, food safety and nutrition. In 1999, he was named a private sector member of the U.S. delegation to the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Seattle. He also is a past chairman of the USDA-USTR Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Animals and Animal Products

In the mid-1980s, he was executive director of the National Corn Growers Association after serving as a legislative assistant to Illinois Sen. Alan J. Dixon.

Currently he is a principal of the Bockorny Group Inc., a leading bipartisan government affairs consulting firm located in Washington, DC.

A graduate of the University of Illinois, Shearer was awarded in 2009 the University of  Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association’s Award of Merit. This is the association’s highest honor given to an alum.

“Scott has made numerous significant contributions to our industry over the course of his career,” says Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “He has been an effective and outspoken advocate for American agriculture in general and agricultural exports in particular. We are proud to have worked with Scott over the years, and are pleased to have the opportunity to present him with this honor.”

Established in 1991, USMEF’s Distinguished Service Award is given to an individual in the red meat industry who exemplifies the exceptional dedication and outstanding capability responsible for the federation’s success.