Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Business digest - Jan. 17

Grady rancher reappointed

Wesley Grau of Grady was reappointed to the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board, the national board that administers the Beef Checkoff program, by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in late December. This will be the second three-year term for the Grady rancher, who was elected board chairman last August.

Grau and his family raise Charolais cattle in eastern New Mexico. He is an active member and past president of the NMCGA, and was named Cattleman of the Year by the Association in 2009.

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products.

Company receives annual Walmart award

A transportation and logistics provider that serves the Clovis area has received an annual award for excellence in delivery by Walmart.

Averitt Express in Cookeville, Tenn., received Walmart's 2011 Regional LTL Carrier of the Year Award.

Each year, the discount store chain recognizes transportation suppliers that have demonstrated excellence or exhibited significant improvement in meeting core business objectives, including small parcel, less-than-truckload (LTL) and intermodal.

This is the second time in the past three years that Averitt has been recognized by Walmart. The company received the Rising Star Carrier of the Year Award in 2008.

Business Digest is compiled by CNJ Staff Writer Kevin Wilson. He can be contacted at 763-3431, ext. 313, or by email:

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