(Washington, D.C.) - Montana's Senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus earned the U.S. Meat Export Federation's top honor for 2011 -- the Mansfield Meat Exporter of the Year. The award is named for former Ambassador and Montana Senator Mike Mansfield. Baucus accepted the award last week standing in front of photos of Mansfield in a conference room named in Mansfield's honor.

"I would like to present you with the highest award we have at the U.S. Meat Export Federation," said CEO of U.S. Meat Export Federation Phil Seng. "We honor you for all the hard work, the dedication you showed and exhibited over the years, especially to the U.S. meat industry, but even larger as far as international trade. When you support something we know we are going to be better off. And for that, we want to thank you."

"Plain and simple, more trade means more jobs," Baucus said. "I'll keep fighting to ensure American ranchers can sell more beef around the world and support more workers here at home."

Baucus is scheduled to move legislation through his Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday that makes sure Montana can take advantage of new job-creating export opportunities when Russia joins the World Trade Organization (WTO) this summer. Without Baucus' legislation, Montana ranchers will miss out on opportunities to sell more than 60,000 tons of American beef to Russia at a lower cost to Montana. Learn more HERE.

As chairman of the Senate Committee with sole jurisdiction over international trade, Baucus led the 2011 passage of free trade agreements that will make it easier and cheaper for American ranchers to sell beef in Colombia, South Korea and Panama. Learn more HERE.

The Michael J. Mansfield Award was established by the U.S. Meat Export Federation to recognize a worldwide leader who works to increase opportunities for U.S. international trade. The award is presented in honor of Ambassador and former Montana Senator Mike Mansfield, who worked successfully to open Japan's markets to U.S. Agriculture.