WASHINGTON – Legendary former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie will be the keynote speaker at the 2012 Annual Meat Conference slated for Feb. 19-21 in Orlando, Fla. The American Meat Institute and the Food Marketing Institute sponsor the conference. Associate sponsors include the American Lamb Board, Beef Checkoff, National Chicken Council, Pork Checkoff and National Turkey Federation.

Flutie, who is also a philanthropist, will share his life experiences on and off the field. Flutie set NCAA career records for passing yards and total offense. He is also remembered for throwing the “Hail Mary” touchdown pass in the last seconds of Boston College’s 47-45 upset over Miami, the same season he won the Heisman Trophy. In his professional career, Flutie recorded 64,938 yards of total offense, compiling 58,179 passing yards and 6,759 rushing yards while playing in the NFL (1986-89, 1998-2005), USFL (1985) and CFL (1990-97).

Flutie also established the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism Inc. in honor of his autistic son. The organization funds research and provides financial support to families impacted by autism. The Fluties have donated close to $3 million to various autism organizations.

Other sessions include:

• Winning in the New Consumer Economy
• The Economy and Its Impact on Your Business
• The Power of Meat: An In-Depth Look at Meat Through the Shoppers’ Eyes
• Strategic Futures