Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Andy Holloway at 806-323-9114 or andy.holloway@ag.tamu.edu
CANADIAN – The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hemphill County will be hosting the third annual Beef Cattle Conference and Ag Tour on April 25-26 in the Jones Pavilion, 1101 N. Sixth St. in Canadian.
“This beef cattle conference addresses the huge market swings of the industry giving producers strategies and information on how to survive and make the most of this situation,” said Andy Holloway, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent in Hemphill County and event coordinator.
“With the recent wildfires around the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma and Kansas, these speakers will address how producers can manage around the lack of pastures and the options available to assist their recovery from this tragedy,” Holloway said.
A two-day ticket is $100 per person with additional spouse tickets $85 during early registration. If purchased at the door, the cost is $125 per person and $100 for the extra spouse ticket.
To register or reserve tickets, go to http://hemphillcotxbeef.com, call 806-323-9114 or email Cynthia Ewing at cynthia.ewing@ag.tamu.edu.
Tickets will cover educational speakers, three meals, entertainment, two ranch visits and more than 40 agricultural trade booth vendors. Also, six Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered at the April 26 program.
The program will begin at 8 a.m. April 25 with registration and the trade show. Following introductions and announcements at 9 a.m., Dr. Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director from College Station, will open the program.
Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. with entertainment by the Jenkins Family Band and highlighted by keynote speaker Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in Austin.
Other topics and speakers on April 25 include:
– The Facts, Stats and Future of the Beef Cattle Markets, Troy Applehans, CattleFax, Denver, Colorado.
– Key Producer Indicators, Stan Beavers, The KPI System owner and former AgriLife Extension economist, Vernon.
– How CAB is Adding Value to the Beef Industry, Mark McCully, Certified Angus Breeders vice president, Wooster, Ohio.
– How to Prosper in a Hurricane, Salem Abraham, Abraham Trading in Canadian.
The educational talks will conclude with a panel discussion led by Dr. Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist in Amarillo, who will also summarize the day’s activities.
Evening activities will include the Hemphill County Rancher of the Year presentation, a meal and Red Steagall and the Cowboy Corner as entertainment.
The April 26 program will begin at 8 a.m. at the pavilion and the group will depart to the David and Sandi Cook Ranch at 8:30 a.m.
Dr. Tim Steffens, AgriLife Extension and West Texas A&M University range specialist in Canyon, will present Grass Grazing and Animal Management, followed by Jodi Stockett, Dow Chemical Co. representative from Claude, discussing weed and brush control.
The group will then travel to the Jason Abraham Mendota Ranch for a lunch sponsored by Merck Animal Health.
Jason Abraham and Dr. Ty Lawrence, director of the WT Meat Carcass Research Center in Canyon, will present The Bull Cloning Project at West Texas A&M University and Research to Enhance Beef Cattle Quality.
Dr. Guy Ellis, veterinarian with Merck Animal Health in Clarendon, will make the last educational presentation, Cow, Calf Health and Technology to Enhance Herd Health, Reproduction and Marketing.
The program will wrap up with questions and answers and a cloned cutting horse demonstration by Jason and Luke Abraham.
The program will be jointly sponsored by Plains Land Bank, Superior Livestock Auction and Capital Farm Credit.
For more information, contact Holloway at 806-323-9114 or andy.holloway@ag.tamu.edu or visit the program website, https://www.hemphillcotxbeef.com/.
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