Major sheep, goat events set Aug. 28-29 in San Angelo

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu

Contact: Marvin Ensor, 325-653-4576, m-ensor@tamu.edu

SAN ANGELO – Event organizers are urging producers to mark their calendars now so as not to miss two major upcoming sheep and goat industry educational opportunities slated for Aug. 28-29 at San Angelo.

The first of the two is the annual Sheep and Goat Field Day conducted by and on the grounds of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center located just north of San Angelo. That event starts with registration at 8 a.m. followed by the program from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 28. The second event is the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo set from 2-5:30 p.m., also on Aug. 28, and again from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 29 at the San Angelo Fairgrounds.

Marvin Ensor, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program leader at San Angelo and a coordinator on both events, said the annual Sheep and Goat Field Day is a long-standing tradition of the AgriLife center dating back to the 1970’s. The field day is generally scheduled the first Thursday of each September.

The expo is to be a state level event with demonstrations and hands-on activities following the center’s Aug. 28 field day. Activities on Aug. 29 will start early with a chuck wagon breakfast followed by concurrent sessions featuring wool breeds, hair sheep, club lamb production and meat goats. Commercial businesses will exhibit new equipment, products and services throughout the two days.

“Both these programs will have a lot to offer,” Ensor said. “We have moved the center’s sheep and goat field day to coincide with the expo. Our thought is for folks to start by first attending the center’s field day that touts work being conducted there, eat a great lunch on the center grounds and then move to the San Angelo Fairgrounds to take part in the expo.

“It will be a full two days, and participants can take part in any or all of both events. We do hope they will take advantage of both programs though, as we have never offered such an opportunity before.”

Ensor said the center’s field day will include work being done with sheep and goat guard dogs, brush management and feral hogs, while the expo will feature a totally different set of interests.

“No matter where your interest lies in regard to sheep and goat production, the expo program is designed for you,” Ensor said. “The sheep and goat industry in Texas is now more diverse than it’s ever been, so instead of targeting just one or two aspects on the local level, we’ve planned the expo to encompass all the primary production areas in which the industry is headed today.

“Live animal demonstrations coupled with updates on management practices, along with new products and technology, will predominate with classroom instruction kept to a minimum.”

Ensor said more information and specifics on both programs will soon be available.

Businesses interested in renting an exhibit area or serving as a sponsor for either or both events should contact Nanette Johnson at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo at 325-653-4576.

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