Grandin, O’Leary, Teichert on the agenda
Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Andy Holloway, 806-323-9114, Andy.Holloway@ag.tamu.edu
CANADIAN – The agenda for the Texas A&M AgriLife Hemphill County Beef Conference April 23-24 is finalized, and headliners will include Dr. Temple Grandin, John O’Leary and Burke Teichert.
Temple Grandin
John O’Leary
Burke Teichert
The conference will be in the Jones Pavilion, 1101 N. Sixth St., Canadian.
Andy Holloway, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agriculture and natural resources agent for Hemphill County, said the attendance is expected to reach about 500 this year.
The cost for the two-day conference and tour is $100, and a spouse ticket is $85. Go to https://www.hemphillcotxbeef.com/ for advance registration. Participants can also call the AgriLife Extension office in Hemphill County at 806-323-9114 or contact Christa Perry at christa.perry@ag.tamu.edu to register or receive additional information.
The two-day ticket includes 10 speakers, three meals, a cattle-handling presentation and over 60 agriculture trade vendors. Also, five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered from the two days of presentations.
A Ladies Cultural Tour of Canadian will be from 2-5 p.m. on April 23. Tickets are $30, and preregistration is required, with a limit of 45 participants. The bus tour will include the Canadian Cultural District, Citadelle Art Museum, and an artisan chocolate and wine tasting.
O’Leary is a best-selling author and speaker who at the age of 9 was playing with fire and gasoline, created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100 percent of his body. He was given 1 percent chance to live. His motivational book, “ON FIRE: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life,” was an instant No. 1 national best-seller.
Grandin, a Colorado State University animal science professor, is responsible for designing equipment used to handle about half of all cattle in meat plants in the U.S. and Canada, as well as developing animal welfare guidelines for the meat industry and consulting with companies on animal welfare. She will speak on “Stress-Free Cattle Handling” and “Cattle Handling Made Easy.”
Burke Teichert, BEEF Magazine columnist and beef consultant, Orem, Utah, has a long background in the cattle industry as a university professor, cattle reproduction specialist and general manager and vice president of AgReserves Inc., or the Deseret Ranches, which was once the largest beef cow/calf operation in the U.S. He will speak on “Systems Approach to Management” and “Profitable Ranching–Is It Possible?”
Craig Cowden, Hemphill County rancher and member of the conference committee, said the whole idea behind this conference is to allow cattlemen across the country to learn and hear about the latest industry updates and advice.
“This industry is changing so much that if you’re not learning, you’re going to be left behind, and you’re not going to be able to be profitable within the business,” Cowden said.
He said the guest speakers will talk about the importance of continuously measuring and managing all aspects of the ranching operation.
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” Cowden said. “And so, if we aren’t keeping good records, if we aren’t staying on top of our trends and seeing where we can make improvements, then I think we don’t have a good understanding of what our production is, and we don’t have a base to know where to make improvements.”
On the agenda to help understand how and what to measure and manage are:
– Troy Applehans, CattleFax market analyst, Denver, Colorado, “What Do the Numbers Indicate About the Future Beef Cattle Markets Based on Supply and Demand?”
– Dr. David Lalman, Oklahoma State University Harrington Chair and beef cattle specialist, Stillwater, Oklahoma, “Fitting Your Herd Bull EPD’s to Your Ranch and Cowherd, New Research and Important Considerations.”
– Tiffany Dowell Lashmet, AgriLife Extension agricultural law specialist, Amarillo, “Ag Leases, Insurance Liabilities and New Ag Law.”
– Dr. Cliff Lamb, Texas A&M University animal science department head, College Station, “Using Reproductive Management to Enhance Profitability of Cattle Operations.”
– Colt Keefer, Charolais International of America regional manager, Fort Collins, Colorado, “Genetics for Growth and Quality, How Can a Rancher Add Value to His Cowherd?”
– Dr. Tim Steffens, AgriLife Extension range specialist, Canyon, “Grass Grazing and Reproduction, How They Work Together.”
– Dr. Ron Gill, AgriLife Extension state beef cattle specialist, College Station, and Grandin, “Cattle Handling Made Easy.”
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