Writer: Susan Himes, 325-657-7315, Susan.Himes@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Robert Pritz, 325-653-4576, Robert.Pritz@ag.tamu.edu
The annual Texas Sheep and Goat Expo and Field Day will be Aug. 16-17 in San Angelo. (AgriLife Extension photo by Susan Himes)
SAN ANGELO — The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in San Angelo has announced the schedule for the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo and the 46th annual Sheep and Goat Field Day.
The two events historically attract participants nationwide and are the country’s largest sheep and goat events, said Robert Pritz, AgriLife Extension regional program leader, San Angelo.
The free field day will be Aug.16 from 8-11:30 a.m. at the AgriLife center, 7887 U.S. Highway 87 N., San Angelo.
The field day will include the dedication of the sheep statue, Ms. TAM “Ewe”niversity, at the entrance to the center. Ms. TAM “Ewe” is one of the sheep statues of San Angelo, a community project to celebrate the city’s past as “the wool capital of the world.”
The Sheep and Goat Expo will begin afterward, kicking off with a noon lunch at the Spur Arena at 200 W. 43rd Ave., San Angelo.
“Each year we try to provide producers with basic sheep and goat production information, while at the same time introducing new topics and the latest industry updates,” said Pritz.
The Sheep and Goat Expo will run from noon-8:30 p.m. on Aug. 16, and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on Aug. 17.
The cost of the expo is $50 for adults and $30 for children. Lunch and dinner on Aug. 16 and breakfast and lunch on Aug. 17 are included in the price.
The registration deadline is Aug. 13. To register online and for additional Texas Sheep and Goat Expo registration and event information, visit https://agrilife.org/agrilifesheepandgoat/ .
This year’s expo will feature a special practicum session that will provide hands-on demonstrations of some production practices all producers, new and old, can incorporate into their operations, Pritz said.
The featured keynote speaker on Aug. 16 will be Benny Cox, American Sheep Industry president, San Angelo. Day one will also feature sheep and goat industry updates from a variety of experts and an educational sheep and goat carcass evaluation.
Concurrent sessions will take place in the late afternoon and include: business and marketing; health and management; wildlife compatibility with sheep and goats; and integrative crop and livestock systems.
On Aug. 17, Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state climatologist, College Station, will take the stage as the keynote speaker. Other activities will include a performance-oriented sheep and goat sale and the Texas Lamb Breeders Association board meeting.
Concurrent session topics on day two will focus on: youth, hair sheep, wool sheep, club lambs, angora goats and meat goats.
-30-
