Washington State To Host Cattlemen’s Boot Camp In January
 
 
The American Angus Association®, Angus Foundation and Washington State University will conduct a Cattlemen’s Boot Camp, January 3-4, 2008, in Pullman, Wash. The Boot Camp is open to all cattle producers and will overview the various segments of the beef industry as well as gives perspective on emerging technologies.

The Association and Foundation have hosted several Boot Camps across the country, and this will be the first located in the Northwest. Boot Camp is open to all cattle producers, but enrollment is limited, so producers should sign up in advance. “The American Angus Association is excited to bring this Boot Camp to Washington State,” says Shelia Stannard, director of communications and events for the Association. “Boot Camp is a great refresher course for long-time producers and gives beginners an insight to the industry.”

Washington State University animal science professors, Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) staff will present the program. A variety of topics will be covered, including interactive sessions with live cattle and carcass comparisons in the meats lab.

The event will begin at 9 a.m., Thursday, January 3, in CUE 203 in the Smith Education Center on the Washington State campus. The Boot Camp will conclude on Friday, January 4. Following the Boot Camp, Association staff will offer an optional session about specific Association processes and procedures for any member that wants to participate.

Registration is just $75, which includes meals and materials for the Boot Camp. Enrollment is limited, so sign up today, by contacting the Association for registration materials.

Rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express in Pullman. Contact the hotel directly at 509-334-4437 and ask for the Angus Boot Camp block. Reservations must be made by December 19 to secure the negotiated rate.

Registration forms are available online at www.angus.org. An additional Boot Camp is planned for Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, December 18-19, 2007. For more information about either Boot Camp or to register, contact Shelia Stannard or Kris Sticken at 816-383-5100.
A tentative schedule of events follows:

Thursday, January 3, 2008, CUE 203
Smith Education Center

  • 8:00 a.m.
    Registration

  • 9:00 a.m.
    Welcome Dr. Margaret Benson, Washington State University
    Rod Wesselman, American Angus Association & Angus Foundation
    Program Overview Kris Johnson, WSU
    Developing and maintaining a business mentality
    Shannon Neibergs, WSU
    Break
    Continue...
    Consumer preferences for beef products
    Rob Noel, Washington Beef Commission
    Functional Genetics— Effective use of new and existing methods
    Holly Neibergs & Charles Gaskins, WSU

  • 12:00 p.m. Lunch
    Calf health management Steven Parish, DVM, WSU
    By-product feeding— Carcass quality implications
    Mark Nelson, WSU
    Move to Beef Center
    Skills session (3 rotations)
    Animal identification systems Lab work: Tatooing, Freeze branding
    Body condition scoring

  • 5:00 p.m.
    Dinner with Speaker at Beef Center (Catered)
    Research to Benefit the Beef Industry in Animal Sciences at WSU
    Margaret Benson
    Sale Time—What Bulls will you buy?
    Bill Bowman,
    American Angus

Friday, January 4, 2008

  • 7:30 a.m.
    Breakfast

  • 8:00 a.m.
    Communication Skills in Crisis Times
    Charlie Powell, WSU
    Marketing Alternatives— Branded products
    Mark McCully,
    Certified Angus Beef LLC
    Source Verification Programs
    Ty Groshans,
    America Angus Association
    More Marketing alternatives—Natural Programs, Organic & Grass Fed Beef
    Panel discussion moderated by
    Don Nelson,WSU
    Move to Meats Lab
    Carcass Quality Differences
    Jan Busboom & Dan Snyder, WSU
    Wrap up
    Kris Johnson, WSU

  • 12:45 p.m.
    Lunch

  • 1:15 p.m.
    American Angus Association forms & procedures (Optional for Association members) Bill Bowman