Foundation's 2004 Public Educational Events

by Shan Ingram

By now, we are all off to a fast start on 2004. We have several events coming up this year that will interest many of you. Please mark your calendar and plan to be with us. We realize awareness is important, but we feel you will benefit more by attending these events!

On March 13, we are having a youth-oriented event that has something for everyone. We are receiving steers for our Junior Beef Excellence Program — however, this is when we set up the Live Animal Evaluation Contest that is open to everyone. Look at the previous years' results on our Web site and plan to be with us to learn something and/or display your skills. This is truly a learning experience about carcass merit. This event is at our Pasture Demonstration Farm from 9 to 11 a.m. Results and prizes are presented at the Junior Beef Excellence Program Awards Program on April 6 (Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, 7-9 p.m.).

On March 23, our forage guys are planning an excellent seminar dealing with summer grasses and their management. Plan to be with us at the Foundation's Pavilion for the Summer Grass Seminar from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

For April, we are planning our Annual Field Day. This year it will be on the Pasture Demonstration Farm, because 2004 marks 40 years of the Foundation operating this property. Plan to join us for this day-long event on Friday, April 16. We will mail you more detailed information about this event at a later date.

Another April event (on the 20th) will be a Strawberry Plasticulture Seminar in the Horticulture Area from 6 to 8 p.m.

Other events in the spring include the Hunter Safety Course held at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center on May 22 from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The final spring event will be the Annual Horticulture Field Day on June 5. This event will begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at noon. It will be held in the Horticulture Area.

An important annual event is AgVenture. This summer camp for high school students will be held June 15 through 18. This camp is for students in the Agricultural Division's service area who have demonstrated an interest in agriculture. Please look on our Web site for more information. If you know a good student who would benefit from AgVenture, please make them aware of the dates.

This summer, we will have the Winter Pasture/Stocker Seminar on July 15. This event will be at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center from 4 to 9 p.m.

Then on Saturday, Aug. 14, we will have the Southern Plains Beef Symposium for the 14th consecutive year. This all-day event is always popular and well received. Don't miss this year's program — it may be the best one yet! We hope (depending on construction) it will be in Ardmore's new Convention Center this year.

We start the fall with another important cattle related event. Once again the Noble Foundation is teaming up with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association to offer Beef Quality Assurance Training. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about proper production techniques for beef. It will be held at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center on September 15.

Later in September, on the 25th, we are offering a unique field day. The Deer Management Field Day will be held at our Wildlife Unit near Ada, Okla. If you have an interest in deer management, you will not want to miss this unique event.

We will close out the year with two more quality events. On Oct. 12, we are having a Hoop House Seminar at the Kruse Auditorium. Then we will have our Grazing School Oct. 18 through 21. This multi-day school is very popular. If you have an interest, you should register early, because attendance is limited to the first 40 paid registrants. Come and learn the basics of grazing management.

As you can see, we have a busy year outlined. I hope you will be able to join us for several of these events. If you have questions or comments, be in contact. Hope to see you soon.