Media advisory issued July 21, 2003, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org.

13th Annual Southern Plains Beef Symposium Set for Aug. 9

ARDMORE, Okla. — In today's beef industry, there is no shortage of information — but figuring out how to apply that information can be a challenge for cattle producers. The 13th annual Southern Plains Beef Symposium will address that challenge with a program called "Putting Information to Work."

The daylong event is set for Saturday, Aug. 9 at Heritage Hall in Ardmore and is co-hosted by the Noble Foundation and Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension.

"This might be the strongest lineup of speakers, from top to bottom, that we've ever had," said Shan Ingram, the Noble Foundation's education and special projects manager. "We plan to provide good information producers can take home and use — practical information that is useful and easy to implement."

Topics and speakers are: Plum Island and U.S. Animal Disease Firewalls — Jeremiah Saliki, D.V.M., Ph.D., associate professor, Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory; Country of Origin labeling (COOL) – What Producers Need to Know — John Lawrence, director, Iowa Beef Center; The Beef Industry, Past, Present and Future — Ronnie Green, national program leader, food animal production, USDA-ARS; Replacement Heifer Development — Patsy Houghton, Heartland Cattle Co.; Bulls – Performance vs. Perception — Alan Sears, Deiter Brothers; Cattle Outlook & Market Situation — Jim Robb, director, Livestock Marketing Information Center.

After the presentations, there will be a panel discussion entitled "How Do I Get a Premium for My Calves?" Panelists will include Steve Smith, OSU area Extension livestock specialist; Bill Barnhart, OKC West Livestock Market; George Williams, Waurika Livestock Commission Co.; Paul Branch, Superior Livestock Auction and Fred Reuter, veterinarian and cattle producer.

The Leonard Wyatt Memorial Outstanding Cooperator Award, which was awarded for the first time last year, will be presented during the symposium. The award is given to a Noble Foundation cooperator who best exemplifies leadership in agricultural production techniques, stewardship of natural resources, and profitability of their overall farm/ranch operation.

The symposium will feature a trade show with 18 participating businesses and organizations, some of which will be donating door prizes. Free boot shines will be available during the trade show.

The early registration fee is $20 (due by Aug. 4; $25 at the door) and includes a steak lunch. Registration and fee can be mailed to Southern Plains Beef Symposium, c/o the Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Pkwy., Ardmore, OK 73401. Checks should be made out to Southern Plains Beef Symposium.

Registration on Aug. 9 begins at 8:30 a.m. at Heritage Hall, 220 W. Broadway, in downtown Ardmore. The program starts at 9 a.m.
For more information, call the Foundation at (580) 223-5810 or the Carter County OSU Extension office at (580) 223-6570.

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a non-profit organization conducting agricultural, forage biotechnological, and plant biology research; providing grants to numerous non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.

To learn more, visit the Noble Foundation Web site at http://www.noble.org.

More news releases available at www.noble.org/Press_Release