News release issued June 8, 2000, effective immediately.
For media inquiries, contact Caroline Booth Lara, Communications Specialist, (580) 224-6379.
  email: cblara@noble.org

Note: This event occurred in 2000. Please see our news releases section for upcoming events.

Enhancing Profits Theme for Beef Symposium

ARDMORE, Okla. — Area cattle producers will get timely advice from nationally known livestock experts on taking advantage of production tips to enhance their profit during the Southern Plains Beef Symposium, this year to be held at the Heritage Hall (Ardmore Civic Auditorium) Saturday, Aug. 12.

Among the presenters at this year's symposium, sponsored by the Noble Foundation and Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service, are Temple Grandin, Ph.D., a livestock-handling facility designer and animal science assistant professor at Colorado State University, and cattle experts including cow-calf producer Connee Quinn of Chadron, Neb., agricultural economists Derrell Peel of OSU and John Lawrence of Iowa State University, and Chad Davis, projects coordinator, Decatur County Feed Yard in Oberlin, Kan.

The popular expert's panel will end the one-day seminar with a presentation and question-and-answer period, said program co-coordinator Shan Ingram, education and special projects manager with the Noble Foundation.

Cost is $15 per person, which includes a ribeye steak lunch.

Although the high-powered assemblage of program presenters from five states is the most noted yet, the overall focus of the symposium remains the same, Ingram said ? enhancing profits for area cattle producers.

"Cattle prices are pretty good right now, but costs can get out of hand pretty easily," Ingram said. "This symposium concentrates on taking advantage of good prices while controlling costs. There's more money to be had out there in niche markets and value added programs. We want producers to know how they can get better prices, rather than be average price-takers."

Ingram said the presentation "Cattle Handling to Reduce Stress and Increase Productivity" by Grandin should be especially interesting. Grandin, an animal psychologist-behaviorist specializing in the humane treatment of livestock, has designed livestock handling facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere.

A trade show also will be featured at the event and door prizes will be awarded through the day. The panel discussion, "How to Manage Cattle Purchases, Inventory and Timing," will feature Quinn, Davis, cattleman and order buyer Jacob Jones of Boswell, Okla.; Rod Schemm, with Henry C. Hitch Feedlot in Guymon, Okla.; and local ranchers Bill Reeds, Springer, Okla., and Ronnie Austin, Ringling, Okla.

Other topics at the symposium include a cattle market outlook, plus "Alternative Cow Herd Investment Strategies" "and "Improving Profits through Alliances, Genetic Selection, and Management."

Ingram said an earlier date released for the symposium was erroneous, and stresses the proper date is Aug. 12, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. and programs starting at 9 a.m.

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(FYI — The Noble Foundation is a privately funded, nonprofit organization headquartered in Ardmore, Okla. The Foundation conducts agricultural and plant biology research; provides grants to numerous other charitable and educational organizations; and assists farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative programs.)