Fast facts:

Grandin is a renowned animal behavior expert, best selling author
Economist Stan Beavers will speak on cattle markets
Breakout sessions included at conference
For more information contact Jerry Clemons at 870-246-2281 or jclemons@uada.edu.

Temple Grandin headlines Four States Cattle Conference in December

TEXARKANA, Ark. – Temple Grandin, an animal scientist whose life story was profiled in an HBO movie, will be the featured speaker at the Four States Cattle Conference Dec. 10 at the Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana.

Grandin’s address will be at 9:10 a.m. on how to reduce stress on cattle during handling. She is one of several speakers who will deliver presentations throughout the day. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is a co-sponsor of the conference with the Louisiana State University Ag Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Oklahoma State University Extension, Farm Credit and Mix 30.

“Temple Grandin is a world-renowned animal behavior expert,” said Melissa Beck, Nevada County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “The insights she shares are always compelling.”

Grandin teaches courses on livestock behavior and facility design at Colorado State University. She also consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling and animal welfare. She was listed as one of Time magazines 100 most influential people of 2010 and is the author of two books on animals that were on the New York Times best seller list.

Aside from the keynote, “this conference is unique in that there are live animal demonstrations, and our producers love those,” Beck said.

Stan Beavers, an extension economist at Texas A&M University, will speak at 10 a.m. on how to make sense out of cattle markets. “The market outlook is always a valuable strategic planning tool and we have a well respected livestock economist such as Dr. Beavers to present that,“ said Melissa Beck, a Cooperative Extension Service agent for Nevada County.

Other activities at the conference will include breakout sessions on heifer selection and development, managing winter annual pastures for stocker cattle and weed management in southern pastures. There will also be a trade show, a heifer selection demonstration and a processing and branding demonstration.

Registration for the conference is $30. For more information contact Jerry Clemons at 870-246-2281 or jclemons@uada.edu. Those who pre-register will be eligible to win a free VetGun delivery platform for control of horn flies.

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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By Dave Edmark
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

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