Angus enthusiasts should plan now to attend the 2007 National Angus Conference and Tour, set for Aug. 29-31 in Peoria, Ill. The event features a day-long conference program followed by a two-day tour of Illinois Angus herds. The American Angus AssociationSM sponsors the event, along with corporate partners Purina Mills LLC and Alpharma Animal Health. The Illinois Angus Association will host the tour, a �Heartland Homecoming� in the state where the American Angus Association received its charter nearly 125 years ago.
�For the third consecutive year Purina Mills is proud to be the major sponsor of the National Angus Conference and Tour. We are pleased to have the Checkerboard associated with the American Angus Association, the staff, members, and volunteer leadership,� says Rod Nulik, marketing manager, Purina Mills. �If the �Heartland Homecoming' holds true to the previous events, it will be packed with helpful information accompanied by great food and fellowship.�
The conference is Wednesday, Aug. 29, and features industry experts that will address topics ranging from reproduction and cow herd efficiencies to producing a high quality end product. Program speakers include Bill Beal, Virginia Tech; Doug Parrett, Tom Carr and Larry Berger, all with University of Illinois; Mark Polzer, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) LLC; Sally Northcutt, Bill Bowman and Jerry Cassady, all with American Angus Association.
The tour will kick off Wednesday evening at Weaver Angus Farm, Peoria. The tour continues on Thursday, Aug. 30, and begins with two stops in Peoria at manufacturing sites. The Caterpillar Inc., Track Type Tractor facility will feature the construction of Cat's largest tractors. A stop at Keystone Steel and Wire will showcase the making of fencing supplies like wire and panels. The Illinois Angus Association is hosting a cattle stop at the Woodford County Fairgrounds, Eureka. All Illinois breeders are encouraged to showcase their Angus genetics at this centralized stop. The tour will continue to Werner Angus, Cordova.
The final day of the tour includes three Angus operations. The tour on Friday, Aug. 31 will begin at Dameron Angus Farm, Lexington. Prairie View Farm, Gridley, will host the second stop of the day. Sauk Valley Angus, Rock Falls, will host the concluding stop.
Registration for the event is just $75 per person if you register by the early deadline of July 27. After that, the registration fee is $125. Registration forms will be online soon.
The Holiday Inn City Centre is the headquarters of the 2007 National Angus Conference & Tour. A block of rooms has been reserved at a nightly rate of $87 plus tax per room. All attendees must make their own room reservations by calling the hotel at 309-674-2500. Negotiated rates in the Angus block will be available until August 5. After that date, reservations will be made at a space and availability basis.
For more information about this event, contact Shelia Stannard or Monica Jordan at 816-383-5100.
The National Angus Conference & Tour is just one of the events the American Angus Association conducts for its 34,000 members and thousands of commercial cattle producers nationwide. For more information about this event, or other Association programs, visit www.angus.org.
A schedule of events follows:
2007
National Angus Conference & Tour
August 29-31 ~ Peoria,
Illinois
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
2 p.m. -- Registration Opens
6:30 p.m. -- Welcome Reception
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
6:30 a.m. -- Breakfast
7 a.m. -- Registration resumes
8 a.m. -- Conference Begins
Welcome -- Jot Hartley, American Angus Association President.
Get'em Bred�Understanding the Estrous Cycle and Maintenance of Pregnancy -- Bill Beal, Virginia Tech.
Association Reproductive Strategies -- Bill Bowman & Sally Northcutt, American Angus Association.
Break
Customer Service is Key -- Jerry Cassady, American Angus Association.
Let's Talk about Efficiencies for Cow-calf Producers -- Doug Parrett, University of Illinois.
Partners in Progress�A Message from our Major Sponsor -- Rod Nulik, Purina Mills LLC.
Lunch
Feed Efficiency � How do we Measure It? -- Larry Berger & Doug Parrett, University of Illinois.
Carcass Grading Basics and Instrument Grading of Beef -- Tom Carr, University of Illinois.
Certified Angus Beef�Supplying the Brand -- Mark Polzer, Certified Angus Beef LLC.
Wrap-up
5:00 -- Load Buses�Tour Kick-off -- Weaver Angus Farm, Peoria.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Keystone Steel & Wire � Peoria.
Caterpillar Inc. � Peoria.
Woodford County Fairgrounds � Eureka � multiple Angus breeders displaying cattle
Werner Angus � Cordova
Friday, August 31, 2007
Dameron Angus Farm � Lexington.
Prairie View Farm � Gridley.
Sauk Valley Angus � Rock Falls.
