Cattle producers will want to attend the 2004 National Angus Conference & Tour, September 14-17 in Roanoke, Va. "Continuing the Angus Advance" is the theme for this year’s event. A day-long conference program will feature some top industry spokespersons and the two-day tour will journey through the scenic hills of Virginia to see numerous Angus cattle.
Registration opens at noon on Tuesday, September 14 at the historic Hotel Roanoke. American Angus Association staff will conduct educational workshops that afternoon. Scott Johnson, director of Angus Information Management Software (AIMS), will present an AIMS workshop. Angie Denton, director of Web Marketing for Angus Productions Inc., will give an overview of a variety of Web-based marketing alternatives. A reception will be hosted that evening at the Hotel Roanoke.
The conference begins at 8 a.m., on Wednesday, September 15, and features individual presentations and panel discussions by a variety of speakers. Wayne Purcell, Virginia Tech, will keynote the event with "Positioning Beef Industry Allies." Valerie Ragan, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is scheduled to discuss "Protecting American Animal Agriculture." Bill Bowman and Sally Northcutt, American Angus Association, will prepare the attendees by "Arming Producers for the Advance." Ronnie Green, USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will speak on "Assessing New Genetic Technologies." Jan Lyons, Lyons Ranch and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president, will talk about getting involved in the industry.
Scott Greiner, Virginia Tech, will moderate a panel that includes Joe Hampton, Angus Advantage LLC, Elizabeth City, N.C.; Harvey Lemmon, Lemmon Cattle Enterprises, Woodbury, Ga.; and Lydia Yon, Yon Family Farms, Ridge Spring, S.C. The panel will discuss a variety of marketing alternatives.
Following the educational program, the tour will begin at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Teaching Arena on the Virginia Tech campus at Blacksburg. Cattle representing the Virginia Tech Research and Teaching herds will be on display. Other herds, including Edwards Angus, Galax, Va., and Springwood Angus Farm, Buchanan, Va., will also have cattle on display. In addition educational sessions will be conducted and the Virginia Tech students will serve dinner.
The first full day of tours will begin early on Thursday, September 16. Tour stops include Maxey Farms, Chatham; Daltons on the Sycamore, Gretna; Appomattox Court House, Appomattox; and Knoll Crest Farm Inc., Red House. Other farms, including Ardmore Farm, Roanoke, and Deer Run Farm, Moneta, and others will also display cattle at Daltons.
The final day of the tour includes stops at Sugar Loaf Farms, Staunton; Whitestone Farm, Aldie; Lazy Lane Farms Inc., Upperville; and Wehrmann Angus, New Market. Ginger Hill Angus, Washington, along with other herds in Northern Virginia will display cattle at Lazy Lane.
Early tour registration is August 15 at a rate of $75. After the early registration deadline, the event will cost $100 per person. To register or for more information, call Linda Campbell at (816) 383-5143 or go online at www.angus.org, to register using a Visa or MasterCard. A complete schedule of events, as well as a summary of tour stops and speaker biographies is also online at www.nationalangusconference.com.
A block of rooms is available at the Hotel Roanoke. Guests can make reservations by calling the hotel at (866) 594-4722 and requesting a room within the National Angus Conference and Tour block. The hotel offers complimentary transportation to and from the Roanoke Regional Airport.
API Web Marketing
3201 Frederick Ave. • St. Joseph, MO 64506 • 1-800-821-5478
www.angusjournal.com • www.angusbeefbulletin.com • www.anguseclassifieds.com
e-mail: webmarketing@angusjournal.com