By MEGGIE I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Looking for a one-stop educational shop for the latest innovations in the livestock industry? The Indiana Cattle and Forage Symposium on Feb. 27-28 should fit the bill, according to Liz Woodruff, of the Milk Promotions Services of Indiana.

The event, rallying in Indianapolis, Ind. for its second year will invite forage, dairy and beef producers to the Hilton Indianapolis North to hear some of the nation’s foremost experts in the farm industry.

“This year’s conference is packed full of timely breakout sessions for dairy producers including topics from reducing forage loss, managing dairy business with increasing variability in profits, and accelerated growth in dairy calves,” said Woodruff. “The Milk Promotion Services of Indiana along with the Indiana Professional Dairy Producers are excited to join forces again with the Indiana beef and forage industries to put on this conference.”

According to Woodruff, the conference is also presented in partnership with the Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc. (IBCA) and the Indiana Forage Council.

Grandin presents keynote

But perhaps the most enticing aspect of the conference, Woodruff said, is their line-up of featured speakers including Andrew McCrea, a renowned motivational speaker for the agriculture industry on Feb. 27 and Temple Grandin, famed animal behaviorist from Colorado State University on Feb. 28.

Grandin is recognized worldwide for her efforts in the design of livestock handling facilities, her writings on the flight zone behavior of animals and other principles of that work to reduce stress on animals during handling. She is also the author of Thinking in Pictures, Livestock Handling and Transport and Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals.

Grandin, who suffers from severe autism, has appeared on numerous television shows including 20/20 with Barbara Walters, 48 Hours, CNN Larry King Live and has been featured in publications such as People magazine, the New York Times, Forbes and Time magazine.

In addition to McCrea and Grandin, other featured speakers include Allen Bridges, state Extension specialist in reproduction for Purdue University; Dennis Buckmaster, associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue, specializing in silage harvest and storage; Dan Buskirk, professor of animal science at the Michigan State University, who focuses his research on the improvement and profitability of stocker and cow-calf operations; and James Drackley, professor of animal sciences and nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and director of the Midwest Dairy Consortium. Drackley’s research program centers on dry cow period nutrition and the metabolism of transition cows.

Other topics specific to forage and beef cattle producers will include: a beef checkoff update, beef reproduction discussion, expectations of a soil fertility program, a forage panel discussion and a community relations training session.

In addition to the national speakers on board for the event, the Symposium will also encompass traditional association business meetings and award celebrations, including the Forage Spokesperson Contest and the annual IBCA awards breakfast.

Registration is $125 after Feb. 2 and a second or additional registration begins at $95. The event will include materials and four meals in total. Send check or money order to the Indiana Beef Cattle Assoc. at 5738 West 74th St., Indianapolis, IN 46278 or call 800-515-BEEF for further details.