March 29, 2024

Register now for the Stockmanship and Stewardship event in Ames

What is Stockmanship and Stewardship?

Stockmanship and Stewardship is a regional event coordinated in conjunction with the producer education team at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the beef checkoff, who selected Ames as one of five locations across the country to host the event this year. The workshop brings together industry experts, stakeholders and producers for an educational experience unlike any other.

This event aims to address the current state of the beef industry, consumer concerns regarding beef sustainability and livestock welfare, impacts of those concerns on the industry, and the role that producer education and Beef Quality Assurance play in the conversation.

Throughout the workshop, producers will participate in expert panel discussions, keynote speakers, live cattle handling demonstrations and hands-on breakout sessions, and have the opportunity to get certified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and BQA Transportation.

When and where is this event?

The workshop will be June 28-29 at the Jeff and Deb Hansen Ag Learning Center (2508 Mortensen Road) in Ames, IA.

Who is speaking?

Several presenters from across the country will be part of the educational experience. Keynote speakers and cattle handling experts include:

-Nationally renowned clinicians Curt Pate, professional cattle handling trainer and educator, and Ron Gill, Professor and Extension Livestock Specialist at Texas A&M University.

-Keynote speakers Sara Place, NCBA Senior Director of Sustainable Beef Production Research, and Alison Wedig, Culvers Marketing Specialist.

Industry leaders in both stockmanship and stewardship techniques will discuss the latest science and management strategies to improve profitability and consumer confidence. Also, Allison Rivera, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, and ISU faculty members will hold educational breakout sessions to bring together the material discussed in the workshop and bring the event to a close.

Why should I attend?

This event brings industry experts and the latest science directly to producers and provides them with the tools and education to help make their operations more profitable. Producers can network with fellow producers and industry stakeholders, and also learn about cutting edge operation techniques and best management practices in a hands-on and interactive environment. Attendees also will be able to become BQA and BQAT certified, opening up market opportunities and helping to ensure consumer confidence in beef.

Registration

To register for the event, visitwww.stockmanshipandstewardship.org. For any questions, email Katy Lippolis atlippolis@iastate.edu.

Agenda

Day One:

8 a.m. – noon: Optional pre-program tour to Iowa River Ranch or Couser Cattle Company

Iowa River Ranch

The Iowa River Ranch received the 2001 Environmental Stewardship Award Program national award, sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; a 2002 Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator’s Award for Environmental Excellence, and the 2003 Spencer Award for Sustainable Agriculture given by ISU’s Leopold Center. Dave Petty, along with his wife, Diane, own and operate this diversified crop and livestock operation in west central Hardin County. Petty’s Iowa River Ranch runs along several miles of the Iowa River. He constructed more than 12 miles of terraces, several farm ponds, reshaped more than 12 miles of waterways and seeded three miles of buffer strips.

Couser Cattle Company

Couser Cattle Co., owned by Bill and Nancy Couser of Nevada, Iowa, is a 2010 NCBA Environmental Stewardship Award winner and the 2015 NCBA Feedlot BQA Award winner. Couser Cattle Co. is multi-faceted operation that annually feeds and finishes 5,000 to 6,000 head of cattle and farms 5,000 acres, producing both corn seed and soybean seed. The Couser Family has a multi-use Feedlot Learning Center space for training and educating employees, producers, veterinary students, youth groups and the public on animal care and environmental stewardship.

Noon: Registration

1 p.m.: Welcome and Lunch (Lunch by Story County Cattlemen)

2 p.m.: What Consumers Are Telling Us (Alison Wedig, Marketing Specialist, Culvers)

3 p.m.: Stockmanship Panel: Curt Pate, Ron Gill, Justin Rowe, Pete Bakken

·Moderator: Jesse Fulton, NCBA Producer Education

4 p.m. Stewardship Panel: Alison Wedig, Sara Place, Craig Moss,Mike Landuyt

·Moderator: Cody Nelson, Soil RX

5 p.m.: Wrap-up Discussion

5:30 p.m.: Adjourn

6 p.m.: Dinner. Facts and Fiction of Beef Sustainability (Sara Place, NCBA)

Day Two:

7:30 a.m.: Coffee and Doughnuts

8 a.m.: BQA/BQA Transportation Classroom Session

10 a.m.: Cattle Handling Demo with Curt Pate and Ron Gill

Noon: Lunch

1 p.m.: Breakout Rotations (30 minutes each)

·How acclimating cattle can improve your cattle’s health and performance in the feedlot– Grant Dewell, DVM

·Getting the most out of your vaccines – Brent Meyer, DVM and Katy Lippolis, PhD

·Euthanasia and Carcass Disposal - Renee Dewell, DVM

·Trailer Design and Management - Ron Gill

·Beef Briefs: Current hot topics and policy efforts in D.C. – Allison Rivera

4 p.m.: BQA/BQA Transportation Quiz and Certification

4:30 p.m.: Closing