Pausing for a photograph
during the Triennial Stocker Conference are (from left) Perry Mobley,
ALFA Alabama Beef Producers director; D.J. Edwards, Kansas stocker
operator/conference presenter; Clay Kennamer, Hollywood,
stocker operator; C.J. Jackson, Camden, future cattleman; and Leo
Hollinger, Camden, stocker operator . |
Stocker
Conference is
Value-Added Experience
for Over 125
By
Ashley Smith
Twelve-year-old
C.J. Jackson from Camden grinned broadly when Leo Hollinger, also from
Camden, commented that C.J. was a future cattle farmer. Both were
recently at the Triennial Stocker Conference in Auburn on Friday, August
15, 2008. |
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More
than 125 attendees spent the day listening to speakers from Arkansas to
North Carolina discuss stocker cattle operations. In addition to
interacting with other cattle operators, attendees received a notebook
filled with information and proceedings from each of the guest speakers
of the day.
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D.J.
Edwards, stocker operator and owner of Edwards Cattle Company in
Hamilton, Kansas, began the conference, sharing his perspective on where
the stocker industry is going. He talked about his background in the
business and what he believes needs to happen for operators to stay on
track for the future.
Other
speakers discussed ways to maintain the controllable. Extension Animal
Scientist Dr. Matt Poore, from North Carolina State University,
presented facts about nutrition programs for stocker cattle. Keith
Glover, who owns a stocker operation in Greensboro, participated as a
presenter of a three-person producer panel. The combined experience of
everyone presenting at the Conference offered attendees considerable
knowledge and understanding.
Hollinger
wanted to hear what others had to say and stay abreast of new
information. He raises custom background cattle for people and grows
stocker cattle for others. Exchanging
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Discussing stocker
operations during a conference break are (from left) Jason Jones,
Tru-Test; Keith Glover, Greensboro, stocker operation producer/producer
panel speaker; and Brenda Glover, Animal Science and Forages Regional
Extension Agent (Blackbelt Region).
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ideas and learning is important to
him, whether he is attending meetings like the Triennial Stocker
Conference or talking with the helpful folks at Central Alabama Farmers
Co-op, his local Quality Co-op. He purchases fertilizer, seed and
minerals for his cattle operations at the Co-op. Much of the time, his
neighbor 12-year old C.J. Jackson is right beside him. During the summer
months, C.J. helps Hollinger work the cattle.
"I
really enjoy helping Mr. Leo get up the cows and work them," shared
C.J.
As
long as Dr. Darrell Rankins, Auburn University professor, keeps
organizing such value-added conferences as the Triennial Stocker Cattle
Conference, it looks like there will be an audience – the next
generation has already started attending!
Ashley
Smith is a freelance writer from Russell County. |
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