2010 MSGA/MCW Annual Convention will have something for everyone

2010 MSGA/MCW Annual Convention will have something for everyone

This year’s Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Montana CattleWomen (MCW) Annual Convention and Trade Show, Dec. 16-18 in Billings, will have something for everyone. The Convention will offer opportunities for attendees to learn tips to improve their ranch or business, find out about new products available for their animal health and ranch supply needs at the Trade Show, and for members to weigh in on policy discussions. Members who attend Annual Convention will be eligible to win a 2011 Ford Super Duty truck from the Montana Ford Stores and receive discounted tickets to the Chase Hawks Memorial Association Rough Stock Rodeo on Saturday, Dec. 18.

The MSGA/MCW Annual Convention will provide excellent educational opportunities on a number of topics important to Montana’s ranching families. Travis Choat, PhD with Elanco Animal Health will kick off the Opening General Session on Friday, Dec. 17 with a presentation about the use of technology to meet a growing population’s demand for safe nutritious and affordable food across the world. Pfizer Cattlemen’s Colleges on Dec. 17 and 18 will address a diverse number of topics. On Dec. 17, John Rose with Rose Cattle Company and Tim Feddes with Feddes Hereford Ranch will conduct two working stock dog clinics. The clinics will focus on utilizing stock dogs on livestock with low stress to owner, dog and livestock. John and Tim will cover teaching techniques from puppies to finished dogs. Another Cattlemen’s College will feature a discussion panel including Mac White with McFarland and White Ranch; Jay Atwell, CPA with Summers, McNea and Company; and Richard Brekke with Brekke & Hoskins Law Firm. The discussion’s focus will be how the McFarland and White Ranch came into its current operation from 1973. The panel will also discuss financial statements, trusts, changing ownerships, minority stockholders, buying a trust ranch, ap­praisals, renouncing ownerships, and buying out a partner. Daniel Scruggs, DVM, with Pfizer Animal Health will present “How Do We Evalu­ate Antimicrobials in Bovine Respiratory Disease-What Really Matters.” The presen­tation will discuss some of the factors that affect treatment of respiratory disease, the impact antimicrobials have on treatment, resolution of respiratory disease, and how we might measure and predict those success rates. To round out the Cattlemen’s Colleges on Dec. 17, Dale Groteleuschen , DVM, with Pfizer Animal Heath will present “Improvements in Calfhood Vaccination Programs-Decrease Sickness and Increase Performance.”

On Dec. 18, as part of the Pfizer Cattlemen’s Colleges, Nick Campbell with Pfizer Animal Heath will present “The Truth, The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth-What You Need to Understand about Generic Compounds,” a courtroom presentation on the truth between generic and name brands. Andy Roberts, PhD, with Fort Keogh Live­stock and Range Research Laboratory will present “Can Conservative Feeding Im­prove Cow Herd Efficiency and Longevity?” Roberts is a research animal scientist and physiologist at Fort Keogh and focuses his research on feed and reproductive efficiency. Tom Geary, PhD, with Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory will present “Fertility.” Geary’s presentation will cover factors that affect fertility in beef cattle as measured by successful establishment of pregnancy. Much of the information in this presenta­tion will come from research using artificial insemination, but will be tied to natural ser­vice and include both male and female com­ponents.

A major component of the Annual Convention is the setting of new policy and the review of past policies to guide the association through its day-to-day work. The policy process will begin on Thursday, Dec. 16 with committee meetings at the Crowne Plaza hotel. MSGA committees include Beef Production & Marketing, Land Use & Environment, Membership Development & Services, and Tax, Finance & Ag Policy. On Friday, Dec. 17, committee chairmen will give reports from their committees during the Second Reading of Resolutions at the MetraPark. The final reading, and an up or down vote on resolutions, will occur at the MSGA Business Meeting, Saturday morning, Dec. 18, at the MetraPark. Resolutions that make it through the entire process will become association policy.

This Annual Convention, the association will also see changes to its leadership. Tom Hougen will conclude his term as MSGA President. MSGA 1st Vice President, Watty Taylor of Busby, is in line to take over as President, and MSGA 2nd Vice President, Tucker Hughes of Stanford, is up for 1st Vice President, pending the approval of the membership. MSGA will say farewell to out-going Board of Director members Fred Finke of Big Sandy and Steve Wilcox of Sheridan.

The MSGA Trade Show is already sold out and will feature 89 vendors with everything from animal health products and ranch supplies to clothing and crafts. The Trade Show will be open Friday, Dec. 17 from 5-9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is open to the public.

MSGA and the Montana Ford Stores have teamed up to give a 2011 Ford Super Duty truck to one lucky member who attends convention. The drawing will be held on Saturday during the President’s Lunch. To be eligible for the truck drawing you must attend convention, be a current Rancher, Stocker/Feeder or Young Stockgrower member and fill out the truck entry form. Saturday evening, MSGA members will have the opportunity to attend a special VIP Rodeo Reception and receive discounted tickets to the Chase Hawks Memorial Association’s 16th Annual Rough Stock Rodeo.

To learn more about MSGA’s Annual Convention and Trade Show, please call the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420, or visit www.mtbeef.org.