September 19, 2013 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Registration Open for the 2013 Young Ag Leadership Conference

Register now for the Young Ag Leadership Conference (YALC), set to take place October 11-13 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort.

The YALC is a collaborative effort between nine of Montana’s agricultural organizations, offering attendees a chance to discuss current ag issues, take part in various workshops, meet with industry leaders and network with fellow young people who live Montana agriculture.

Anyone aged 18-40 and interested or involved in any facet of agriculture is encouraged to attend. The conference is put together by a committee of representatives from each of the following: Montana Agri-Business Association, Montana Cattlemen’s Association, Montana 4-H Foundation, Montana FFA Foundation, Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana State University College of Agriculture, and the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

“Ag Venture 2013,” a day camp for children ages 3 & up, will be offered for the first time this year. Ag Ed students from Montana State University will engage kids in a fun and positive environment to promote agriculture. This camp will take place all day Saturday, allowing parents to fully participate in the jam-packed agenda while knowing their youngsters are enjoying a fun day of activities and learning.

Registration will open at 4PM on Friday, October 11 with the social beginning at 6 PM. The weekend’s festivities will kick off with dinner and an entertaining program. Saturday’s schedule is full of workshops, discussion groups and networking opportunities. Participants can choose between six workshop topics and two discussion group themes. The topics included in this year’s workshop sessions range from drought management to bioethics, improving soil health to risk management for beginning farmers and ranchers. Saturday’s luncheon will feature an insightful and entertaining talk by Cort Jensen of the Montana Department of Agriculture. The discussion group topics offered are “America & The World”: A look at U.S. commodities, trade and the current issues affecting them and “Montana Ag Business: Getting a Job and Making it Last.”

After a day full of information and networking, Saturday will wrap up with dinner and an evening of relaxation in the many pools and tubs offered at Fairmont Hot Springs. The weekend will be capped off with Amanda Radke of BEEF Magazine’s “5 Simple Ways to be a Better Agvocate Now.” Register now so you don’t miss this exciting, one-of-a-kind weekend!

Cost of registration for the YALC is only $25, with all meals provided and enrollment costs for the “Ag Venture Day Camp” is $10 per child. After the pre-registration date of October 4, fees increase to $35.

To register for YALC go to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation website or contact Mariah Baumann Shammel at (406) 462-5639 or [email protected].

 

Montana Stockgrowers Mentorship program
September 3, 2013 1 Comment Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Mentorship Program Applications

Montana Stockgrowers Mentorship programAs the average age of our ranching community grows older, opportunities for younger generations to learn valuable skills become increasingly important. One of the best avenues for younger ranchers to gain insight is through mentorship experiences. To facilitate this, MSGA is launching a Mentorship Program to pair a member of the Collegiate and Young Stockgrowers with a mentor in a similar field within the Montana beef industry. Mentor groups will be expected to communicate periodically and meet in person throughout the year. The hope is to build informal relationships where young producers can develop life skills and learning opportunities through one-on-one interactions with mentors.

Program Expectations

Participants in the program will interact and grow through meeting a series of expectations:

**Communicate though social media, telephone, or email
**CSG/YSG member should have a list of goals and discuss them with the mentor
**Meet in person at an event (MSGA convention, industry event in the area, etc)
**Organize one visit during the year — on the mentor’s ranch or business
**Answer survey questions every three months as a progress report
**Complete a reflection at the end of the year discussing what each other learned, how having a mentor/mentee benefits the beef industry, and a brief overview of interactions

Participants in the Mentorship program will be recognized at the annual convention upon completion.

To learn more about the program. contact Lauren Chase at the MSGA office, or by email ([email protected]). Complete the application below or download by clicking here. Applications are due by November 1, 2013.

Applications can be filled out here.

May 20, 2011 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Ranch Tour to highlight MSGA Mid-Year Meeting, June 9-10 in Bozeman

The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) will hold its Mid-Year Meeting, June 9-10 in Bozeman, Mont. at the Animal BioScience Building on the Montana State University (MSU) campus. The highlight of this year’s meeting will be the Ranch Tour on Thursday afternoon, June 9.

The Ranch Tour will begin at 12:45 p.m. departing from the Animal BioScience Building. The tour will feature stops at the MSU’s Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm, where participants can view MSU’s current research projects; the 2001 Montana and Regional Environmental Stewardship Award winners, MZ Bar Cattle Co. in Belgrade, to learn about how the Milesnick family has protected riparian areas; Schutter Farms in Manhattan, where local implement dealers will be on hand to demonstrate the features of various tractors and equipment; and the KG Ranch in Three Forks where the group will enjoy dinner, view cattle from priority page buyers of MSGA’s Montana Seedstock and Commercial Cattle Directory, and be entertained by a stick horse race fundraiser for MSGA’s Research Education and Endowment Foundation (REEF).

This year, one lucky Ranch Tour participant will win a D110 Lawn Tractor generously donated by Moodie Implement Company with locations in Belgrade, Chester, Great Falls, Havre, Lewistown, and Livingston. The D110 Lawn Tractor features a 19.5 Horsepower Briggs & Stratton® Anti-Vibration System, The Edge™ Cutting System, CargO Mount™ System for attachments, hydro/automatic drive transmission, electronic ignition and a full-length welded steel frame.

Other events from this year’s Mid-Year meeting will include addresses from Bill Donald, Melville, Mont. rancher, past president of MSGA and current president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and MSU President, Waded Cruzado during the Opening General Session Thursday morning, June 9. MSGA’s Beef Production & Marketing Committee and the Membership Development & Services Committee will meet Thursday while the Land Use & Environment Committee and Tax, Finance & Ag Policy Committee will meet, followed by the Business Session, Friday, June 10. The Young Stockgrowers will host an informal social media workshop on Friday morning. Friday afternoon the MSGA Board of Directors, Montana Grass Conservation Commission, MSGA’s REEF and the joint Board of Directors of the Montana Public Lands Council and the Montana Association of State Grazing Districts will hold meetings.

For more information regarding the Mid-Year Meeting, contact the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420 or visit www.mtbeef.org.

April 25, 2011 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA Mid-Year Meeting to be held at MSU Animal BioScience Building, June 9-10


The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) will hold its Mid-Year Meeting, June 9-10 in Bozeman, Mont. at the Animal BioScience Building on the Montana State University (MSU) campus. Mid-Year is one of the two major meetings MSGA holds each year. MSGA members will gather to discuss the issues facing Montana ranching families and set interim policy to guide the association through the rest of the year. The highlight of this year’s meeting will be the Ranch Tour on Thursday afternoon, June 9. (more…)

January 26, 2011 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Young Farmers and Ranchers Call on the Capitol

Young Farmers and Ranchers at the Capitol Montana MFBF – Twenty young farmers and ranchers from across the state had the opportunity to sit in on hearings, have breakfast with legislators and meet with various state agencies during the Montana Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers (MFBF YF&R) and/Montana Young Stockgrower’s Calling on the Capitol Feb. 24-25 in Helena.

“The legislative breakfast provided a great opportunity to sit down and visit with your local legislator about any concerns,” noted Aaron Phipps, who sits on the MFBF YF&R Committee. He and his wife, Mollie, attended the event. “You really see how important agriculture is to Montana when you travel to Helena for the session. The legislators are very interested in what we have to say.”

The group met with the deputy director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, with Montana State Veterinarian Marty Zaluski and Dept. of Livestock Executive Officer Christian MacKay, as well as with President of the Senate Jim Peterson and Speaker of the House Mike Milburn.

“I can’t stress enough that you must become an advocate, if you are going to protect your rights as a property owner and ag producer,” advised Milburn. “There are a lot of tough issues out there, like the current eminent domain one. There is a real need for transmission lines, but at the same time, the rights of the property owner need to be met.”

Peterson said as he looked around the room of young producers, he was very optimistic about agriculture, the state’s largest industry. “It seems agriculture is what’s going to lead this state out of its economic depression,” Peterson said. “This is the first time in a long time that agriculture is leading this show and you young people are the ones who are going to lead.”

In addition, they learned about working with the media and legislators in a session conducted by Ariel Overstreet, MSGA and Nicole Rolf, MFBF.

Overstreet encouraged the group to accept media interviews, gave them tips on getting their message across, and how to put a positive face on a story. Rolf told the group that before they testified, “Read the bill, make sure your comments are relevant, be factual, and tell your story in a concise manner.”

“This was an amazing opportunity to sit in on the hearings and see the legislative process in actions. Several of our group testified on a predator bill,” noted Charlie Rein, chair of the Montana Young Stockgrowers’ from Big Timber. “We were able to sit in the gallery and watch the Senate floor session, another really good experience. I feel privileged to have been able to meet one-on-one with our legislators, talk directly to agency leaders, and even have a guided tour the Capitol during this excellent event.”

January 17, 2011 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Applications to attend Young Cattlemen’s Conference due Feb. 15

Montana Young Cattlemens ConferenceMSGA’s Research, Education, and Endowment Foundation (REEF) is accepting applications to send one participant to the Young Cattlemen’s Conference tour, held June 2-9. The tour exposes young cattlemen to all areas of the cattle industry ranging from industry structure to issues management, from production research to marketing, and is designed to develop leadership qualities. Many past attendees from Montana have described this tour as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” (Including last year’s participant, Tater Erickson who is pictured at right with Melville, MT rancher and NCBA President-elect, Bill Donald, left, and John Goggins with the Western Ag Reporter out of Billings, MT, center.) REEF will pay the full cost of the tuition (approximately $2,700) and will provide $500 for travel costs.

The tour will host 45 participants from across the country and will begin in Denver with a comprehensive overview of the industry. The group will take an in-depth look at many of the issues affecting the cattle industry and what NCBA is doing to address these issues on behalf of its members, plus receive a comprehensive view of market information from Cattle-Fax. The group will then travel to JBS Five Rivers’ Kuner Feedyard, one of the nation’s largest cattle feeding operations, a one-time capacity of over 100,000 head located in Northern Colorado. The group will then tour the JBS Greeley facility, one of the nation’s largest beef packing and processing plants. JBS will host the group and will share their views of the beef industry from a processor standpoint. Chicago is the next destination where the group will visit the Chicago Board of Trade & OSI, Inc. one of the nation’s premiere beef patty manufacturers. The participants will then travel to the nation’s Capitol where they will get a chance to meet with their respective congressmen and senators. In addition, the group will visit with a number of regulatory agencies that make decisions affecting agriculture.

2011 will be the 32nd year the Young Cattlemen’s Conference tour has been conducted. Over 1,000 cattlemen and women have graduated from the YCC program since its inception in 1980. For an individual to participate in the YCC, he or she must be nominated by one of NCBA’s affiliate members, be between the ages of 25 to 50 and be an NCBA member. Participants will need to arrive in Denver on June 1 and may depart from Washington, D.C. on June 10. To apply, visit MSGA’s website and download the application form. If you have any questions, please contact Ariel at [email protected] or at the MSGA office, (406) 442-3420.

January 7, 2011 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Stockgrowers and Farm Bureau to hold joint legislative conference for young farmers and ranchers

Helena – The Montana Stockgrowers Association’s Young Stockgrowers and Montana Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers and Ranchers will meet in Helena, Jan. 24-25, for the 2011 “Calling on the Capitol.” This year’s event is the first joint conference for the associations.

“MSGA and MFBF are looking forward to bringing young farmers and ranchers to Helena to see the 62nd session of the Montana Legislature,” said Peter Taylor, chair of MFBF’s Young Farmers and Ranchers.

“Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the leaders of both associations, the legislature and our state agencies,” said Charlie Rein, chair of MSGA’s Young Stockgrowers.

The “Calling on the Capitol” will feature visits with President of the Senate, Senator Jim Peterson (R-Buffalo); Speaker of the House, Representative Mike Milburn (R-Cascade); a tour of the Capitol; meetings with Montana Department of Livestock and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials; media training; and an opportunity to attend legislative hearings.

The conference will be headquartered at the Red Lion Colonial Inn in Helena. Registration and hotel rooms are free for attendees. The conference is limited to the first 30 registrants and registrations close Jan. 21, 2011. Registration forms are available at www.mtbeef.org or www.mfbf.org, or by calling MSGA at (406) 442-3420 or MFBF at (406) 587-3153.

December 22, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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MSGA’s 126th Annual Convention and Trade Show draws over 600 participants

The 126th Annual Montana Stockgrowers Association Convention and Trade Show, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel and MetraPark in Billings, Dec. 16-18, drew over 600 participants from across the state.

“We had another great convention this year,” said Tom Hougen, MSGA’s out-going president. “With the great cattle market we’ve had, everyone seemed to be in high spirits. We had one of the most robust policy discussions I can remember, developing policy on a wide variety of issues that affect family ranches in Montana. Convention attendees also got to enjoy our top-notch trade show and the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo.”

Here are some of the highlights:

-Walter “Watty” Taylor, of Kirby was elected President; Tucker Hughes of Stanford was elected 1st Vice President; and Gene Curry of Valier was elected 2nd Vice President.

– Jeff Pattison in the Northeast District, Larry Berg in the South Central District, and Dean Wang in the Southeast District were elected to second terms on the Board of Directors.

-Ray Marxer of Dillon was newly elected to the Board of Directors representing the Western District, filling the seat vacated by term-limited Steve Wilcox of Sheridan. Mark Harrison of Belt was elected from the North Central District to fill the seat vacated by term-limited Fred Finke of Big Sandy.

-Policy to guide MSGA officers and staff through 2011, and the upcoming legislative session, was set in a process that began with committee meetings, progressed to the second reading and finished at the third reading. Notable new policies address freeze branding, the proposed Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration rules, funding for the MT Livestock Loss Reduction Board, Antiquities Act reform, grazing issues, energy access agreements, predator control funding, and irrigated pasture assessments.

-Travis Choat, Director of Tech­nical Consulting for Elanco Animal Health, was the keynote speaker at the Opening General Session. His presentation “Food Economics and Consumer Choice” discussed the use of technology to meet a growing world population’s demand for safe, nutritious and affordable food.

-The Trade Show boasted nearly 90 booths, a lineup of Ford vehicles, free boot shines, complimentary tote bags, beef dinner stations and “watering holes.”

-John Rose ad Tim Feddes’ stock dog clinic headlined a full and diverse group of Pfizer Cattlemen’s Colleges that educated attendees about estate planning, calfhood vaccination programs, the difference between generic and brand name compounds, cow herd efficiency, and fertility.

-Keystone Ranches, Inc. of Ismay, owned and operated by Bill and Joyce Almy, was named winner of the 2011 Montana Environmental Stewardship Award sponsored by MSGA and the Montana Beef Council. Keystone Ranches is the 18th winner in the history of the award. MSGA will submit Keystone Ranches for the regional and national Environmental Stewardship Award in February.

-Tucker Hughes of Stanford was named the association’s “Top Hand” for recruiting the most new members throughout the year. Gene Curry of Valier and Jeff Pattison of Glasgow tied for second.

-Marian Hanson of Ashland was named “Ranching Woman of the Year.”

-Montana State University and University of Montana mascots Champ and Monte provided entertainment during the President’ s Lunch.

-Kyle Shobe, 2010 World Champion Livestock Auctioneer was on hand to auction off many items to raise funds for MSGA’s Advocacy Fund, as well as the Seedstock and Commercial Cattle Directory page auction which raises money to promote Montana cattle and associated services across the country.

-MSGA held many drawings throughout the course of the convention. Shawn Pilster of Alzada won the NutraLix saddle drawing, Melinda Berg of Sand Springs won the Young Stockgrower PBR tickets drawing, and Karla Johnson of East Helena won the Women of the West Fair Coldwater Creek Gift Certificate drawing.

-The biggest drawing, however, was for the 2011 Ford Super Duty truck from the Montana Ford Stores and MSGA. Buck and Dee Ward of Great Falls were the lucky winners. To be eligible for the drawing, people had to be MSGA rancher members and present at the President’s Lunch when the drawing was held.

-MSGA members received discounted tickets to the Chase Hawks Memorial Association Rough Stock Rodeo on Saturday, Dec. 18, where they were able to enjoy rodeo action from some of the top cowboys and rough stock in the country. Proceeds from the event benefited the Chase Hawks Memorial Association Community Crisis Fund which provides short-term assistance to families facing an immediate crisis.

-Convention photos and a highlight video can be seen on MSGA’s Facebook Page.

-Plans are already underway for MSGA’s Mid-Year meeting which will be held in June 2011.

November 22, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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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.

September 1, 2010 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Registration now open for the 7th Annual Young Ag Leadership Conference

Young Agriculture Leadership Conference Montana

Register now for the 2010 Young Ag Leadership Conference (YALC) October 1-3 at the Rock Creek Resort in Red Lodge. This unique conference—a partnership between seven of Montana’s primary agricultural groups—allows young producers from throughout the state to come together across organization and commodity lines for hands-on workshops, discussion groups and networking.

The conference is designed for anyone ages 18-40 who is involved with or concerned about Montana’s agricultural industry. Conference hosts include Montana Cattlemen’s Association, Montana 4-H Foundation, Montana Farm Bureau Federation, Montana FFA Foundation, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana State University College of Agriculture, and the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

“This conference is a great opportunity to showcase agricultural groups in Montana working toward the same goal of developing the industry’s next generation of leaders,” said Todd Smith, YALC planning committee chair. “We hope attendees walk away with a greater understanding of how important it is to get involved – for their industry and their future.”

The conference begins Friday, October 1 with registration beginning at 4 p.m. at the Rock Creek Resort, followed by a social, dinner and entertainment. Saturday will offer participants a selection of six different workshops, featuring presenters from the Cattle-Fax, the Center for Ag & Rural Banking, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the University of Nebraska and more. Workshops will include topics such as using social media to tell agriculture’s story, family communications/estate planning, a cattle industry outlook, utilizing “precision agriculture” technology, and tracking the activist to name a few. In addition, discussion groups led by organizational staff, state leaders and Congressional offices representatives will allow attendees to ask the tough questions about issues facing their industry. Dinner, entertainment by hypnotist Dr. Al Snyder and live music at the Bear Creek Saloon will round out Saturday’s events. Attendees are in for a real treat on Sunday morning as nationally-known speaker Trent Loos, will wrap up the conference with a can’t-miss keynote on the importance of being a champion for agriculture.

Cost of registration for the YALC is only $25, with all meals provided. The registration deadline is September 24. To register for the YALC go to http://www.mfbf.org/ or contact Sue Ann Streufert at (406) 587-3153 or [email protected] to receive a registration form.