Veterinary Feed Directives | Stockgrowers College Preview

Hoffman, BruceThe 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few days out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Stockgrowers College sessions will be held at different times all three days of the Annual Convention. Times vary and some sessions repeat. Check the final meeting program for times and room assignments.

Stockgrowers College Sponsored by Elanco Animal Health

Antibiotic Use Concerns and the New Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD)

Time: Friday, December 4 at 2:30 p.m., Repeats Saturday, December 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Bruce Hoffman

The veterinary feed directive will affect the entire cattle industry. Learn the details, challenges and ways that Montana ranchers can be on the forefront and learn how to adapt and understand the implications and lead the implementation of protecting antibiotics that are concerning to our beef eating consumers.

Our sponsor, Elanco Animal Health, makes these Stockgrowers College sessions possible. Be sure to visit their booth in the Trade Show – Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.

NFR Calcutta to Support Stockgrowers Foundation

Stockgrowers NFR CalcuttaWatching the National Finals Rodeo on the big screens has always been a big part of attending the Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show. This year, we add the first ever NFR Calcutta auction at a Stockgrowers Convention to benefit our Foundation. This is sure to add a level of competition and fun to our nightly entertainment while watching the biggest rodeo of the year live from Las Vegas.

Why?

The objective of the REEF – NFR Calcutta is to raise funds for the Research & Education Endowment Foundation of the Montana Stockgrowers Association while having some fun.

What?

The term “Calcutta” describes a type of auction-pool wagering that can be applied to rodeo. In a Calcutta, people bid, auction style on the individuals or team who they think will win the event. All or a portion of the money raised through the auction goes into the pool or pot. At the end of the event, those who purchased the teams that win gets a pre-determined payout from the auction pool.

How Much Is Paid Out?

This Calcutta has a 30:15:10 payout. The “calcutta owner” of the team that wins first place is awarded 30% of the “pool”, “calcutta owner” of the second place team is awarded 15% of the “pool”, and “calcutta owner” of the third place team is awarded 10% of the “pool”.

When and Where?

The “calcutta auction” will take place on Thursday, December 3 at the MetraPark Rimrock Auto Arena (Trade Show area) during MSGA’s Annual Convention. If you can’t be present Thursday and would like to bid then send someone in your place to bid. Please remember you may buy as many teams as you would like to purchase. 45% of funds raised will go to support the Research & Education Endowment Foundation so keep that in mind and have some fun with the bidding.


The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few days out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Ranch Income and Estate Planning | Stockgrowers College Preview

ALME_2The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few days out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Stockgrowers College sessions will be held at different times all three days of the Annual Convention. Times vary and some sessions repeat. Check the final meeting program for times and room assignments.

Stockgrowers College Sponsored by Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation

Is Uncle Sam Going to Be My Heir?  Using Charitable Planned Giving in Farm & Ranch Income Tax and Estate Planning

Time: Friday, December 4 at 10:00 a.m., Repeats Saturday, December 5 at 8:30 a.m.

Speaker: Kurt Alme, J.D.

In this presentation, you will get an overview of the impact of income, capital gain, Obamacare, gift, and estate taxes on common farm and ranch transactions and learn how Charitable Planned Giving techniques can,

  1. Lessen your taxes;
  2. Increase your spendable income; and
  3. Make a difference in the lives of kids, the ranching way of life, and your charitable interests.

Our sponsor, Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation, makes these Stockgrowers College sessions possible. Be sure to visit their booth in the Trade Show – Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Opening General Session to Feature Look at Global Food Security

Grady Bishop ElancoMontana Stockgrowers Association is working hard to make our 131st Annual Convention & Trade Show the largest yet! With this year’s move to Rimrock Auto Arena, we have more room than ever for Trade Show vendors, educational workshops and nightly entertainment! We also have some great speakers on hand for this year’s event!

Our Featured Speaker during the Opening General Session on Friday morning, December 4, is Grady Bishop. The Senior Director of North American Market Access with Elanco Animal Health will share his experience and insight to the role of protein in global markets and the importance of food security in providing for consumers in countries around the world

Grady Bishop was raised on a row-crop farm in the Southwest Kansas town of Sublette. He attended West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) in Canyon, TX where he developed interest and experience in feedlot beef production. After receiving a B.S. in Animal Science from WTAMU, Grady worked for ContiBeef (now part of JBS Five Rivers) for two years in various roles within one of their large commercial cattle feeding operations in Oklahoma. Following his time at ContiBeef, Grady worked with Certified Angus Beef, one of the first and most successful branded beef companies in the US, while pursuing a M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition from Kansas State University.

Grady has worked for Elanco Animal Health since 2002 in various roles in US and Global sales & marketing leadership, including two years in Buenos Aires, Argentina as Director of Elanco’s Southern Cone Affiliate. During his time in South America, he developed a deep appreciation for the role technology and modern agriculture play in feeding the world and was exposed first-hand to a broad spectrum of food insecurity. Grady has been an active spokesperson for Elanco’s food security platform, both locally and globally and he and his family are active volunteers in community hunger initiatives.

Since January 2015, Grady has been the Sr. Director of North American Market Access for Elanco, focusing on government affairs and food chain engagement in the US and Canada. He is based at Elanco’s global headquarters in Greenfield, IN where he lives with his wife and two children.

Opening General Session is sponsored by WIPFLi / Galusha, Higgins & Galisha. Tickets can be purchased on-site or on our Events page prior to November 23.

The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few days out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Temperature and Precipitation Trends | Stockgrowers College Preview

logo_0The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few weeks out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Stockgrowers College sessions will be held at different times all three days of the Annual Convention. Times vary and some sessions repeat. Check the final meeting program for times and room assignments.

Stockgrowers College Sponsored by One Montana

Temperature and Precipitation Trends – Developing Good Data for Risk Management and Forecasting

Time: Friday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m.

Speakers: Jane Mangold, Dr. Bruce Maxwell, Dr. Kelsey Jencso, Dr. Justin Derner

By using temperature and precipitation trends, this panel wants to engage attendees by hearing what livestock producers need to adapt and be resilient to increasing weather variability.

Our sponsor, One Montana, makes these Stockgrowers College sessions possible. Be sure to visit their booth in the Trade Show – Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Preparing Calves for Next Step | Stockgrowers College Preview

Dr. Jerry WoodruffThe 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few weeks out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Stockgrowers College sessions will be held at different times all three days of the Annual Convention. Times vary and some sessions repeat. Check the final meeting program for times and room assignments.

Stockgrowers College Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.

How can I best prepare my calves for the next stage in the production cycle?

Time: Thursday, December 3 at 3:00 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Jerry Woodruff

Rebuilding of the national cowherd may correct some of the supply/demand situation enjoyed by ranchers the past couple of years.  Calves that are well prepared for the stocker/backgrounder/feeder phase of our industry will command favored status in an increased supply market.  Calf preparation includes a sound vaccination program AND much more.

Optimizing cattle vaccination results

Time: Friday, December 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Speaker: Dr. Jerry Woodruff

Vaccination of animals is relatively easy to accomplish.  Achieving ‘immunization’ is a whole different issue.  Proper care, handling, and administration of vaccine products to animals that have an immune system capable of responding to those vaccines should be the goal of all cattlemen.

Our sponsor, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., makes these Stockgrowers College sessions possible. Be sure to visit their booth in the Trade Show – Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Stockgrowers Grand Finale Banquet to Feature Large Auction Items

MSGA_ACRegistrationBroch_web-1The Saturday evening event during MSGA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show is always a dinner you cannot miss! This year’s Grand Finale Banquet is no exception! Before we clear out the dance floor for live music from Crazy Mountain Express, several items will be up for auction to help support various Montana Stockgrowers programs.

Need a ticket? Grand Finale Banquet tickets are available with registration packets and will be for sale on-site.

Montana Seedstock and Commercial Cattle Directory Priority Page Ads

The Montana Seedstock and Commercial Cattle Directory, published each August by the Montana Stockgrowers Association, is your resource for Montana cattle. This premier directory is mailed to MSGA members, livestock markets, feeders, and cattle buyers across the U.S. It is also distributed at the numerous national and statewide trade shows, seedstock sales, and other national and state agricultural events. Proceeds from the auction of Priority Page ads support Stockgrowers Programs, Outreach and Advocacy efforts.

Cancrete Model C250 Electric Tank – sponsored by Cancrete Cattle Waterers

Cancrete Cattle Waterers and Montana Stockgrowers Research, Education, and Endowment Foundation have teamed up to support Montana youth with scholarships and other forms of support to further their education in cattle production and feeding! Cancrete will attend the 2015 Annual Convention, and have agreed to bring a $1000.00 Cancrete Model C250 Electric Tank for Auction by MSGA REEF. Proceeds to go to the Foundation for use. The C250 Electric Tank will be auctioned at the Grand Finale Banquet.

12’x12′ Feeder – sponsored by Cattle Systems by LS

Cattle Systems by LS has generously donated a livestock feeder that will be auctioned at the Grand Finale Banquet, proceeds go to support the Montana Stockgrowers Association. This Revolutionary animal activated livestock feeder that can feed round bales, large square bales, loose hay, and processed hay. The main principle of the Cattle Systems feeders is conservation. It conserves feed by allowing the livestock to consume all of the hay before the feeder will advance. Interior push bar facilitates the natural feeding behavior of the livestock. This results in less wasted hay and less time spent loading the feeders, which directly results in lower fuel costs. The cattle systems feeder can allow you to feed your cattle once every 7 to 10 days, as opposed to the conventional everyday feeding method.

Black Angus Heifer Auction – sponsored by Idland Cattle Company

A new tradition begins at the 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention with the generous donation of a 2015 purebred Angus foundation heifer by the Stars of Montana group. The Angus heifer (Reg. 18229568) will be auctioned during the Grand Finale Banquet, Saturday, December 5 in Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark. All proceeds go to support MSGA programs. Learn more about the heifer here.


The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few days out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Nutritional Management of Calf Scours | Stockgrowers College Preview

Ernsberger2013 036A (1)The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few weeks out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Stockgrowers College sessions will be held at different times all three days of the Annual Convention. Times vary and some sessions repeat. Check the final meeting program for times and room assignments.

Stockgrowers College Sponsored by RangeMate America

Controlling scours through management and nutrition

Time: Friday, December 4 at 4:30 p.m., Repeats Saturday, December 5 at 10:30 a.m.

Speaker: Dr. Richard L Ernsberger

Calf scours is the leading cause of illness and death in preweaned calves, for both the beef and dairy industry. Our goal is to reduce the incidence and severity of scours in preweaned calves through cow nutrition, management of the cow pre and post calving, and management of the calf.

Our sponsor, RangeMate America, makes these Stockgrowers College sessions possible. Be sure to visit their booth in the Trade Show – Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Robert O’Neill to Speak At Stockgrowers Annual Convention

Montana Stockgrowers Association is working hard to make our 131st Annual Convention & Trade Show the largest yet! With this year’s move to Rimrock Auto Arena, we have more room than ever for Trade Show vendors, educational workshops and nightly entertainment! We also have some great speakers on hand for this year’s event!

Our Featured Speaker during the Northern Ag Network Luncheon on Friday, December 4, is Robert O’Neill. The Team Leader at Naval Special Warfare Development Group will share his experience and leadership tools that can be taken back to our ranching businesses during his presentation

“Never Quit: The Story of a Life Built on Successful Missions”

Robert O'NeillRob O’Neill is one of the most highly-decorated combat veterans of our time. He was a team leader with the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He has deployed more than a dozen times, and he held combat leadership roles in more than 400 combat missions in four different theaters of war. A highly-trained Navy SEAL, he led the military’s most elite and was involved in our nation’s most important campaigns. With most of his career shrouded in a classified cloak, O’Neill was the man on the ground we have never heard of but know exists. He was one of the quiet professionals performing the most difficult tasks in the most difficult circumstances, serving his remarkable career in the shadows and keeping America safe in the process.

In his line of work, instant, critical decision-making is a necessity for success, and he has proven experience in exceptionally high-risk and fluid environments. Having trained more than 800 special operations and tactical operators, O’Neill brings this unique expertise to organizations and translates his elite SEAL team training into high-impact, actionable insights on leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain environments, and how to become the ‘best of the best.’ His mantra is “never quit,” and O’Neill believes this is the single most important factor in determining success. O’Neill reminds us that the servicemen doing the dirtiest work are often making the hardest sacrifices.

Since leaving active duty, O’Neill is a co-founder of Your Grateful Nation, which provides individualized transition support for Special Operations heroes and their families. They provide executive-level mentoring, transition services, and family stabilization support. He is also a contributor to Fox News.

The Northern Ag Network Lunch is sponsored by Northwest Farm Credit Services. Tickets can be purchased on-site or on our Events page prior to November 23.

The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few weeks out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Reproductive Vaccines and Technology Advantage | Stockgrowers College Preview

Scruggs photo 2014-2The 2015 Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention & Trade Show is just a few weeks out. This year’s meeting offers a great lineup of speakers and educational workshops for Montana ranchers. To view all the highlights from this year’s Annual Convention, click here. RSVP on the Facebook event so you do not miss a thing. If you are following along on social media, share your experience (and anticipation!) with the hashtag #MSGA15 on Twitter and Instagram. View the tags from all networks on Tagboard.

Stockgrowers College sessions will be held at different times all three days of the Annual Convention. Times vary and some sessions repeat. Check the final meeting program for times and room assignments.

Zoetis Cattlemen’s College

New vaccine options for reproductive protection in cowherds

Time: Thursday, December 3 at 2:00 p.m.

Speaker: Dr. Daniel Scruggs

Heifer development is of course important to the lifelong productive of the cow.  Heifer development and cow vaccination programs may seem complicated and at sometimes awkward, but results from a 3 years reproductive study at Auburn University reveals some unique options available for cow herd vaccination strategies with solid data on expected protection in the face of BVD and IBR exposure.

Dr. CornersAre we really using all of the available technology to the best of our advantage on the cow calf operation?

Time: Thursday, December 3 at 4:00 p.m., Repeats Friday, December 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Speaker: Dr. Blaine Corners

Cattle producers have spent their lives and vast resources improving genetics on their herd.  Results are apparent in operation after operation.  The questions posed are these:  are we, as an industry, providing supporting management to fully capitalize on genetic gains?  Do we provide basic nutrition that promotes optimal growth, reproductive efficiency, and immune response?  Do we properly safeguard our investments with sufficient and proper vaccination protocol, deworming and strategic use of anti-infectives?  If growth-promoting implants have been pulled from our operations giving us opportunity to sell into niche markets, are potential premiums covering lost productivity?  Do our operations capitalize on time tested feed additives?  Dr. Corners talk will examine a few pieces of gold that we might step over, or just miss completely.

Our sponsor, Zoetis, makes these Stockgrowers College sessions possible. Be sure to visit their booth in the Trade Show – Thursday from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.