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Oklahoma Grazing Lands Conference to be held August 11-12, 2006

grazing The Oklahoma Grazing Lands Conservation Association (OLGCA) will host its annual "Grazing Lands Dollar$ and Sense" conference Aug. 11 and 12 at the Biltmore Hotel in Oklahoma City. Cost is $100 with discounts for family/employees. Early registration deadline is Aug. 5.

This year's conference will focus on production of grassfed meats.
Experts will share information on genetics, forage systems, marketing and grazing management. Topics will include grazing management strategies for grassfed livestock, labeling laws and the role of the dung beetle in grazing systems.

There will also be a producer panel sharing their experiences with raising grassfed beef and lambs and a roundtable discussion with all speakers on the final day.

"This will provide a great opportunity for participants to ask questions and learn from people with a lot of knowledge and experience," says Kim Barker, OLGCA chair.

This event is sponsored in part by the Kerr Center, in partnership with the Risk Management Agency.
To register, go to www.okgrazinglands.org or call 580.824.9011 or 405.742.1235

Grazing Lands Dollar$ and Sense "Developing Grassfed Livestock Production Systems" August 11 & 12, 2006 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Biltmore Hotel, OKC, Oklahoma		Teddy Gentry to Speak in OK Alabama's Teddy Gentry is scheduled to speak at the Grazing Dollar$ and Sense conference in Oklahoma City in August. In 1977, with his cousins Randy Owen and Jeff Cook, Gentry founded the country super-group Alabama. In the early eighties Gentry returned to ranching, establishing his Bent Tree Cattle Company with 20 head of polled Herefords. He has spent the last twenty years focused on developing a breed of cattle, the South Poll, that would thrive on grass in a hot and humid climate. Combining the genetic traits of Hereford, Barzona, Red Angus and Senepol to make the South Poll, Bent Tree Farms has expanded its operation to over 1500 head, as well as an offshoot company, Burt's Beef, to market the meat from the ranch. A recent addition to Gentry's growing natural food business is Burt's Meats and Natural Foods Store. Their store not only sells the beef raised on the ranch but supports other local, natural and pasture-based farmers by carrying their products.
Conference Agenda Friday, August 11th Moderator: Kim Barker, OLGCA Chair
8:00- 9:00	Registration
9:00 - 9:15	Welcome and Introductions - Kim Barker, OGLCA Chair Moderator: Kim Barker, OGLCA Chair
9:15 - 10:30	Genetics, Cattle and Quality Meat - Building the Grassfed Animal Gerald Frey, Bovine Engineering and Consulting, Rosebud, AR
10:30- 10:45	BREAK
10:45 - 12:00	Building the Grassfed Animal (cont) Gerald Frey
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch	(provided) and Trade Show Moderator: Herman Mayeux, ARS, Ft. Reno
1:00 - 1:45	Developing a Year Round Forage System in Oklahoma Bryan Northup, Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno, OK.
1:45 - 2:30	Grass Finished Beef Bill Phillips, Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno, OK.
2:30 - 3:00	BREAK and Trade Show
3:00 - 3:30	Labeling Laws for Grassfed Meats Chuck Willoughby, Food and Ag Products Technology Center
3:30 - 4:00	The Dung Beetle - Its Role in a Year Round Grazing System Tom Royer, Asst. Professor / Extension Specialist, OSU
4:00 - 5:30	Grazing Management Strategies for Grassfed Animals Ron Morrow, Arkansas Beef Producer
5:30 - 7:00	Dinner on your own
Friday Evening Session Moderator: Wally Olson, Rancher
7:00 - 8:30	Genetic Traits of Grassfed Beef Teddy Gentry, Bent Tree Farms
Saturday, August 12th Moderator: Larry Hensley, OGLCA Past Chair
8:00 - 10:00	Production and Marketing of Grassfed Beef Jon Taggert, Burgundy Beef, Texas
10:00 - 10:30	BREAK
10:30 - 11:30	Making Grassfed Work - Producer Panel Mary Penick - Kerr Center, Heritage Breeds Kim Barker - Walnut Creek Farms, Grassfed Lambs Ron Morrow - Arkansas producer, Grassfed Beef
11:30 - 12:30	LUNCH (provided) and Last Chance for Trade Show
12:30 - 2:00	Roundtable Discussions - Questions and Answers with all speakers Moderator: Walt Davis, Rancher