Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium programming to concentrate on small ruminant nutrition
The 2011 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium (BSS) will concentrate on Small Ruminant (Sheep and Goat) Nutrition. This year’s annual event will be held Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI), Skou Hall, 1328 Dover Road, Wooster 44691.
With the diversity of the sheep industry, this is an intense small ruminant nutritional education program with all segments of the sheep and goat industry in mind during the planning process. The keynote speaker of the program will be Dr. Francis Fluharty, ruminant nutritionist, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University. Fluharty will be discussing many diverse areas of small ruminant nutrition. His keynote address will be Meeting the Challenges of Supply and Demand and Consumer Expectations for Food Animal Products. In addition, Dr. Steve Loerch and Dr. Bill Weiss, ruminant nutritionists, also of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, will be a major part of this educational program.
Andy Korb, feed sales representative of Kalmbach Feeds, will be a breakout speaker during the program. He brings experience from the mainstream feed industry to the program. The small ruminant nutrition topic speakers have expertise in basic ruminant nutrition, the small ruminant digestive system, feeding alternative grains such as dried distiller’s grains, feeding stored forages to small ruminant animals, and practical ration balancing for a small ruminant animal. The program is designed for sheep and goat farmers who are involved in every segment of the industry.
Additionally, the symposium will offer a youth program session led by Dr. Carrie Pickworth, ruminant nutritionist. This session will include nutritionally related topics aimed for younger learners. This will be a great opportunity for youth to catch up on basic small ruminant information and even prepare for upcoming skill-a-thon activities. Recommended ages for the youth program are 7-18. Preregistration is required, but there is no additional cost for the youth program.
“High quality speakers and intense small ruminant educational topics are what will make this symposium unique. The 2011 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium may be the only time you have a chance to see these speakers and topics discussed in one setting,” stated Roger A. High, executive director of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA).
The OSIA annual meeting will also be held on Saturday, Dec. 10. The OSIA annual membership meeting will be the first item on the agenda prior to the program beginning. During the annual meeting, the election of the OSIA officer team will be held, as well as other important items for the membership to discuss.
A lamb lunch will be served, followed by an awards program which will present the Charles Boyles Master Shepherd award, Distinguished Service awards, Friend of the Ohio Sheep Industry and Environmental Stewardship awards. Youth recognition will be given to the State FFA Sheep Proficiency Award winner, State 4-H Sheep Award winner, and the Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship winners for 2011.
The annual tradeshow will take place, and the silent auction will be held to raise funds for the Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Registration packets will be mailed to OSIA members in November. Pass the information along to other sheep producers in the area.
Detailed information will soon be placed at the OSIA website at http://www.ohiosheep.org. For additional information, contact Roger A. High at 614-246-8299 or by email at rhigh@ofbf.org.
With the diversity of the sheep industry, this is an intense small ruminant nutritional education program with all segments of the sheep and goat industry in mind during the planning process. The keynote speaker of the program will be Dr. Francis Fluharty, ruminant nutritionist, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University. Fluharty will be discussing many diverse areas of small ruminant nutrition. His keynote address will be Meeting the Challenges of Supply and Demand and Consumer Expectations for Food Animal Products. In addition, Dr. Steve Loerch and Dr. Bill Weiss, ruminant nutritionists, also of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, The Ohio State University, will be a major part of this educational program.
Andy Korb, feed sales representative of Kalmbach Feeds, will be a breakout speaker during the program. He brings experience from the mainstream feed industry to the program. The small ruminant nutrition topic speakers have expertise in basic ruminant nutrition, the small ruminant digestive system, feeding alternative grains such as dried distiller’s grains, feeding stored forages to small ruminant animals, and practical ration balancing for a small ruminant animal. The program is designed for sheep and goat farmers who are involved in every segment of the industry.
Additionally, the symposium will offer a youth program session led by Dr. Carrie Pickworth, ruminant nutritionist. This session will include nutritionally related topics aimed for younger learners. This will be a great opportunity for youth to catch up on basic small ruminant information and even prepare for upcoming skill-a-thon activities. Recommended ages for the youth program are 7-18. Preregistration is required, but there is no additional cost for the youth program.
“High quality speakers and intense small ruminant educational topics are what will make this symposium unique. The 2011 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium may be the only time you have a chance to see these speakers and topics discussed in one setting,” stated Roger A. High, executive director of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA).
The OSIA annual meeting will also be held on Saturday, Dec. 10. The OSIA annual membership meeting will be the first item on the agenda prior to the program beginning. During the annual meeting, the election of the OSIA officer team will be held, as well as other important items for the membership to discuss.
A lamb lunch will be served, followed by an awards program which will present the Charles Boyles Master Shepherd award, Distinguished Service awards, Friend of the Ohio Sheep Industry and Environmental Stewardship awards. Youth recognition will be given to the State FFA Sheep Proficiency Award winner, State 4-H Sheep Award winner, and the Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship winners for 2011.
The annual tradeshow will take place, and the silent auction will be held to raise funds for the Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Registration packets will be mailed to OSIA members in November. Pass the information along to other sheep producers in the area.
Detailed information will soon be placed at the OSIA website at http://www.ohiosheep.org. For additional information, contact Roger A. High at 614-246-8299 or by email at rhigh@ofbf.org.
Published: November 16, 2011
