08_Natl_Conf_Tour

April 25, 2008

For More Information Contact:

Shelia Stannard at 816-383-5152 or sstannard@angus.org

2008 National Angus Conference & Tour set in Oklahoma

Angus enthusiasts should mark their calendars for the 2008 National Angus Conference & Tour, set for Oct. 7-9 in Oklahoma City, Okla. The American Angus Association^® is pleased to announce that Purina Mills, LLC, and Alpharma Animal Health are the major sponsors of this year’s event. The conference headquarters is the Clarion Meridian Hotel & Convention Center, where the conference, “125 Years—the Challenges of the Next Decade” will focus on production, marketing and performance. The Oklahoma Angus Association will host “An Angus Gathering,” a two-day tour of Angus operations, along with a museum and reining horse training facility.

“Purina Mills is proud to partner once again with the American Angus Association on this great educational event,” says Rod Nulik, Purina Mills marketing manager. “Purina Mills and our key corporate partner, Alpharma Animal Health, share with the American Angus Association the common goal of continuing to improve the competitive advantage and profitability of America’s beef producers now and in the future.”

A welcome reception will be Monday, Oct. 6, for those who have traveled and want to visit with fellow Angus breeders. The official event begins at 8 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 7 with the conference program. A slate of industry speakers will address the state of the beef industry, performance information, selection tools, branded beef programs and marketing. Speakers include John Lawrence, Iowa State University; Mark Allan, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center; William Herring, Smithfield Premium Genetics Group; Paul Roach, Reasor’s Stores; and Rod Nulik, Purina Mills. Deb Norton, Graphic Arts of Topeka, will moderate a marketing panel that includes Don Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch; Dick Beck, Three Trees Ranch; and Leo McDonnell Jr., Midland Bull Test.

A two-day tour of scenic Oklahoma begins on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Stops include Smith Land & Cattle, Claremore; Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve, Bartlesville; Buford Ranches LLC, near Hominy; and Limestone LLC, Perkins. On Thursday, the tour will travel to Oklahoma State University (OSU), Stillwater; Big Lake Ranch home of Brainard Cutting Horses, Mulhall; Pollard Farms LLC, Enid; and Express Ranches, Yukon. The Smith family and OSU will also host cattle from other producers from the state.

Registration is available online. Just $75 covers the conference and tour, meals and bus transportation during the tour. Register by Sept. 1 to get the early registration rate. After that, registration is $125. Register online at www.angus.org or by contacting Monica Jordan at 816-383-5100. Hotel accommodations are available at the headquarters, the Clarion Meridian Hotel. A room block is available at the rate of $73 plus tax per night. Make reservations early to ensure availability, by calling 405-942-8511, and ask for the American Angus Association rate.

Look for more information about the 2008 National Angus Conference & Tour in the July Angus Journal or call the Association.

The American Angus Association, with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo., provides programs and services to more than 36,000 adult and junior members and thousands of commercial cattle producers nationwide.

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A schedule of events follows:

2008 National Angus Conference & Tour

Oklahoma City, OK

Monday, October 6

2 PM Registration begins

5:30 PM Registration closes

6 PM Welcome reception

Tuesday, October 7

6:30 AM Breakfast buffet

7 AM Registration continues

8 AM Conference Begins – Imperial Ballroom

Welcome

Paul Hill, President, American Angus Association

Challenge of the Decade – State of the Industry; Production & Economics

John Lawrence, Director, Iowa Beef Center

Performance Parallel to Competing Protein Sources

William Herring, Smithfield Pork

Break

Vision of New Selection Tools, DNA into Performance

Mark Allan, Research Geneticist, MARC

Branded Beef in the Future

Paul Roach, Reasor’s Stores

Partnering through Progress

Rod Nulik, Purina Mills LLC

12 PM Lunch

1:30 PM Marketing in the Future – Panel moderated by Deb Norton

Dick Beck, Three Trees Ranch

Leo McDonnell Jr., Midland Bull Test

Don Meador, Dreamcatcher Ranch

3 PM Conclude, Depart for Western Heritage Center

Wednesday, October 8

6 AM Breakfast

7 AM Buses depart for tour

Smith Land & Cattle

Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Refuge

Buford Ranches LLC

Limestone LLC

Thursday, October 9

6:45 AM Buses depart for tour

Oklahoma State University

Big Lake Ranch/Brainard Cutting Horses

Pollard Farms LLC

Express Ranches