I don´t know about you, but this winter has given me a touch of cabin fever and I´m just itching to go to a beef cattle meeting. Unusual as it is, I haven´t been able to get to one all winter for one reason or another. Well, read on because I´ve got the opportunity for both you and I.

     An update on the newest beef research from Kansas State University and a host of hands-on demonstrations highlight the annual Cattlemen´s Day. It will be held on Friday, March 5 on the K-State campus in Manhattan. I hope I can take a van load of producers from our area.
     Registration in advance is $15 by March 1 but $25 at the door. Online registration is available at http://www.asi.ksu.edu/cattlemensday until February 27.
     Several hundred cattle producers and beef industry supporters are expected to attend this year´s event.
     The morning program and lunch will be held at Weber Hall on the northeast corner of the campus in Manhattan. The 8:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. program includes the commercial trade show, educational exhibits.
     Beginning at 8:00, refreshments will be available and there will be new value- added beef products to sample. The actual speaking part of the program will get underway at 10:00 a.m.
     Dr. Ken Odde, K-State Animal Science Department head will give the welcome along with Dr. Kirk Schultz, K-State President.
     The keynote addresses in the morning will be: Feeding the World in 2050 by Dr.
Ted Schroeder, K-State agricultural economist and Climate Change - Implications For Agriculture by Dr. Patrick J. Michaels of George Mason University.
     The noon lunch will be in the upper concourse of Weber Hall. During the noon hour, there will be another chance to view the commercial exhibits.
     After lunch there will be several educational options for those attending. At 1:30, there will be several 45 minute focus sessions to choose from at Weber Hall or you can choose to check out the demonstrations at the beef cattle research center on North College Avenue and at the new KABSU (Kansas Artificial Breeding Service Unit) on north Tuttle Creek Boulevard, just a mile north of town.
    Each of these sessions will be repeated at 2:15. In Weber Hall, topics will be:
Maximizing Value of Cull Beef Cows, Animal Well Being: Bridging the Gap Between Consumers and Producers, and the Beef Cattle Market Outlook.
     At KABSU, 1:30 and 2:15 sessions will include: An Overview of KABSU Services,
Early- Stage Pregnancy Detection, and Semen Quality Evaluation.
     At the Beef Research Center, demonstrations will include: Tales From the Dead - The Value of Post-Mortem Diagnosis, Storage Systems for Distillers Grains, and Low Stress Cattle Processing.
     K-State´s Cattlemen´s Day is always an outstanding event. If you would like to
ride up with me, give me a call at area code (620) 793-1910 by March 1.     

                         33rd ANNUAL LEGACY SALE
     Right after Cattlemen´s Day, starting at 3:30 on Friday, K-State always has their Legacy Bull and Heifer Sale. It is held at the Purebred Beef Teaching Center.
     This year they are offering 70 Performance Yearling Angus, Hereford and Simmental Bulls. There will also be 30 bred females and 5 show heifer prospects, as well as 6 performance/ranch broke quarter horses.
     This sale is unique in that it is run completely by K-State students taking a sale management class.
     This is a good opportunity to buy some good breeding stock and support K-State.
                           
STOCKMEN´S DINNER
      Another activity in conjunction with Cattlemen´s Day is the annual Stockmen´s Dinner held the night before. This year´s Stockmen´s Dinner will be held at the Manhattan Clarion Inn on Thursday, March 5. It begins with a social hour at 6:00 p.m. and follows with a dinner at 6:45.
     This year´s honoree as Stockmen of the Year is Kenny Knight of Lyons.
     For reservations, send a check ($50 per person) made out to LMIC in advance to:
Livestock and Meat Industry Council, Stockmen´s Dinner, 213 Weber Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-0201 or call 800-432-1578. Reservations are needed immediately so call before you send your check. You can also register online at http://www.found.ksu.edu/lmic

                         DID YOU KNOW
     At 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2, there will be a meeting put on by the Kansas Department of Transportation for farmers on over the road regulations and record keeping requirements for farmers. It will be held at the Front Door building on West 10th in Great Bend... The Wichita Lawn and Garden Show will be held March 3-7 at Century II... The National Commodity Classic, a joint conference and trade show of the corn, sorghum and soybean organizations will be held March 4-6 in Anaheim, California.... The 2010 High Plains Dairy Conference will be held March 11-12 in Amarillo, Texas...  A Risk Assessed Marketing Workshop will be held in Russell on March 11... A Gathering For Gardeners will be held Saturday, March 13, in Hutchinson.