KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — Horse owners will learn management, breeding, health and about horseshoeing at the Missouri Livestock Symposium, Dec. 1-2 in Kirksville, MO.
Dr. Glenn Blodgett from the famous 6666 Ranch, Guthrie, Tex., will lead off, says Garry Mathes, Symposium chair.
“Blodgett, horse manager, heads veterinary and breeding services at the ranch. Also, he is national leader in Quarter Horses,” Mathes said.
Dr. Blodgett talks three times in the equine sessions. All free and open to the public. Topics are: “6666 Ranch Horse Operation,” “Genetic Equine Diseases” and “Animal Welfare: AQHA Issues.”
Other equine leaders will speak. Concurrent sessions by national leaders cover beef cattle, sheep, meat goats, forages, stock dogs, farm and ranch succession and more, Mathes says.
Also speaking on horses this year will be Chris Gregory, horseshoer and Journeyman Farrier. He earned certification as journeyman in 1991. Gregory owns Heartland Horseshoeing School, Lamar.
Gregory’s talks on Saturday are “Traditional Solutions for Problem Hooves” and “Recognizing Good Farrier Work.”
Kallie Emig, Overland, Kans., joins the program. The former manager of K-State’s equine ranch now runs a marketing company. Her talk: “Marketing and Sales, Appealing to the Buyer’s Market”.
The Livestock Symposium opens at 4:00 p.m., Friday, Dec. 1. On Saturday the trade show opens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with educational sessions from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m.
The Symposium also runs an ag-related trade show and a classic tractor contest. All are at the Matthew Middle School, 1515, S Cottage Grove, Kirksville.
There are no fees or advance registration.
Meals are coordinated by the Missouri Department of Agriculture with help from Missouri commodity groups. A beef dinner is 6:00 p.m. Friday.Saturday offers a Governor’s Style Lunch.
Keynote speaker Friday night is Tony Clayton, international trade expert. His topic: “In exporting, I Have Seen the Enemy and He is Us.”
For details go to the web at www.missourilivestock.com. Call the Adair County Extension Center at 660-665-9866. Mathes is at 660-341-6625.
— University of Missouri Extension
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