Ohio Sheep Day to be held July 14, 2012 at Buckeye Acres Farm
By: Roger A. High, State Sheep Extension Associate and The Ohio State University, Executive Director, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Ohio Sheep and Wool Program

The 2012 Ohio Sheep Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 14, 2012.  It will be held at Buckeye Acres Farm, home farm of the Ron and Carla Young Family, located at 12282 Harrison-Willshire Rd., Van Wert, Ohio 45891, in scenic Van Wert County.

Buckeye Acres Farm, under the direction of Ron and Carla Young, is a purebred oriented sheep operation, historically concentrating on Purebred Suffolk’s, but now concentrating on the Katahdin breed of sheep.  Buckeye Acres Farm is located in Western Ohio where the terrain is very flat, making it an ideal location for grain crop production, but also an exceptional place to grow forages for sheep production.

This year’s Ohio Sheep Day will focus on programming which will increase and improve the profitability of sheep operations. Daryl Clark, Vice-President, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Retired, OSU Extension Agriculture Agent, will be the keynote speaker.

The programming for the day will also include EQIP programming, internal parasite control, manure management, farm tours, forage demonstrations, grazing management, and many other topics.

A partial list of what visitors will see at the 2012 Ohio Sheep Day includes:

•    Key Components to Starting a Small Ruminant Farm
•    Utilization of Watering Systems in Pasture and Grazing Management Systems
•    Manure Management: How can you Legally Handle the Manure that Small Ruminant Animals Produce?
•    Basic Sheep Management Practices for the Beginner or Novice Shepherd
•    Internal Parasite Programs
•    Basics of Small Ruminant Livestock Fencing: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
•    Basics of Small Ruminant Pasture and Grazing Management
•    Utilizing EQIP Funding: Which Programs are Acceptable for a Small Ruminant Farm?
•    Utilizing Cover Crops in a Small Ruminant Management System: Understanding the Diversity of Cover Crop Use
•    Utilization of Watering Systems in Pasture and Grazing Management Systems
•    Small Ruminant Selection Principles: Selecting Replacement Males and Females

A trade show will also take place, dealing with several aspects of sheep production and management, where attendees may visit and purchase supplies and equipment.

Ohio Sheep Day will offer visitors the opportunity to visit a successful sheep farming operation dedicated to sheep production in a profitable way. Sheep farmers and anyone interested in sheep management is cordially invited to attend.

Sheep producers who attend this program will receive great ideas about sheep nutrition, sheep management systems and many other areas of sheep production. A lamb luncheon is included as part as registration for the Ohio Sheep Day event, no preregistration necessary.

For further questions regarding Ohio Sheep Day activities, please contact Roger A. High at (614) 246-8299 or by email at rhigh@ofbf.org. Additional Sheep Day information can be found on the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association website at www.ohiosheep.org.

Ohio Sheep Day is sponsored by the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, Ohio Sheep and Wool Program, OSU Sheep Team, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio State University Animal Sciences Department.

CONTACT: Roger A. High
PHONE: (614) 246-8299
E-MAIL: rhigh@ofbf.org

For Immediate Release-

On Thursday May 17^th, the OSU Department of Animal Sciences will celebrate the achievements of those who have enhanced student education and enriched the animal sciences industry through the annual Hall of Fame ceremony.  Several prestigious student awards will also be presented.

This year, the Department will induct Dave Hawkins, Faculty member, animal breeder and animal evaluator at Michigan State University  into the Animal Sciences Hall of Fame.  Recipients of the Animal Sciences Hall of Fame have demonstrated superior skill and achieved success in the field of Animal Science for themselves and their families.  They have also practiced service to others through giving their time, energy and thoughtfulness in the local community.

Dr. Hawkins earned his induction into the Hall of Fame through his continued leadership in the agricultural community.  Hawkins, a 1963 (BS) and 1965 (MS) graduate of The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences, distinguished himself in his career as an innovator in the field of animal breeding and genetics.  Dave has continued a history of support for undergraduate and graduate teaching.  In 1999, Dr. Hawkins received the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) Distinguished Teacher Award.  In 2006 he received the ASAS Animal Industry Service Award and was the recipient of the ASAS Fellow Award in Teaching.

Dave’s wife, Kathleen is also a graduate of The Ohio State University.  Currently she is the Executive Director of the Michigan Beef Industry Commission and the Executive Vice President of the Michigan Cattlemen’s Association.

Hall of Fame Ceremony Schedule:
3:00 to 4:00 p.m. –Hall of Fame Ceremony
4:00 to 5:00 p.m. – Social Hour

Contact information is below if you have questions:
Dr. Steve Boyles
Professor
Department of Animal Sciences
2027 Coffey Road
Columbus OH 43210
614-292-7669
boyles.4@osu.edu

Blaine Crosser – Distinguished Alumni Award – Dairy Science (BS 1976), Agricultural Economics (MS 1977). Nominated by Lee Kohler. Mr. Crosser was recognized for 33 years of exceptional service and leadership at Select Sires, Inc, and for his dedication in developing and improving the Guernsey breed.
Kreg Leymaster – Distinguished Alumni Award – PhD OSU 1977. Nominated by Mike Davis. Dr. Leymaster was recognized for his outstanding record in animal genetics, specifically in sheep and swine, and for his quantitative and genomic methods in large scale experiments to estimate genetic effects on key traits conducted while a scientist with the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center since 1978.
Byung Ryul (Barry) Choi – International Alumni Award – Animal Nutrition (PhD 1996) (unable to attend the reception and luncheon ceremonies). Nominated by Donald Palmquist. Dr. Choi was recognized as a leader in Korea for his outstanding career in feeds and animal nutrition and for his continued contributions as an animal researcher and consultant in the animal industry.