2012 Buckeye Shepherd's Symposium

Title: 2012 Buckeye Shepherd's Symposium Location: OSU Agricultural Technical Institute Link out: Click here Description: The 2012 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium (BSS) will concentrate on “Improving and Utilizing Forages on a Small Ruminant (Sheep and Goat) Farm”. This year’s annual event will be held Sat., Dec. 8 at the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI), Skou Hall, 1328 Dover Rd., Wooster, OH 44691. Date: 2012-12-08 2012 – Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium Programming to concentrate on Forages By Roger A. High, OSIA/OSWP Executive Director The 2012 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium (BSS) will concentrate on “Improving and Utilizing Forages on a Small Ruminant (Sheep and Goat) Farm”. This year’s annual event will be held Sat., Dec. 8 at the Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI), Skou Hall, 1328 Dover Rd., Wooster, OH 44691. With the diversity of the small ruminant industry, we have made this an intense small ruminant forage (hay and grazing) management 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 Margaret Soulen-Hinson, President, American Sheep Industry Association; Margaret will be discussing many of the national sheep related issues that ASI has been working on over the past several years. In addition, David Robison, a popular and experienced forage expert from Legacy Seed Company, Inc. will concentrate on grazing forage production.  Dr. Mark Sulc, Professor and Forage Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University will be a major part of this educational program and will concentrate on harvested forage production. The ever popular Bob Hendershot, will moderate a panel discussion with small ruminant farmers who have had extensive experience in utilizing forages on their farms. The program is designed for sheep and goat farmers who are involved in every segment of the industry. “High quality speakers and intense small ruminant forage based educational topics are what will make this symposium unique. The 2012 Buckeye Shepherd’s Symposium may be the only time you have a chance to see these speakers and topics discussed in one setting!,” states Roger A. High, Executive Director of the Ohio Sheep Improvement Association (OSIA). The OSIA Annual Meeting will also be held on Sat., Dec. 8. 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, including a major Code of Regulations revision for OSIA. 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 winner for 2012. We will also be offering our annual tradeshow.  And of course, 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 early November. Please pass the information along to other sheep producers in your area. Detailed information will soon be placed at the OSIA website at www.ohiosheep.org. If you would like additional information, please contact Roger A. High at (614) 246-8299 or by email at rhigh@ofbf.org. Click here for Agenda (pdf). Click here for Complete Information and Registration Packet (pdf).