Stockgrowers and college students collaborate for annual event
Share
Tweet
The North Central Montana Stockgrowers Association and the MSU-N Collegiate Stockgrowers are holding a joint gathering on the MSU-Northern campus on the afternoon and evening of Saturday, November 14. It will be the first time the two ag-oriented interest groups team up for a joint effort-the annual meeting for the Central Montana group and an opportunity for the Collegiate group to meet and great with leaders in an economic sector the students aspire to be a part of.
Teddy Crowley, from the Chinook area, is the current president of the North Central group. Mary Heller, the faculty advisor to the MSU-N Collegiate Stockgrowers, said she and Crowley got the idea of a joint event back in the spring. Heller recalled, "Our student group was hosting a 'meet and greet' for local producers at MSU-Northern and Teddy suggested we team up for a joint event in the fall when the North Central group holds their annual meeting and banquet. It seemed like a win-win for everyone-our students could attend the informational meetings to learn about issues in our industry and we could host the producers on our campus. It was a natural joining of efforts."
The informational and business meetings of the North Central Stockgrowers begin at 1 p.m. with a tax update by Galusha Higgins Galusha, CPA's, of Havre. That will be followed by a report from the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the umbrella group under which the North Central group operates.
At 2:30 p.m. Quentin Kujala, Wildlife Management Section Chief for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will address the group. From Helena, by phone, he said he would be sharing some updates about the work of the FWP, with emphasis on opportunities for public review on department issues. A business meeting for the North Central Stockgrowers will start at 3:45 p.m.
Heller said, "Our Collegiate Stockgrowers get to do the fun part. We will help serve and host during the Social Hour that follows the regular business meetings at 5 p.m. And we want to do some activities to get our students interacting with the producers."
A prime rib dinner, sponsored by CHS Big Sky and Independence Bank, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Heller said with the combined group they are expecting to serve about 200 guests.
The dinner speaker will be retired MSU-Bozeman Professor Dr. John Paterson. Paterson was a Professor of Animal Science and Extension Beef Specialist and continues as an active spokesman for the interests of beef producers in Montana as well as the rest of the United States. Paterson's topic is "Rumors and gossip facing the industry."
Reached at his home in Bozeman, Paterson said, "I'm looking forward to talking to and with the group. The north central area of Montana has some of the best beef producers in the country." Paterson gave a short introduction to his talk focusing on the three things consumers want: safe products; tasty, juicy, good flavored beef and a history of each beef. I think we are doing the first two things very well, but the last one is a bit of a challenge."
He also plans to address the use of DNA to predict the productive history of an individual animal. He added, "Using a single drop of blood to predict the history of an animal sounds like 'Buck Rogers' science, but it's here now and we need to learn how to use it to enhance our industry." He said he would also address the recent announcement by the World Health Organization-a release he believes was overstated and misunderstood by the media and the public.
After dinner there will be an awards ceremony, door prizes and a live and silent auction. Live auction proceeds will go to support the North Central SGA's scholarship fund and the silent auction proceeds will be used to help promote the work of the Collegiate SGA's activities.
A dance will follow the evening program with music by the Milk River Band. Band sponsors include: MT Livestock AG Credit, Stockman Bank, Galush Higgins Galusha, Bear Paw Meats and Five Heads.
Teddy Crowley and Mary Heller are expecting a big turnout for the combined event. Both see it as a way for their members to learn more about their industry and help shape the future as they bring future producers together with current operators. And it sounds like it will be a lot of fun.
