Source: AgriLife Today
The 45th annual Sheep and Goat Field Day will be from 8-11:30 a.m. Aug. 17 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center on U.S. Highway 87 north of San Angelo.
The Texas Sheep and Goat Expo will headquarter in the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena, 4722 Grape Creek Road, located on the San Angelo Fairgrounds. The expo starts immediately following the field day and will run from noon-8:30 p.m. Aug. 17 and from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 18.
The field day will showcase work being conducted at the center, said Dr. John Walker, Texas A&M AgriLife Research center director. Presentations will include animal evaluation using records, livestock guardian dog technologies, and measuring wool yield and fiber diameter with near-infrared spectroscopy.
Following the field day, activities will move to the 1st Community Federal Credit Union Spur Arena for a noon meal and the start of the Texas Sheep and Goat Expo.
Robert Pritz, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service regional program director at San Angelo, said the expo is his agency’s premier sheep and goat educational event for the entire state, and credits the active planning committee comprised of agency personnel and producers for its continued success.
Pritz said there will also be equipment demonstrations, an extensive trade show, a youth program that targets sheep and goat skill-a-thons and concurrent sessions for all major segments of the industry. These include sessions on Angora goats, hair sheep production, wool sheep and meat goats.
“One session that’s of major interest to all, no matter their knowledge level, is the mock auction,” Pritz said. “It will be manned by professional order buyers and livestock auction operators who will share their thoughts on the market for a variety of animals we’ll have on hand to pass before them in the ring. This has been a very well-received session in the past as it brings together a group responsible for the bulk of the bottom line within the whole industry.”
Adult registration is $40 and youth registration is $15. The fees include all meals, snacks and educational materials associated with the expo. Online registration for the expo ends Aug. 14, though registration will still be available at the field day and again at the door at the expo.
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