Kit Pharo, An Peischel, John Ikerd, Laura Fortmeyer, Lemoyne Dailey, Richard Parry, and Richard and I spoke at the Grazing Lands Dollar$ and Sense conference August 7 & 8, 2008 in Oklahoma City sponsored by the Oklahoma Grazing Lands Conservation Association.

We enjoyed speaking at the event and sharing information with attendees during the breaks. We also appreciated the other speakers and learned a great deal from them. Click here for more photos.

We have a nice group of sale barn calves started.

Richard gets them moving to see how they are feeling and if they “need anything.”

Here they enjoy the new section of grass and clover to graze.

This spring’s fantastic rains have lead to excellent forage!

Look at the height of that red clover!

Read Ann Barnhardt’s “Bud Williams Marketing” page to learn more about attending a Marketing School to learn the marketing techniques we are using on our stockers. Also, read Ann’s excellent blog here for lots of great information and editorials.

We have enjoyed working the the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan three years in a row and wanted to share this great example of the work they do.

May 28, 2008

For Immediate Release

The smiling faces of Saskatchewan farm families will greet pedestrians and drivers alike with the launch of the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan Inc. (FACS) 2008 Billboard Campaign.

“These are the faces of active farm families and employees committed to responsible animal care,” says FACS Executive Director Adele Buettner.

A total of 23 billboards are being launched across the province between May 26 and June 30 , and each will be showcased for a period of four weeks. The billboards can also be viewed on the FACS website at http://www.facs.sk.ca/proactive_billboards.htm

The faces include families involved in dairy, equine, poultry, bison, beef and pork operations.

“What is most encouraging about this particular campaign is the fact that these are Saskatchewan families with young people directly involved in the operation of the farm or ranch who take their responsibilities seriously,” Ms. Buettner noted.

Reflecting the Billboard theme “On our farms … we care,” a new component of the campaign will present some of the young people in conversation through a radio series. The conversations are scheduled to be aired on CJWW and 92.9 The Bull from June 9 to 29.

“Hearing these energetic young farmers discuss their operations and how they feel about agriculture will certainly add to the authenticity of the Billboards in depicting agriculture,” said FACS Chair Shannon Meyers.

The FACS Billboard Campaign ran from 1996 to 2001, and resumed in 2007. The 2008 campaign is sponsored by:

Saskatchewan Bison Association

North American Equine Ranching Information Council

Saskatchewan Agriculture

Saskatchewan Chicken Industry Development Fund

Saskatchewan Egg Producers

Saskatchewan Dairy Farmers

For more information, contact:

Adele Buettner, Executive Director of FACS
Telephone: (306) 249-3227

Here’s a photo series of moving the cows to another grazing section. Notice how the cows are waiting quietly and calmly for the signal that it’s time to move.

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Richard and I attended another excellent Bud Williams Marketing School in Springfield, Missouri this weekend. Here we are with Ann Barnhardt who teaches the schools. Be sure and check out both her weblog here and the Bud Williams Marketing web page.

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Richard and I were privileged to attend the Bud Williams Stockmanship school in Indepedence, Kansas April 18-19. What a wonderful experience to continue to “learn from the master.”

Lori and Jack Martin of Bar M Bar Ranch shared information and answered questions about using stockmanship in their feedlot.

We happened to watch an episode of the “Dog Whisperer” on cable TV (National Geographic channel) in a hotel room while we were traveling and speaking, and found the work Cesar Millan does with the dogs is much like what we encourage people to do with their livestock. He teaches people to understand their dogs and deal with them in a positive and assertive way.

Check out the show or read his book, “Cesar’s Way.” We found much of it applicable to other livestock (and even children!).

We spoke to an interested group of University of Missouri Ag students and staff Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. We were going to do a live demonstration Saturday morning, but it was snowing and blowing, and we decided classroom work would be lots more productive! We feel watching movies you can back up and replay again and again are better for learning than leaning against a fence trying to catch every movement and not miss something.

Adele Buettner of FACS, Richard, and I.

Listening and learning.

We presented a full day workshop in Yorkton and North Battleford on Low Stress Handling sponsored by the Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan (FACS).

Other sponsors were:

Heartland Livestock Services
Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association
Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
Saskatchewan Pastures Program
The Western Producer

Thanks to Adele Buettner of FACS for the photos.

Click here for more photos of the event.

Richard speaks to the group.

Our next-to-youngest participant at six months old! The youngest participant was also at this school at two months of age. These young ladies will be all ready to work stock, well, as soon as they can walk that is!

Answering questions at the break.

Click here for more photos of the event.