The 2017 Buckeye Shepherd?s Symposium (BSS) will concentrate on several topics related to the success of the sheep operation both now and in the future. The increasingly popular Friday program dubbed ?Shepherd?s College? by the Buckeye Shepherd?s Symposium planning committee will concentrate on several facets of production to assist sheep farmers improve their profitability, including feeding lambs on grass vs. grain, and feeding ewe lambs. This event will be held Dec. 1 and 2 at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC), Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.
Primary speakers will include Erin Recktenwald, Michigan State University; Francis Fluharty, Research Professor, OSU Animal Sciences; Tadd Thompson, Reproductive Specialty Group, Indiana; Brady Campbell, Program Coordinator ? OSU Sheep Team, OSU Animal Sciences. Also, Roger A, High, OSIA/OSWP Executive Director; Nick Forrest, Ohio Lamb Entrepreneur, Chef Jeff Hyde, Chef, Colonel De?s Spice Company; Adam Wagner, OSU Student; Alex Tuggle, Ag Instructor at Washington Park Environmental Studies Academy; and Dr. Mark Lyons, USDA Veterinary Services.
Prior to the symposium, the OSIA Annual Meeting will be held Dec. 2. at the same location. The election of the OSIA officer team will be held, as well as other important items for members to discuss.
We will once again host the annual tradeshow and Silent Auction. Funds from the Silent Auction have been used as the primary source of income for the Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship Fund for several years. If you will be attending the symposium, we are accepting donations and we welcome any bids on the items for the auction.
For lunch, you will enjoy wonderful ?Lamb Leg Carving Station? lunch prepared by the OSU Meat Science Club, with the remainder of the meal catered by TJ?s of Wooster. An awards program to present the Charles Boyles Master Shepherd Award, Distinguished Service Awards, and the Friend of the Ohio Sheep Industry awards will follow lunch. Youth recognition will be given to the state FFA sheep proficiency award winner, state 4-H sheep award winner and Ralph Grimshaw Memorial Scholarship winners.
Buckeye Shepherd?s Symposium registration forms are included in the current ?Ohio Sheep Producer? newsletter. Registration can be completed by removing the BSS Registration/OSIA membership form and mailing it or going to the www.ohiosheep.org website and paying via PayPal. If you would like additional information, contact Roger High at (614) 246-8299 or by email at rhigh@ofbf.org.
